TCSS Earth Systems

Unit 5 – Climate and Weather Information

Georgia Performance Standards:

SES5. Students will investigate the interaction of insolation and Earth systems to produce weather and

climate. a. Explain how latitudinal variations in solar heating create atmospheric and ocean currents that redistribute heat

globally.

b. Explain the relationship between air masses and the surfaces over which they form.

c. Relate weather patterns to interactions among ocean currents, air masses, and topography.

d. Describe how temperature and precipitation produce the pattern of climate regions (classes) on Earth.

e. Describe the hazards associated with extreme weather events and climate change (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes,

El Niño/La Niña, global warming).

f. Relate changes in global climate to variation in Earth/Sun relationships and to natural and anthropogenic

modification of atmospheric composition.

SES6. Students will explain how life on Earth responds to and shapes Earth systems. a. Relate the nature and distribution of life on Earth, including humans, to the chemistry and availability of

water.

b. Relate the distribution of biomes (terrestrial, freshwater, and marine) to climate regions through time.

c. Explain how geological and ecological processes interact through time to cycle matter and energy, and how

human activity alters the rates of these processes (e.g., fossil fuel formation and combustion).

Purpose/Goal(s): Determine how humans have impacted and altered the environment.

Content Map: Unit 5 – Climate and Weather Content Map

Prerequisites: Unit 5 – Climate and Weather Middle School Standards

Unit Length: Approximately 50 days

Click on the links below for resources by Concept:

Concept 1: Atmosphere & Meteorology

Concept 5: Earth’s Resources

Concept 2: Severe Weather

Concept 6: Energy’s Resources

Concept 3: Climate

Concept 7: Human Impact on Resources

Concept 4: Earth’s Oceans

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Concept, Essential

Question(s), and

Standard(s)

Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment

Concept 1:

Atmosphere/Meteorology

EQ1: What effect does

the sky have on the

weather?

EQ2: How does the air

affect the weather?

SES5. Students will

investigate the

interaction of insolation

and Earth systems to

produce weather and

climate. b. Explain the

relationship between air

masses and the surfaces

over which they form.

c. Relate weather patterns

to interactions among

ocean currents, air

masses, and topography.

d. Describe how

temperature and

precipitation produce the

pattern of climate regions

(classes) on Earth.

Essential*

Climate Regions

Precipitation

Temperature

Supplemental**

Conduction, Convection

Relative Humidity

Weather

Climate

Coriolis Effect

Front

Jet Stream

Anemometer

*Essential vocabulary

listed in the GPS

Standards

**Supplemental

vocabulary listed in the

state frameworks and/or

other state document

PowerPoints and Notes: Atmosphere PowerPoint

What Factors Affect Climate?

Chapter 11 Book PowerPoint

Atmosphere Supplemental PowerPoint

Air Mass PowerPoint

Chapter 12 Air Masses and Fronts (Student Notes)

Georgia Topography / Oregon Topography

Meteorology PowerPoint

Animations and Videos: Jetstream Video Clip Climatographs (time 3:47)

Climate Zones (time 5:51)

Handouts and Activities: Cloud Formation Lab: Cloud in a bottle activity is a great

review/activator strategy to pull out previous knowledge.

Exercise 48 Climatic Factors: Latitude and Temperature: This

exercise is to see how year round temperatures of a city are

related to its latitude

Exercise 49 Climatic Factors: Altitude and Temperature: This

exercise allows you to see how year-round temperature of a

city are related to its altitude

Exercise 51 Climatic Factors: Latitude and Rainfall in the

Tropics: This exercise is to show how the amount and

distribution of rainfall change from the Equator to 30 degrees

north latitude

Exercise 52 Climatic Factors: Mountains and Rainfall: This

exercise is used to compare the rainfall on the windward and

leeward sides of a mountain range.

Atmosphere Review Vocabulary Frame Game: Simple and

quick review game to be used as to help students understand

the fundamental vocabulary

Concept 1: Sample

Assessment Items

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Graphing layers of the Atmosphere: This activity is used to

discover how the atmosphere can be divided into layers based

on temperature changes at different heights, by making a

graph. Students must read the background material, plot data

points, and determine where layers begin and end form their

comprehension of the reading material.

Ice Cube Demo: This demo uses ices cubes to demonstrate the

principle of convection.

Jetstream WebQuest: WebQuest using NOAA website, among

others, to learn about Jetstreams and the affect they have on

the weather and climate of a specific location.

The Weather and its Atmosphere: This is an outdoor activity

that calls for students to observe atmospheric conditions over a

four-day period and incorporate their understanding of the

major atmospheric concepts.

Tree Ring Lab: Students will demonstrate the relationship

between precipitation types and surface temperatures. They

will use forecast maps to predict where snow or rain will fall

over the next several days.

Analyzing the Relationship between Topography and Climate:

In this lesson, students learn about the major mountain ranges,

river valleys, and other physical features of Oregon and

analyze their impact on precipitation and temperature across

the state. Students locate and identify the major physical

features and place them on a giant blank map of Oregon. When

the map is complete students will analyze climographs from

different parts of the state to see how the physical layout of

Oregon affects precipitation and temperatures. You will need

to be sure to use the Oregon and Georgia topography

PowerPoints here.

Activity 7 Precipitation Patterns: This activity will allow

students to demonstrate the relationship between precipitation

types and surface temperatures.

Worldwide Climate Zones: This activity will allow students to

identify the Earth’s climate zones by their isotherm boundaries

Activating Strategies: PowerPoint that shows the changes in

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

precipitation in GA over the past 100 or so years. Requires

students to answer some specific open ended questions.

Air Mass Frayer Model: Vocabulary graphic organizer helping

students to grasp the concept of air mass.

Vertically Aligned Weather Packet: Packet of activities that

can be used to help find specific activities relating to weather

patterns by grade level.

Weather and Topography Factsheet: This sheet is provided as

a supplemental tool to incorporate writing into the curriculum

Forecasting Weather MAP Worksheet (Answers): This

handout allows students to practice the idea of forecasting

weather based on the movements of fronts.

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Concept, Essential

Question(s), and

Standard(s)

Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment

Concept 2 : Severe

Weather

EQ1: What conditions

create extreme weather

events like hurricanes,

tornadoes, etc.?

SES5. Students will

investigate the

interaction of insolation

and Earth systems to

produce weather and

climate. e. Describe the hazards

associated with extreme

weather events and

climate change (e.g.,

hurricanes, tornadoes, El

Niño/La Niña, global

warming).

Essential*

El Niño/La Niña

Global warming

Hurricane

Tornado

Supplemental**

Thunderstorms,

Downburst

Supercell

Tornado Eye

Eyewall

Storm

Surge

Tropical Cyclone

Cold Wave

Drought

Heat Wave

Wind-chill index

*Essential vocabulary

listed in the GPS

Standards

**Supplemental

vocabulary listed in the

state frameworks and/or

other state document

PowerPoints and Notes: Chapter 13 Nature of Science PowerPoint

Hazards Associated with Significant Weather Events

Gordon County Tornado Pictures

LaGrange’s Tornado Picture

Tornado Demo PowerPoint (answers)

Chapter 13 Book PowerPoint

Chapter 13 Fill in the Blank notes

Tornado Classification Notes

Animations and Videos: Tornado Clip

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6jTksOABrk)

Hurricane Wilma Video

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDFK40UMotc)

Handouts and Activities: Chapter 13 Project: Students will create a PowerPoint, poster,

or a written report about a type of severe weather. They will

have three days to complete this project

El Nino and La Nina Assessment: Students will work in group

of threes and construct a diagram and an analysis of the effects

of El Nino and La Nina on at least two major American cities.

Global Warming Propaganda Poster Activity: Students will

create a propaganda poster that tries to influence people into

believing Global Warming.

Pop Top Demo: Students will demonstrate properties of air

when it is warmed

Let’s Cause Some Thunder: Students will simulate thunder and

in doing so, learn why and how it happens in Earth’s

atmosphere.

Tornado in a Bottle: Lab activity where students will get the

visual demonstration of making a tornado in a bottle. Good

Concept 2: Sample

Assessment Items

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

activator strategy.

Web Activity -Earth Science (activity): Students will use

technology to access the NOAA to answer questions based on

weather graphs and statistics.

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Concept, Essential

Question(s), and

Standard(s)

Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment

Concept 3: Climate

EQ1: What types of

damage do extreme

weather events cause?

EQ2: How does your

location affect your

biome?

SES6. Students will

explain how life on

Earth responds to and

shapes Earth systems. b. Relate the distribution

of biomes (terrestrial,

freshwater, and marine)

to climate regions

through time.

Essential*

Biome

Freshwater

Marine

Terrestrial

Supplemental**

El Nino

Ice Age

Global Warming

Greenhouse Effect

*Essential vocabulary

listed in the GPS

Standards

**Supplemental

vocabulary listed in the

state frameworks and/or

other state document

PowerPoints and Notes: Climate Zones PowerPoint

Koppen PowerPoint

Natural and Man Made Climate Change

Chapter 14 Book PowerPoint

Chapter 14 Guided Notes that match up with book

Global Ocean Currents

Global Wind Patterns (Handout)

Precipitation Charts (Average, January, July)

Climograph Chart

Animations and Videos: Weather vs. Climate (time 6:24)

Worlds Biomes: An introduction to Climate (time 5:51)

Handouts and Activities: Biomes of the World: This WebQuest examines the different

biomes focusing on locations around the world including their

biotic and abiotic factors.

Factors that affect Climate: In this activity students will

examine the factors that affect the climate of region and to

identify and analyze the effects that various factors have on the

climate of a hypothetical region of the globe.

Koppen Classification: Students will write and perform a rap

song about the main divisions of the Koppen Classification

System for climates.

Lesson comparing the effects of El Nino and La Nina: The

students will focus on inquiry by using the Internet to collect

real satellite surface temperature and precipitation data of two

locations that share the same latitude. The student will make

predictions regarding these two locations, and then compare

the data, look for patterns, and provide explanations for the

findings.

Concept 3: Sample

Assessment Items

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Climates of the Earth Worksheet(s) (p.1-3) (Handout 2): This

is a group of handouts focusing on the basic characteristics and

fundamental vocabulary involved in the discussion of climate.

Climate Cycles (p.4-7) (Handout 2): This is a group of

handouts focusing on climate cycles and the fundamentals of

climate cycles. It involves key vocabulary, fill in the blank

questions, and short answer questions.

Recent Climate Change (p.8-10) (Handout 2): This is a group

of handouts focusing of recent climate change. Great practice

and review activities.

Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide Booklet: Students will

create a survival guide booklet comprised of illustrations and

tips on how to survive a “zombie apocalypse” in 5 different

climate regions.

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Concept, Essential

Question(s), and

Standard(s)

Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment

Concept 4: Earth’s

Oceans

EQ1: How do oceans

affect temperature?

SES5. Students will

investigate the

interaction of insolation

and Earth systems to

produce weather and

climate. a. Explain how latitudinal

variations in solar heating

create atmospheric and

ocean currents that

redistribute heat globally.

Essential*

Atmospheric Currents

Ocean Currents

Solar Heating

Supplemental**

Surface Current

Upwelling

Density Current

*Essential vocabulary

listed in the GPS

Standards

**Supplemental

vocabulary listed in the

state frameworks and/or

other state document

PowerPoints and Notes: Ocean Currents PowerPoint

An Overview of Oceans (word document)

Chapter 15 Oceanography Through Time Fact Sheet

Animations and Videos:

Oceans Currents and Climate (time 2:33)

Handouts and Activities: Ocean Current Reading Activity: Students will read an article

about the flow of oceans and answer four short answer

questions about the article.

Ocean Currents and Global Climate Activities Packet: A

packet of activities that demonstrate how global ocean currents

and patterns affect global climate. Contains several quick labs.

Chapter 15 Review Handout Ocean Currents: This review

handout focuses is a good review of summative assessment

practice over ocean currents.

Ocean Surface Currents and Coriolis Effect Reading Activity:

Students will read an article about ocean surface currents and

answer a series of questions about the article.

Surface Currents - Coriolis Effect Internet Activity: WebQuest

activity that can be used to assess or enhance student

knowledge about the Coriolis Effect.

Current Effects on Climate (key): Online activity where the

students will investigate latitude/longitude, prevailing current

and effect on climate of different locations in the United

States.

Concept 4: Sample

Assessment Items

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Concept, Essential

Question(s), and

Standard(s)

Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment

Concept 5: Earth’s

Resources

EQ1: Why does life

always from near or

around water

SES6. Students will

explain how life on

Earth responds to and

shapes Earth systems. a. Relate the nature and

distribution of life on

Earth, including humans,

to the chemistry and

availability of water.

SES1: Students will

investigate the

composition and

formation of Earth

systems, including the

Earth’s relationship to

the solar system.

e. Identify the

transformations and

major reservoirs that

make up the rock cycle,

hydrologic cycle, carbon

cycle, and other

biogeochemical cycles.

Essential*

Life

Water

Supplemental**

Natural Resource

Renewable Resource

Nonrenewable Resource

Pollutant

Desalination

*Essential vocabulary

listed in the GPS

Standards

**Supplemental

vocabulary listed in the

state frameworks and/or

other state document

PowerPoints and Notes: Carbon Cycle PowerPoint

Nitrogen Cycle PowerPoint

Oxygen Cycle PowerPoint

Water Resources PowerPoint

Earth System Chapter 24 Review Notes

Where Australians Live PowerPoint

Animations and Videos: They Hydrologic and Carbon Cycle (time 10:04)

The Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycle (time 9:21)

California Climate Change: Impacts on Water Supply (time:

3:09)

Handouts and Activities: Chapter 24.1 Activator: This activator introduces the concept

of Renewable Resources and Nonrenewable Resources

Where’s the Water?

(https://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/drought/1.html): Complete 1a

through 1c on this website as a lab on the concepts of the

importance of water to cities and civilization as a whole.

Getting Freshwater Resources: Student handout that allows

students to practice their understanding of the importance to

water to the formations of societies and people as a whole.

Renewable Resources: This handout focuses on the differences

between renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Water Usage Activity: Activity where students have to figure

out how to construct buildings around the local town’s water

supply configuration.

Biogeochemical Worksheet/Color Sheet: Coloring activity

involving the three biogeochemical cycles. Students will

answer the questions and color the cycles to gain a better

understanding of each one.

Concept 5: Sample

Assessment Items

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Concept, Essential

Question(s), and

Standard(s)

Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment

Concept 6: Energy’s

Resources

EQ1: Have you altered

the cycle of energy or

matter that flows through

the ecosystem?

SES6. Students will

explain how life on

Earth responds to and

shapes Earth systems. c. Explain how

geological and ecological

processes interact

through time to cycle

matter and energy, and

how human activity alters

the rates of these

processes (e.g., fossil fuel

formation and

combustion).

Essential*

Ecological Process

Energy

Fossil Fuel Combustion

Fossil Fuel Formation

Geological Process

Human Activity

Matter

Supplemental**

Fossil Fuels

Combustion

Geothermal Energy

Sustainable Energy

*Essential vocabulary

listed in the GPS

Standards

**Supplemental

vocabulary listed in the

state frameworks and/or

other state document

PowerPoints and Notes: Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle

Human Impact on the Nitrogen Cycle

Human Impact on the Oxygen Cycle

Combustion and Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuel PowerPoint

Environmental Problems Associated with Fossil Fuel Use

Human Population Growth and Natural Resources

Earth’s Natural Resources and Human Impacts

Animations and Videos: Black Carbon (time 6:07)

300 years of fossil fuels in 300 seconds (time 5:38)

5 Human Impact on the Environment (time 10:38)

Handouts and Activities: Mix and Match Ecology Sheet: Students will pick a human

activity, match it with an ecosystem, and then choose a

disturbance that could occur. Students will need to explain and

justify their choices.

Energy Flow and Biome Project: Students will look at the

ways that energy from the Sun and from deep inside the Earth

flow through the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living things.

Stabilization Wedge Game

(http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/game.php): The Stabilization

Wedges Game is a team-based exercise that teaches players

about the scale of the greenhouse gas problem, plus

technologies that already exist to dramatically reduce our

carbon emissions and get us off the path toward dramatic and

damaging climate change.

Explaining Climate Change: Use the following website

http://www.explainingclimatechange.ca/Climate%20Change/L

essons/lessons.html and complete Lesson 2, 3, 5, and 9. These

Concept 6: Sample

Assessment Items

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

all deal directly with climate change and human impact.

Essentials Human Impact Packet Activities: Group of activities

that can be used to display how humans have impacted

resource use on the planet.

TCSS Earth Systems Climate and Weather Unit Information

Concept, Essential

Question(s), and

Standard(s)

Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment

Concept 7: Human

Impact on Resources

EQ1: Will humans

eventually use up all of

their resources leaving

Earth a desolate place?

SES5. Students will

investigate the

interaction of insolation

and Earth systems to

produce weather and

climate. f. Relate changes in

global climate to

variation in Earth/Sun

relationships and to

natural and

anthropogenic

modification of

atmospheric composition.

Essential*

Anthropogenic

Modification

Atmospheric

Composition

Climate

Supplemental**

Ozone Hole

Acid Precipitation

Photochemical Smog

Deforestation

*Essential vocabulary

listed in the GPS

Standards

**Supplemental

vocabulary listed in the

state frameworks and/or

other state document

PowerPoints and Notes: The Ozone Layer

Acid Rain PowerPoint

Water Resource Management

Animations and Videos: Ozone Layer Danger (time 4:17)

The Antarctic Ozone Hole- From Discovery to Recovery, a

Scientific Journey (time16:36)

Acid Rain Eating Washington DC (time 2:29)

BBC iScience Acid Rain (time 4:49)

Handouts and Activities: Mauna Loa in the Classroom (teacher notes and student

assignment): Using real data set for collection sites in both the

northern and southern hemispheres, students can discover

historic trends in carbon dioxide measurement. Comes with

both a teacher and student guide.

Apes Ozone Assignment: Webquest that allows you to explore

what the ozone layer is and how it is has both positive and

negative parts.

Apes Smog City: Students simulate the effects of smog on a

city while setting their own variables within the simulation.

Acid Rain Experiment: Students will make and model the

effects of acid rain.

Concept 7: Sample

Assessment Items