SC.6.E.7.3

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this MEA, students will use their knowledge of weather and climate to select a location for a camera crew to visit in order to get high quality video footage of severe weather such as thunderstorms, blizzards, tornadoes, or hurricanes. The decision will be made using data about important weather factors such as air pressure, humidity, temperature, wind direction, and wind speed.

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students investigate the relationship between ocean currents and local weather in measurable terms of temperature and precipitation.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will compare and contrast the climate of various cities and relate it to ocean surface currents.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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. 

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this activity students will analyze data about the relationship between water, temperature and relative humidity in an artificial habitat of a hermit crab. Their conclusions will lead them to understand how water and temperature affect the environment.

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

Using density to stack water of different salinities and temperature.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

Explore the components of weather, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind direction and wind speed. In this interactive tutorial, you'll relate the jet stream and ocean circulation to the causes of these conditions, which are caused by the energy from the sun.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Dr. Georges Weatherly describes how ocean circulation and temperature plays a role in local weather around the globe.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Lofty ideas about kites helped power a kayak from California to Hawaii.

Related Resources:
KROS Pacific Ocean Kayak Journey: GPS Data Set[.XLSX]
KROS Pacific Ocean Kayak Journey: Path Visualization for Google Earth[.KML]

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

What’s your vector, Victor? Understanding math and wind helps get you where you want to go.

Related Resources:
KROS Pacific Ocean Kayak Journey: GPS Data Set[.XLSX]
KROS Pacific Ocean Kayak Journey: Path Visualization for Google Earth[.KML]

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Dave Rodriguez demonstrates the use of a sling psychrometer to compare wet and dry-bulb temperatures to determine relative humidity.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

Improve your students' circulation by having them literally walk through ocean currents!

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

In this computer-based real world unit, students will study and predict hurricanes.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

This activity would be appropriate for an at home science project, after school science club, or extension/enrichment activity. It does require the appropriate placement of a rain gauge, which is not commonly found in the science classroom. Students then connect to an online data collection site to share their data.

Type: Project

This informational text resource is designed to support reading in the content area. The purpose of the article is to define and describe the jet stream. It explains how the earth's rotation and axis affect the movement of wind bands around the Earth. Interactions from variables such as locations of high and low pressure systems, warm and cold air, and seasonal changes are also discussed.

Type: Text Resource

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. Scientific models predict that El Niño will cause fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean—but more in the Pacific Ocean—in 2014. This is because El Niño events affect water temperatures and wind shear, which affect hurricane formation. The article gives the chances of named storms forming in both the Pacific and Atlantic.

Type: Text Resource

With an often unexpected outcome from a simple experiment, students can discover the factors that cause and influence thermohaline circulation in our oceans. In two 45-minute class periods, students complete activities where they observe the melting of ice cubes in saltwater and freshwater, using basic materials: clear plastic cups, ice cubes, water, salt, food coloring, and thermometers. There are no prerequisites for this lesson but it is helpful if students are familiar with the concepts of density and buoyancy as well as the salinity of seawater. It is also helpful if students understand that dissolving salt in water will lower the freezing point of water. There are additional follow up investigations that help students appreciate and understand the importance of the ocean's influence on Earth's climate.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation