Climate and Weather
The Lesson Activities will help you meet these educational goals:
Inquiry Skills—You will develop questions and plan investigations, apply disciplinary concepts, apply reasoning that requires environmental perspectives, gather evidence, and identify and analyze real-world public problems.
Directions
Please save this document before you begin working on the assignment. Type your answers directly in the document. ______
Self-Checked Activities
Read the instructions for the following activities and type in your responses. At the end of the lesson, click the link to open the Student Answer Sheet. Use the answers or sample responses to evaluate your work.
1. Days at the Poles
Write a paragraph explaining why the North and South Poles experience seasons differently than the rest of the planet. Why do they have periods of continuous daylight or continuous darkness? Watch this resource from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to help visualize the position of the poles during each season.
Type your response here:
How did you do? Check a box below.
Nailed It!—I included all of the same ideas as the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
Halfway There—I included most of the ideas in the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
Not Great—I did not include any of the ideas in the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
2. Climate and Vegetation
Imagine you could live anywhere in the world based on a location’s climate. What location would you choose? Use this resource and the information in the tutorial to help you answer the following questions about your location of choice:
a. What location have you chosen?
Type your response here:
b. In what climate zone is the location?
Type your response here:
c. Due to its climate zone, what are the location’s weather patterns?
Type your response here:
d. What types of plants and crops grow there?
Type your response here:
e. What types of recreational activities are best suited to your location?
Type your response here:
f. Why do you think this location would be the best place for you to live?
Type your response here:
How did you do? Check a box below.
Nailed It!—I included all of the same ideas as the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
Halfway There—I included most of the ideas in the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
Not Great—I did not include any of the ideas in the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
3. Alternative Energy Sources
Consider the potential problems associated with global warming, as well as the actions people can take to help slow or stop its effects. Read this Knowledge Article and these descriptions of alternative methods for generating electricity. Then list the potential pros and cons of current energy sources.
Type your response in the table:
Energy Source / Pros / ConsWind
Nuclear
Solar
Geothermal
Hydroelectric
How did you do? Check a box below.
Nailed It!—I included all of the same ideas as the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
Halfway There—I included most of the ideas in the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
Not Great—I did not include any of the ideas in the model response on the Student Answer Sheet.
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