Describe how global patterns such as the jet stream and ocean currents influence local weather in measurable terms such as temperature, air pressure, wind direction and speed, and humidity and precipitation.
| Name |
Description |
| Climate and Careers! | Students will explore chosen outdoor careers and how the careers connect to certain climates based on temperature and precipitation. The guiding question states "How might you use evidence from weather data and dot plot displays to allow you to identify which location's climate would be best for your career and why?" Students will collect data online and display the data using dot plots on posters with analysis using the mean. Students will engage in collaboration throughout. A power point is included with all necessary resources. |
| Currents and Temperature | Students will construct graphs from existing weather data sets establishing statistical relationships between air temperature over land in proximity to large bodies of warm water with continuous currents, and construct a model to visually support causality for those relationships. Students will be able to understand that ocean currents can have an effect on local weather conditions, influencing temperature (and precipitation with extended lesson), and use that understanding to make plausible explanations for the differences in temperature and precipitation between two geographically close Florida cities of a similar latitude. |
| Fluid Streams Affecting Weather | The student will complete a series of stations in order to explain how jet streams and ocean currents influence local weather. Students will rotate through six stations in order to gain background knowledge about jet streams and ocean currents. The students will also answer questions at each station to elaborate their understanding of jet streams and ocean currents and how they affect local weather. After the stations are completed, the teacher will lead a whole group discussion to connect the student's learning to the big ideas of the lesson. |
| Pokemontures App. | In this Model Eliciting Activity (MEA), students will understand how global patterns affect the temperature of an area by studying the features of an application's virtual creatures called the "Pokemontures." These creatures have the ability to match the temperature of their environment. As students study the Pokemontures' features and calculate their approximate temperature, they will apply concepts linked to the patterns that affect temperature. Students will also review heat transfers and sea/land breezes with the use of this MEA.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx |
| The Jet Stream: Rivers of Air | In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text intended to support reading in the content area. The article begins by defining the jet stream and then describes how the Earth's rotation and axis affect the movement of wind bands around the earth. Interactions from variables such as the locations of high and low pressure systems, warm and cold air, and seasonal changes are also discussed. The lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. Options to extend the lesson are also included. |
| Importance of Ocean Currents | Students investigate the relationship between ocean currents and local weather in measurable terms of temperature and precipitation. |
| Surface Current and Climate | Students will compare and contrast the climate of various cities and relate it to ocean surface currents. |
| Clouds and Humidity | Students will make observations about a cloud fraction map of January 2007. Next, they will use computers to research locations around the world and record relative humidity averages for the month of January. Finally, the students will analyze the data and their observations of the cloud fractions map to make written inferences as to how relative humidity and cloud coverage may be related. |
| Ocean Currents' Affect on Local Weather | Students will explore the major ocean currents of the world and weather conditions in given areas to analyze the affect of the currents on local weather conditions. |
| Surface Ocean Currents and Coastal Temperatures | Student groups of 4 will use a surface ocean currents map, a latitude map, a coastal areas water temperature map, and a table of temperatures for coastal cities to predict and determine the effect of surface ocean currents on coastal land temperatures. |
| World Wind - A global wind overview | By examining a model of current wind patterns in the atmosphere at different levels, students will connect the convection cycles of the atmosphere and the Coriolis effect with land and oceanic temperature differences to better understand how Florida's weather develops. |
| The Influence of Ocean Currents | This lesson focuses on a portion of the standard, specifically how ocean currents (surface and deep) influence climate. The content is delivered in the form of a PowerPoint and allows for the students to explore the lesson through lab activities and discussion. |
| Modeling Ocean Currents | This is a highly engaging, student-centered inquiry lesson plan to teach students the concepts behind ocean currents. Students will collaborate and use Levels 3 and 4 extended thinking, and create models to teach their peers their individual group's concept. |
| Effects of wind, temperature and ocean currents | The students are introduced to the topic of wind currents and their relationship to ocean currents. They are also introduced to the concept of how ocean currents affect temperature. |
| Stacking Water Lab | Using density to stack water of different salinities and temperature. |
| Newscast Weather Report | This activity engages the students in using data on weather conditions for a set of hurricanes to understand relationships between wind speed, air pressure, and water temperature as well as the impact of global wind and water patterns on hurricane paths. The integrated lesson involves the knowledge of a coordinate plane and its application in ocean mapping. |
| Jet Stream and Weather | In this lesson, students will determine the definition of Jet Stream. Students will view four videos that show how changes in the jet stream impacted weather in US History. This lesson is not intended as an initial introduction to these standards, but an engaging way to explore the concepts. |
| Ocean Currents and Weather | In this lesson, students will view a variety of videos that show how ocean currents can affect weather. Students will also summarize a text about ocean currents, winds and ice. |
| Planning the perfect wedding | Students will decide what is the best month to celebrate an outdoor wedding. The couple is looking for the perfect wedding day. What is the definition of a perfect day? It has to be a Saturday or Sunday with a 20% or less probability of rain and sunny but not too hot. Based on the information provided , students will find the month in which the probability of having a rainy day and the probability of having a super hot day (temperature higher than 75º F) are minimal.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| The Jet Stream and Weather | This lesson uses pictures and animations to assist students in learning about the characteristics of the jet stream and how it effects local weather. Using this knowledge, small groups of students will create a weather report for an assigned city using a map that has a jet stream indicated on it. Each group will be assigned a different city, but the jet stream will be in the same location. A rubric is provided to guide the students. Student groups will present their "Weather Report" to the class. |
