Earth to Class

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SCIENCE: WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Core Concepts	Suggested Activity
2.2i. Weather describes the conditions of the atmosphere at a given location for a short period of time.	Make logs of weather.
2.2j. Climate is the characteristic weather that prevails from season to season and year to year.	Examine climate patterns from different locations.
4.1a. The Sun is the major source of energy for Earth. Other sources of energy include nuclear and geothermal energy.
4.1d. Different forms of energy include heat, light, electrical, mechanical, sound, nuclear, and chemical. Energy is transformed in many ways.
4.4a. Different forms of electromagnetic energy have different wavelengths. Some examples of electromagnetic energy are visible light, infrared heat, ultraviolet waves, microwaves, X-rays, and gamma rays.	Study the ESRT diagram.
4.1c. Most activities in everyday life involve one form of energy being transformed into another.	Trace energy flow from the Sun through plants to animals to heat released by motion.
4.2b. Heat can be transferred through matter by the collisions of atoms and/or molecules (conduction) or through space (radiation). In a liquid or gas, currents will facilitate the transfer of heat (convection.)	Conduct simple demonstrations of radiation, conduction, and convection.
4.2a. Heat moves in predictable ways, flowing from warmer objects to cooler ones.
2.2k. The uneven heating of Earth's surface is the cause of weather.
1.1i. The tilt of Earth's axis of rotation and the revolution of Earth around the Sun cause seasons. The length of daylight varies depending on latitude and season.	Use computer-based resources to compare daylength and solar radiation at different locations and times.
2.1a. Nearly all the atmosphere is confined to a thing shell surrounding Earth. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen and oxygen with small amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases. The atmosphere is stratified into layers, each having distinct properties. Nearly all weather occurs in the lowest layer of the atmosphere.	Make a scale drawing of the layered atmosphere.
2.1b. As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.	Study Stuve diagrams.
2.1j. Water circulates through the atmosphere. lithosphere, and hydrosphere in what is known as the water cycle.	Conduct evaporation/condensation investigations.
2.2l. Air masses form when air remains nearly stationary over a large section of Earth's surface and takes on the conditions of temperature and humidity from that location. Weather conditions at a location are determined primarily by temperature, humidity, and pressure of air masses over that location.	Predict the characteristics of an air mass based on the origin of the air mass.
2.2m. Most local weather condition changes are caused by movements of air masses.	Measure weather variables such as wind speed and direction, relative humidity, barometric pressure, etc.
2.2n. The movement of air masses is determined by prevailing winds and upper air currents.	Use computer-based resources to find how satellites and radar can observe surface and upper air conditions.
Fronts are boundaries between air masses. Precipitation is likely to occur at these boundaries.	Generate and interpret field maps including weather maps.
2.2p. High-pressure systems generally bring fair weather. Low-pressure systems usually bring cloudy, unstable conditions. The general movement of highs and lows is from west to east across the United States.	Use Internet sites to compare conditions at different locations.
2.2q. Hazardous weather conditions include thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, and blizzards. Humans can prepare for and respond to these conditions if given sufficient warning.	Use computer-based and printed resources to create a class presentation about one kind of severe weather, including plans for emergency preparedness.
2.2r. Substances enter the atmosphere naturally and from human activity. Some of these substances include dust from volcanic eruptions and greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. These substances can affect weather, climate, and living things.	Use computer-based and printed resources to investigate possible short- and long-term term climate changes that may result from variations in these atmospheric substances.