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Explain how energy provided by the sun influences global patterns of atmospheric movement and the temperature differences between air, water, and land.
Standard #: SC.6.E.7.5
Standard Information
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 6
Body of Knowledge: Earth and Space Science
Idea: Level 3: Strategic Thinking & Complex Reasoning
Big Idea: Earth Systems and Patterns - The scientific theory of the evolution of Earth states that changes in our planet are driven by the flow of energy and the cycling of matter through dynamic interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, and biosphere, and the resources used to sustain human civilization on Earth.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 3: Strategic Thinking & Complex Reasoning - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes
Related Courses
Related Access Points
  • SC.6.E.7.Pa.3 # Recognize different types of weather conditions, including hot/cold, raining/not raining, and windy/calm.
  • SC.6.E.7.In.5 # Recognize that there are general patterns of weather that move around Earth, and in North America the patterns typically move from west to east.
  • SC.6.E.7.Su.5 # Recognize that there are patterns of weather that move.
Related Resources
Lesson Plans
  • I'm Hot and You're Not! # The students will investigate the effects of solar radiation on air, land, and oceans.
  • Earth, Wind, and Fire? # This lesson will develop understanding of the causes of global wind patterns and apply this understanding to hypothesize about how this motion might effect life on Earth.
  • 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.
  • An Inquiry into Albedo, Land Surface and AirTemperture # This lesson is designed to provide a hands on inquiry on Sphere Interactions by investigating the relationship between Surface Albedo and Atmospheric Temperature. In this activity, students will develop an Argument Driven Inquiry (ADI) with the Guiding question: "What is the relationship between the land surface Albedo and Atmospheric Temperature?"
  • POE - Solar Energy and Uneven Heating # This POE explores the concept of uneven heating of Earth's surfaces by the sun through collecting and analyzing data and comparing results with a gallery walk.
  • Let's Play Ball # Students will investigate if the pitcher's mound and center field are the same temperature, since they are in the same location but have two different surfaces.
  • Soil vs. Water: Which Gets Hotter? # Students will set up and perform a basic experiment using beakers, soil, water, and a light source in order to compare and assess the different effects solar rays (represented by a heat lamp) have on soil as compared to water. This lab addresses a portion of Florida State Standard SC.6.E.7.5. All recommended lab guides, tables, charts, and summative example questions are attached.
  • Conduction, Convection, Radiation! What's the Breeze Now? # In this lesson students will be exploring how radiant energy causes the temperature of different Earth materials to rise at different rates. Students will observe that this difference in temperature has direct effect on air movement. Students will reach to conceptual understanding of future trends.
  • Global winds and the Coriolis Effect # This lesson uses a variety of strategies to assist students with understanding the role the Sun plays in the formation of global winds and helps students understand how the Earth's rotation affects these global winds.
  • Hot, Hot, Hot! Earth Heating Up # Students will explore the concept of the uneven heating of Earth's surfaces by the Sun by collecting and analyzing data. Outside the classroom, students from several classes will record data points to be analyzed collectively to explore rates of heating related to time and material properties for air, water, and soil. Students will use mathematical techniques to help answer scientific questions.
Original Student Tutorial
  • The Sun Fuels Our Weather # The Sun is integral in keeping us warm, but did you know the other ways that the Sun is essential to Earth? Learn about how the Sun is important in fueling our weather on Earth. 
Text Resource
  • Hurricanes # This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This interactive, online text explains how a hurricane forms, what storm surge is, when hurricane season starts and ends, how hurricanes are named, and more. It has animations of storm surge and a link to a storm tracking map. The article also includes a glossary and fantastic tables and diagrams.
Video/Audio/Animation
Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8
  • The Sun Fuels Our Weather # The Sun is integral in keeping us warm, but did you know the other ways that the Sun is essential to Earth? Learn about how the Sun is important in fueling our weather on Earth. 
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