Download Investigative Science Weather and Climate Unit Plan

INVESTIGATIVE SCIENCE
WEATHER & CLIMATE UNIT PLAN
Essential Questions: How does the atmosphere affect life on Earth? How do human activities affect
the atmosphere?
Standards: Describe the flow of energy to and from the Earth. Distinguish between weather and
climate. Explain the effect of heat transfer on climate and weather. List the factors that determine
climate. Demonstrate the effect of the Earth’s rotation on the movement of water and air. Explain the
causes and effects of climate changes over long periods of time.
1
Relate thermal energy
to the formation of
weather
2
Identify weather
systems based on data
including pressure,
moisture, and
temperature
VOCABULARY TO KNOW:
Heat capacity
Layers of Atmosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere
Ozone Layer
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
Weather vs. Climate
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse effect
Precipitation
Coriolis effect
Fronts: warm/cold
Isobars
Isotherms
3
Explain the causation
of weather systems in
terms of energy and
earth’s rotation. Make
immediate
predications based on
present data.
4
Apply past and present
data to predict future
weather patterns and
events and justify the
predictions in terms of
energy transfer
between various
systems.
ACTIVITIES & LABS
Graphing the Earth’s Atmospheric Layers
Foldable: Layers of the Earth’s Atmosphere
Graphic Organizer: Coriolis Effect
Isobars/Isotherms Maps
Weather station activity
Clouds Activity/Lab
Global Climate Change Project
Greenhouse Effect Lab
Review
Exam
STUDENT SURVEY-WEATHER AND CLIMATE UNIT
Circle where your current knowledge level is:
1
2
Relate thermal energy to Identify weather systems
the formation of weather based on data including
pressure, moisture, and
temperature
NAME___________________________
3
Explain the causation of
weather systems in
terms of energy and
earth’s rotation. Make
immediate predications
based on present data.
4
Apply past and present
data to predict future
weather patterns and
events and justify the
predictions in terms of
energy transfer between
various systems.
On the following, circle which matches your opinion the most:
1.
Understanding the components of the atmosphere and how energy is transferred throughout the
atmosphere is _____________________ to me.
Not important at
Not very
Neutral
Important
Very important
all
important
2.
Understanding the causes and effects of global climate change is _________________ to me.
Not important at
Not very
Neutral
Important
Very important
all
important
3.
I would like to know more about the causes and effects of global climate change and what I can do to
help solve the problem.
Completely
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Completely agree
disagree
STUDENT SURVEY-WEATHER AND CLIMATE UNIT
Circle where your current knowledge level is:
1
2
Relate thermal energy to Identify weather systems
the formation of weather based on data including
pressure, moisture, and
temperature
NAME___________________________
3
Explain the causation of
weather systems in
terms of energy and
earth’s rotation. Make
immediate predications
based on present data.
4
Apply past and present
data to predict future
weather patterns and
events and justify the
predictions in terms of
energy transfer between
various systems.
On the following, circle which matches your opinion the most:
1.
Understanding the components of the atmosphere and how energy is transferred throughout the
atmosphere is _____________________ to me.
Not important at
Not very
Neutral
Important
Very important
all
important
2.
Understanding the causes and effects of global climate change is _________________ to me.
Not important at
Not very
Neutral
Important
Very important
all
important
3.
I would like to know more about the causes and effects of global climate change and what I can do to
help solve the problem.
Completely
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Completely agree
disagree