Download Lesson 1 Planning

Lesson 1 Planning
Introduction to Earth's Climate
Visualizations: Structure of the Atmosphere. Visualizing Global Climate Change
Learning outcomes and Notes
Answering the question: What is climate and how is it determined? Includes discussion of the
earth's atmosphere and focuses on differences between climate and weather, climate change vs.
global warming, and brief exploration of climates on other planets and demonstrating why they
are different from Earth- this topic will be covered further in Lesson 4).
Learning Objectives
Understand what climate is. Understand the difference between climate and weather. Knowledge
of the structure our atmosphere and which key gases which make up the atmosphere.
Understand that climate is always changing but that the concerns at present are about the rate of
that change.
Essential Principles
Principle 1. The Sun is the Primary Source of Energy for the Climate System. Principle 2: Climate
is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth system. Principle 6:
Human activities are impacting the climate system.
Intro
Concept Question
What is climate and how is it determined?
Picture of Earth
- Interesting paragraph intro to theme of lessons- global climate change
(Insert Catchy picture and introduction to entire lesson set).
Topic 1- Earth’s Unique Climate
a) Atmosphere, intro to general energy web (atmosphere primarily composed of oxygen
(used to produce energy in animals) and nitrogen (essential for plants))
b) Our water (both fresh and ocean water that play important roles in all ecosystems)
c) All aspects of our climate are balanced in order to sustain life (ie- ocean pH,
temperature, humidty) and these factors are affected by temperature. Discuss how our
climate is formed as a result of complex factors that are unique to Earth (other planets
have completely different climates that we know are not conducive to human survival).
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General discussion of the basic requirements for life (as we know it) on Earth.
Focus on conditions such as;
o our atmospheric composition (high percentage of
o Our water (both fresh and ocean water that play important roles in all
ecosystems)
o Our temperature- balanced, conducive to life
Discuss how our climate is formed as a result of complex factors that are unique
to Earth (other planets are incredible, but have completely different climates that
we know are not conducive to human survival). (getting at the idea that Earth is
unique, on a careful balance, and the only planet humans have!).
Topic 2- What is Climate?
a) definitions- climate and weather (perhaps picture of snow at the top)
a. (focusing on misconceptions such as- “if it is snowing in May, how can
global warming really be happening?” or “how can you predict climate in
50 years when you can’t even predict if its going to rain tomorrow?”)
b) factors that affect local weather (brief discussion)
c) Overall factors that affect climate (tilt, precipitation, oceans, etc.)
a. Note that Physics based concepts govern how the atmosphere moves,
warms, cools, rains, snows, and evaporates water.
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Difference between climate and weather (focusing on misconceptions such as- “if
it is snowing in May, how can global warming really be happening?” or “how
can you predict climate in 50 years when you can’t even predict if its going to
rain tomorrow?”)
o Climate as long term, average weather
o The ‘Butterfly’ effect of weather.
Factors that affect climate (tilt, precipitation, oceans, etc.)
o Physics based concepts govern how the atmosphere moves, warms, cools,
rains, snows, and evaporates water.
Topic 3- Earth’s Atmosphere
a) Earth’s atmosphere is unique and central to life. Although the air above and
around us may seem simple to understand, there are billions of invisible,
molecular level processes occurring each second which are guided by chemistry
and physics principles. Open the toolbox to find a the Atmosphere of Earth applet.
Follow the following instructions as you work through the applet:
Once you have opened the applet and completed the introduction, you will see a
screen with the sky and image of an air balloon sitting on the Earth. Grab the
balloon with your mouse and move it up to see the different atmosphere levels. As
you read through the notes on the right hand side of the applet, try to answer the
following questions (note- some of the more indepth chemistry of gases in this
applet will be addressed more later)!
-What are the 4 layers of the atmosphere called?
-What are the main gaseous substance in Earth’s atmosphere?
-How does temperature vary from layer to layer?
b) Temperature is one of the most important differences between each layer. In fact,
the different regions, such as the Troposphere and Stratosphere, are defined by the
temperature trends in the regions. For example, in the Troposphere (the layer of
the atmosphere closest to the Earth), the temperature get colder and colder as
altitude rises. Then, at a certain point (the tropopause), the temperature starts
getting warmer again. This warming region is called the stratosphere.
Explore the Atmosphere applet in the toolbox to understand why the temperature
might switch from cooling to warming high in the atmosphere.
c) (question with ‘box tool’ to test their knowledge and understanding of the
atmosphere dlo).
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The layers of the atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
thermosphere)
Substances in the layers of the atmosphere
General discussion of key atmospheric chemistry in each region
Applet- Structure of the Atmosphere DLO (the version of this applet on the KCVS
website is currently being updated)
Topic 4- Regional Climate Differences
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Discuss reasons for climate differences in equatorial vs. northern climate
o A) Different weather patterns, different ecosystems, completely different
wildlife (picture idea- image of polar bear and koala bear side by side,
with accompanying text mentioning how they have adapted to unique and
drastically different types of climates) Overall point to make is that
regional climate differ greatly
(example of regional climate differences: El Azizia in Libya recorded a temperature of 136
degrees Fahrenheit (57.8 Celsius) on Sept. 13, 1922 -- the hottest ever measured. Thousands of
miles away, the coldest temperature ever measured on Earth was -129 Fahrenheit (-89 Celsius)
at Vostok, Antarctica, on July 21, 1983.
(contact stock exchange photography for photo use)
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/101_earth_facts_030722-1.html
o B) Discussion of ways in which diverse regional climate dependant on and
control each other (ie- gulf stream warming Europe)
o C) Use Visualizing Global Climate Changes applet (in drawer) to show on
the map image (within the applet) how temperature and precipitation
patters greatly vary from region to region. (this applet is currently on the
website)
Topic 5- Temporal Climate Differences
 Discuss general possible reasons for temporal climate differences.
o A)
o Focus on the fact that in recent history we know that over time weather
changes- small changes in precipitation and temperature occur from year
to year, decade to decade.
o Some other temporal changes are more drastic than slight precipitation
increases- Ie- Europe’s ‘Little Ice Age’ (cover this more later..)
 b)
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General discussion of recent climate change focusing on current perceptions
Difference between climate change and global warming
Generally mention the ability of small temp changes to affect global patterns
Overall meaning and primary concerns
C)
Visualizing global climate change applet in drawer-used to show that precipitation
and temperature has changed over time.