Weather & Climate

Lesson 1: The difference between weather and climate

I will understand the difference between weather and climate
I will decide how different activities are affected by weather

After watching the videos below on weather and climate see if you can complete the following worksheet.

What is weather and climate?
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Create a spider diagram outlining all the different types of weather you could expect to get.

Weather and climate from Steven Heath

Weather and climate
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Weather symbols
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Review the weather symbols by testing the class using the mini boards. Get them to draw the symbols.

Lesson 2: Climate zones

To understand what factors affect climate.
To be able to explain why areas have different climates.

Using the presentation below and also the worksheet explain the 5 factors that affect climate. Print in A3.

Factors that affect climate - worksheet
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Factors affecting climate from Steven Heath

Climate zones of our planet

Print the above image to be glued into the student's notebooks.

Create a Kahoot with 10 questions about what we have learnt in the last 2 lessons. This should be completed for homework and we will use your one of your Kahoot's as a starter activity next lesson.

Lesson 3: Climate graphs

To be able to read and understand climate data (temperatures and precipitation)
To plot climate data on a graph
To recognize, describe and explain climate trends using a graph.

You are planning to go away on vacation to Mumbai, India. However, you are unsure when the best time is to visit. When is the best season? What should I take with me? What clothes do I need? Using your laptop research these questions in 5 minutes and then be prepared to explain your decision.

Print the Climograph of Halifax Nova Scotia and annotate it with labels explaining:

What is it?
What do the axis show?
How can we interpret it?

Then complete the worksheet creating your own climate graph. Use the data found on the world climate index.

Climograph outline
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World Climate index

Using your climate graphs:

Calculate the yearly precipitation
Average temperature
Temperature range.

Lesson 4: Different types of rainfall

To appreciate that rainfall does not always occur because of the same reasons.
To be able to explain:
- Relief rainfall
- Convectional rainfall
- Frontal rainfall
To be able to draw diagrams explaining the types of rainfall and explain where they occur.

When it rains clouds are VERY high up in the air so why does the average rain storm not hurt us?

Using the following YouTube explain:

Why does it rain?
Why are clouds white?

Types of Rainfall from Steven Heath

Review all the content learnt by using the Kahoot.

Types of Rainfall Kahoot

Lesson 5: Wind and Air pressure

To understand how wind is formed.
To be able to identify different air masses
To know where and why different air masses are formed.

Using the YouTube below as a stimulus, discuss wind.

What is it?
What does it do?
Why do you think it occurs?

'The natural movement of the air in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction'

BUT
What causes the wind?

Watch the Wild Weather documentary on Wind.

Lesson 6&7: Extreme Weather - Hurricanes

What are extreme weather events?
What are their causes and consequences?
How can we respond to them?

What is extreme weather?
Discuss with the person next to you and try to make a definition of what you think extreme weather is.

Definition of Extreme weather

Extreme weather is any weather event which takes place and causes considerable damage to people and property. It is severe and is becoming increasingly common.

List as many extreme weather events as you can think of.

Using the outline map and the image below glue and colour in the the distribution of tropical storms around the world.

World Map outline
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Go through the PowerPoint below and the animation explaining the formation of Hurricanes. Then complete the worksheet.

Hurricane formation worksheet
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Hurricane location and formation
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Complete the Activities on the Hurricane worksheet.

Hurricane worksheet
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Outline what we have learnt so far about hurricanes.

Homework: Case Study on Hurricane Katrina
Create a case study on one page of A4

Where and when did it happen?
Outline the series of events.
What were its effects?
What happened after - how did people respond?

Lesson 8: Extreme Weather - Drought

To be able to explain what drought is.
To know how drought is caused.
To be able to explain the effects drought has on an area.

How long can you live without water?
What would be the affects?

A drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in its water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or ground water. A drought can last for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region and harm to the local economy.

Using the world map outline colour in the BROWN areas that show extreme drought. Then describe their distribution.