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Standards:

S6E4b. Relate unequal heating of land and water surfaces to form large global wind systems and weather events such as tornados and thunderstorms.

S6E4c. Relate how moisture evaporating from the oceans affects the weather patterns and weather events such as hurricanes.

Essential Question:What factors

influence weather?

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Activating Strategy:“A Perfect Day”

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Activating Strategy:

“A Perfect Day”Have you experienced a “perfect day” like Peep,

Chirp, and Quack? Describe your experience.

Did everyone experience the “perfect day” as you did? Why or why not?

What do you think has an influence on our “perfect days”?

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Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place (short periods of time)

Climate is the average weather of an area over a

long period of time

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The interaction of water, the sun, and air cause

weather.

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Turn to an elbow partner and describe what you

have learned so far about the interaction of water,

the sun, and air on Earth. [Hint: water cycle, land/sea

breeze]

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The Sun provides the Earth’s energy. This energy causes the evaporation of water

from the atmosphere which eventually falls back to Earth

as precipitation.

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The Sun’s energy also heats the Earth’s surface, which then

heats the air. Due to the unequal heating of the Earth’s

surface, heat is redistributed by air and water currents.

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Review of Concepts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrPS2HiYVp8

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As you have experienced,

weather changes frequently.

What factors cause weather to change?

A Few of the Factors of Weather

• Air Pressure•Air Temperature

•Wind

•Humidity

• Clouds

• Precipitation11

Use the Factors of Weather Graphic Organizer to Take

Notes

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Air temperature, wind, and humidity are all

connected to air pressure.

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Air Temperature

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Air TemperatureTemperature is a measure of

the average amount of motion of molecules.

Based on our previous lessons, does warm air or

cold air have faster moving molecules?

As the temperature of a substance increases, the particles in the substance move faster causing

lower density and lower pressure.

The temperature of a substance is related to the speed of the substance’s particles.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/science/changing_matter/changingmatter.swf

As the temperature of a substance decreases, the particles in the substance move slower

causing higher density and higher pressure.

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Lower Temperature

Higher Density

Higher Pressure

Lower Particle Movement

Higher Temperature

Lower Density

Lower Pressure

Higher Particle Movement

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Infrared Images of Surface Temperature

on the Earth

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1705/es1705page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Notice the land specifically in the animation showing a 5 year average of surface

temperatures. What concept does this demonstrate?

Land heats and cools faster than water

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Warm air temperature = Warm Feeling

WeatherCold air temperature = Cold Feeling Weather

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Wind

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Wind is air moving in a

specific direction.

What determines the direction of wind?

In which direction would the wind move below.

Higher Temperaturefaster moving particles

Lower Density

Lower Pressure

Lower Temperatureslower moving particles

Higher Density

Higher Pressure

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How does

wind influence weather?

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Wind helps redistribute the Earth’s

heat.

Wind can make the weather in an area cooler

or warmer.

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Turn to a seat partner and

describe a time you have

experienced when the wind has influenced the weather.

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Formative Assessment Check:On a sheet of paper…

Identify the difference between weather and

climate

Describe how temperature and wind

affect weather.

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Heat evaporates water into the atmosphere.

Where does it go?

Water vapor molecules fit into spaces among

the molecules that make up air.

Remembering the Water Cycle

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WaterVapor

Molecules

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Humidity

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Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air.http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AThe_Water_Cycle_Watering_the_Land.ogv

Humidity

Air doesn’t always contain the same amount of water vapor.

More water vapor can be present when the air is warm than when it

is cool. But Why???

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HumidityThink about it…what is happening to the

movement of particles when the temperature is warm?

In warmer temperatures, the particles move faster and don’t easily come together.

In cooler temperatures, slower moving particles allow water vapor molecules to stick together and form water droplets of

liquid water (condensation)32

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How then is Humidity connected to Air Pressure?

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Cooler temperatures have lower pressure (density) and lower humidity because the

water vapor condenses faster.

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How does Humidity influence weather?

How does Humidity influence Weather?

Low Humidity is when the air feels dry.

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How does Humidity influence Weather?

High Humidity is when the air feels damp, “sticky” or

“muggy”.

High Humidity can make the weather feel

warmer than the actual temperature.

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Would you prefer your “perfect day” weather to have low humidity or high humidity?

Why?

Share with an elbow partner. 38

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CloudCloudss

Turn to a seat partner Turn to a seat partner and discuss how a and discuss how a

cloud forms.cloud forms.

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A cloud forms when

warm air rises,

expands, cools and

condenses.

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CloudCloudss

How might clouds How might clouds influence weather?influence weather?

How do Clouds Influence the Weather?

• Clouds prevent the sun’s radiation from hitting the Earth’s surface; therefore, causing a cooling effect

• Clouds can also trap some of the Earth’s heat as well as reflect some of the solar radiation

• Clouds are a source of precipitation42

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Formative Assessment Formative Assessment CheckCheck

Are clouds good or Are clouds good or bad for weather? bad for weather?

Explain.Explain.

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Precipitation

Precipitation

• Precipitation occurs when water droplets combine and grow large enough to fall to Earth.

• Air temperature determines whether water forms rain, snow, sleet or hail

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Precipitation

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Describe a time you have experienced when

precipitation has affected the weather.

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http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/weather-and-climate/weather-and-climate.htm

Study Jams: Weather and Climate

Summarizer: 5 – 3 – 1

• Identify 5 factors of weather

• Describe 3 examples of how these factors affect weather

• Identify 1 reason weather is not the same everywhere

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