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Lesson Title: Climate
Climate and Seasons
Grade Levels: 7-9
Connection To Curriculum:
Science
Teacher Prep Time: 1 hour
Lesson Time Needed: 4 hours
Complexity: Easy to Moderate
Keywords: global warming,
hydrosphere, cryosphere, ice, glaciers,
tilt, radiation, sun soil, ultraviolet light
Materials:
Two large containers
Two foam caps
Two non-mercury thermometers
One sheet of dark construction paper
One sheet of light construction paper
Transparent tape
Scissors
Heat lamp (or lamp on stand equipped with 100-watt bulb)
Safety glasses
Dial or digital soil thermometer
12-cm nail or spike
500-mL beaker
Hammer
Spacers (for limiting soil thermometer insertion depth)
Calibration thermometer
Wrench for adjusting dial soil thermometer
Watch
GLOBE Science—At least one clock per student, any type, which shows seconds, will suffice
Paper and a writing tool for each student to record times
Log(s)
Soil Temperature Data Sheet
Computer/printer
Copies of the GPS Investigation Time Measurements Work Sheet and plot forms for each student
Optional but desirable:
Calculator with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division functions
Two foam caps
Two non-mercury thermometers
One sheet of dark construction paper
One sheet of light construction paper
Transparent tape
Scissors
Heat lamp (or lamp on stand equipped with 100-watt bulb)
Safety glasses
Dial or digital soil thermometer
12-cm nail or spike
500-mL beaker
Hammer
Spacers (for limiting soil thermometer insertion depth)
Calibration thermometer
Wrench for adjusting dial soil thermometer
Watch
GLOBE Science—At least one clock per student, any type, which shows seconds, will suffice
Paper and a writing tool for each student to record times
Log(s)
Soil Temperature Data Sheet
Computer/printer
Copies of the GPS Investigation Time Measurements Work Sheet and plot forms for each student
Optional but desirable:
Calculator with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division functions
Description
This lesson integrates a series of activities to introduce changes in water, ice and soil as well as understanding how they reflect climate.
Objectives
Students will:
• Explore our changing polar ice caps.
• Explore satellite data and how it relates to climate and how we know what we know.
• Introduce the concept that sometimes there is no one "right" answer to a question or measurement.
• Learn how to measure time.
• Understand the accuracy of a measurement.
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Lesson Guide Climate Lesson [121KB PDF file] |
Professional Development Training Modules for This Lesson
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› My NASA Data Interview training module → Note: Module may take a few minutes to load. 
Download Video |
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› My NASA Data Earth Budget & Polar Ice training module → Note: Module may take a few minutes to load.
Download Video |
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› My NASA Data Server Overview training module → Note: Module may take a few minutes to load.
Download Video |
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› My NASA Data Using the Server training module → Note: Module may take a few minutes to load.
Download Video
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› Help me! I can't see the training module. |
Lesson Activities and Sequence
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How Does Earth's Energy Budget Relate to Polar Ice?
Uses satellite data to understand how the net flux of the radiation budget relates to the amount of ice present in the Northern Hemisphere.
Keywords: energy budget, radiation, climate, ice, temperatures, polar regions, MY NASA DATA - GLOBE Soil Learning Activities: Soil Temperature
Introduces students to the importance of soil, why it needs to be studied and how it is affected by climate.
Keywords: soil, temperatures, globe, thermometers, climate - What Is the Right Answer?
Introduces the concept that sometimes there is no one "right" answer to a question or measurement.
Keywords: problem solving, scientific method, time, GPS, accuracy, precision, predicting - Surface Color and Effect on Temperature Change
Students will investigate how surface color affects temperature change.
Keywords: color, temperature, climate, solar radiation, heating
National Standards:
National Science Education Standards, NSTA
Earth and Space Science
• Structure of the Earth system.
• Earth's history.
• Earth in the solar system.
Science and Technology
• Abilities of technological design.
• Understanding science and technology.
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
• Populations, resources and environments.
• Natural hazards.
• Risks and benefits.
Earth and Space Science
• Structure of the Earth system.
• Earth's history.
• Earth in the solar system.
Science and Technology
• Abilities of technological design.
• Understanding science and technology.
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
• Populations, resources and environments.
• Natural hazards.
• Risks and benefits.