Exploring Weather and Climate

Focus:  Students experience different types of weather every day.  They often hear about catastrophic events caused by weather and climate that affect human life.  They are learning that it occurs all around the world.  They are beginning to inquire about why and how these things happen.  In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to explore the answers to these questions and other weather and climate issues.  Students will practice their research skills by accessing the internet and visiting the school library.  Students will watch newscasts to relate their research to recent real-world events.  Students will sharpen their writing skills by writing a research paper following the writing process.  They will focus on active participation and communication with others by peer editing and performing a skit as a group.  Each lesson will build upon the previous lesson.  This will provide students with a variety of information and ideas to contribute to weather and climate and how they "work" on Earth.  This lesson will prepare them for greater in depth investigations of other Earth systems such as the hydrosphere and atmosphere in following units.   

 

Objectives/goals:  

Students will understand the difference between weather and climate.

Students will know there is a relationship between weather and climate.

Students will explore different types of weather and climate around the world.

Students will learn how weather and climate affect our daily lives.

Students will research weather patterns and climate zones.

Students will begin to understand that there are "systems" that influence weather patterns.

Students will use research skills to find useful information.

 

Science 

EALR 1 Systems:  The Student knows and applies scientific concepts and principles to the properties, structures and changes in physical,earth/space, and living systems.

EALR 2 Inquiry:  The student knows and applies the skills, processes, and nature of scientific inquiry.

GLE 2.1.4: Modeling- Analyze how models are used to investigate objects, events, systems, or processes.

GLE 2.1.5: Communicating- Apply understanding of how to report investigations and explanations of objects, events, systems, and processes. 

Communications

GLE 3.1.1: Applies skills to plan for effective oral communication and presentation.

GLE 3.2.1: Uses available relevant technology and resources to support or enhance a presentation.

Resources:

Links to weather education on other websites:

 http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/resources/links.html

Examples of Places to assign to groups of students:

1. El Azizia, Libya / Oimekon, Russia / Kukui Maui, Hawaii / Arica, Chili

  2. Death Valley, California / Ust'Schugor, Russia / Grand Ilet, La Reunion / Mulka(Troudaninna), South Australia

  3. Tirat Tsvi, Israel / Prospect Creek, Alaska / Bellenden Ker, Queensland / Astrakhan, Russia

  4. Cloncurry, Queensland / Rogers Pass, Montana / Cherrapunji, India / Pauko, Hawaii

  5. Seville, Spain / Ifrane, Morocco / Alvin, Texas / Amundsen-Scott, South Pole Station 

  6. Rivadavia, Argentina / Charlotte Pass, N.S.W. / Paishih, Taiwan / Batagues, Mexico

  7. Tuguegarao, Philippines / Mauna Kea, Hawaii / Curtea-de-Arges, Romania / Aden, Yemen 

 

Credits:  Thanks to National Geographic for the Amazing Pictures     

    www.nationalgeographic.com/places

    Reference sites:

    www.factmonster.com

    www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/bigdeal.html

    www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/resources/links.html

    www.worldclimate.com/