climatesofworld

Title: Climates Around the World

Grade Level(s): fourth, fifth, sixth

Subjects:

Learner Outcomes:

The students will define what determines a climate.
The students will identify the 5 major climate zones found on Earth.
The students will learn how to conduct a search on the Internet.
Teams of students will research the major climate zones using the Internet.
Teams will create pamphlets highlighting the ecosystems and weather patterns of their climate zones. Teams will receive Guidelines to follow in completing their research.
The students will present their research to the class using their pamphlets as visual aids.

Duration of Lesson: One week

Materials:

TechnologyTools/Courseware:

Teacher Notes: Students will need a signed AUP form on file.

Procedures:

Day 1

Define weather. Define climate. Discuss the difference between the two. Stress the factors that cause climate differences.
Introduce the 5 major climate zones of the world. Briefly discuss their ecosystems and weather patterns.
Teacher reference sources :

Day 2

Have teams complete the tutorial on how to do a search on the Internet.
Assign each team a major climate zone to research. Give each team a list of Guidelines to follow in gathering their data. Each team member can be responsible for one item on the guidelines to gather research.
Have teams begin searching the Internet for research on their respective climate zones.

Day 3

Have students continue their research. Team members should be focusing on their assigned area of the Guidelines to serve as the expert in that area and to be responsible for that section of the pamphlet.
Teams need to meet to begin designing their pamphlets.

Day 4

Teams meet to design their pamphlets and prepare their reports for presentation to the class.

Day 5

Teams present reports and pamphlets to class. Teacher uses a rubric to score the presentations.

Modifications: Modify lesson according to students' IEPs.

Enrichment Activities:

Locate climate zones using longitude and latitude activities.
Research how the climate affects jobs, dress, food, and other economic factors.
Study how humans have adapted to these climates.
Study how humans have affected climates of the world.
Use the computer to develop a graphing program to compare temperatures and other climatic factors.
Write a persuasive letter to the editor of a newspaper concerning the effects of global warming on the climates of the world.
Read Earthmaker's Tales: North American Indian Stories About Earth Happenings by Gretchen Will Mayo.
Weather Game