Weather, Climate and Me
Your student is beginning a science unit created at the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center. This unit was designed to promote inquiry-based science, and is complete with classroom materials to accompany the activities. During the next eight weeks, your student will be actively involved with this unit. The unit, Weather, Climate, and Me, is geared for seventh grade students and focuses on weather, climate and human activity. The unit includes the following areas of study:
1. Weather and how it changes from day to day in relation to the movement and interaction of air masses
2. Weather and climate as a result of energy from the sun reaching Earth
3. Climate and how patterns of weather over the year vary from place to place
4. Water movement and how the water cycle demonstrates what happens to water when it rains or when it snows
5. The make-up of the atmosphere and how it changes at different elevations
6. How human activities have changed the Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere
Your student will be engaged in multiple activities that engage learners in discussing, investigating, and researching different weather phenomena, climates, and how human activities affect climate change, wildlife, and habitats. They will explore day to day weather and how warm and cold fronts form and move across the country, as well as different forms of precipitation due to the clashing of warm and cold fronts.
Students will also be involved in making models of how water cycles through the atmosphere and land on Earth (water cycle) and explore the make-up of the atmosphere and how the pressure and temperature of the atmosphere changes at different altitudes. The unit concludes with an in-depth study of how human activity affects the atmosphere, oceans, land and climate. They will work together to develop and carry out a plan that reduces carbon dioxide emission in the classroom, home, school, and community.
Suggestions for activities to do at home are included on this page. These activities will reinforce the concepts taught during this unit of instruction.
I hope you enjoy discussing the concepts involved in Weather, Climate, and Me with your student. Let me know if I may be of assistance.
Activities to Do At Home
1. Discuss the water supply to your home. Explain to your student if your water supply is from a well or a municipal supply. Tale a tour of the water treatment facility in your area. Find out the name of the watershed in your area. Follow the water from the storm drain to its outlet.
2. Work with your student in reducing the carbon footprint (carbon dioxide emissions) in your home.
3. The unit includes a research project about different climates on Earth. Make a trip to the library and check out books regarding different climates.
4. If you have relatives or family that live in a different climate, have your student collect weather data from home ad a different climate and explain why each climate has different temperatures, precipitation, humidity, and winds.
5. Watch the weather report on the news, in the newspaper, and on-line. Discuss the meaning of the weather terms used by the meteorologists.
Your student is beginning a science unit created at the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center. This unit was designed to promote inquiry-based science, and is complete with classroom materials to accompany the activities. During the next eight weeks, your student will be actively involved with this unit. The unit, Weather, Climate, and Me, is geared for seventh grade students and focuses on weather, climate and human activity. The unit includes the following areas of study:
1. Weather and how it changes from day to day in relation to the movement and interaction of air masses
2. Weather and climate as a result of energy from the sun reaching Earth
3. Climate and how patterns of weather over the year vary from place to place
4. Water movement and how the water cycle demonstrates what happens to water when it rains or when it snows
5. The make-up of the atmosphere and how it changes at different elevations
6. How human activities have changed the Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere
Your student will be engaged in multiple activities that engage learners in discussing, investigating, and researching different weather phenomena, climates, and how human activities affect climate change, wildlife, and habitats. They will explore day to day weather and how warm and cold fronts form and move across the country, as well as different forms of precipitation due to the clashing of warm and cold fronts.
Students will also be involved in making models of how water cycles through the atmosphere and land on Earth (water cycle) and explore the make-up of the atmosphere and how the pressure and temperature of the atmosphere changes at different altitudes. The unit concludes with an in-depth study of how human activity affects the atmosphere, oceans, land and climate. They will work together to develop and carry out a plan that reduces carbon dioxide emission in the classroom, home, school, and community.
Suggestions for activities to do at home are included on this page. These activities will reinforce the concepts taught during this unit of instruction.
I hope you enjoy discussing the concepts involved in Weather, Climate, and Me with your student. Let me know if I may be of assistance.
Activities to Do At Home
1. Discuss the water supply to your home. Explain to your student if your water supply is from a well or a municipal supply. Tale a tour of the water treatment facility in your area. Find out the name of the watershed in your area. Follow the water from the storm drain to its outlet.
2. Work with your student in reducing the carbon footprint (carbon dioxide emissions) in your home.
3. The unit includes a research project about different climates on Earth. Make a trip to the library and check out books regarding different climates.
4. If you have relatives or family that live in a different climate, have your student collect weather data from home ad a different climate and explain why each climate has different temperatures, precipitation, humidity, and winds.
5. Watch the weather report on the news, in the newspaper, and on-line. Discuss the meaning of the weather terms used by the meteorologists.