Begin the lesson by discussing the concept of Earth's hemispheres and how their tilt affects the seasons. Use a globe to demonstrate the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun.
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Weather and Seasons
Learning Objectives
- Understand the concept of Earth's hemispheres and how their tilt affects the seasons.
- Identify the characteristics of each season, including temperature, daylight hours, and natural changes.
- Explain how the Earth's orbit around the Sun causes different seasons.
- Recognize the behavioral adaptations of animals and plants in response to seasonal changes.
Introduction and Hook
Introduce the video 'Movement and Position of the Earth – Seasons' to visually explain how the Earth's tilt and orbit create the four seasons.
Direct Instruction
Explain the characteristics of each season, including temperature, daylight hours, and natural changes. Use diagrams to illustrate these concepts.
Show the video 'Seasons' to reinforce the understanding of how the Earth's tilt and orbit affect seasonal changes in both hemispheres.
Guided Exploration
Engage students in a discussion about how animals and plants adapt to seasonal changes. Encourage them to share examples from their own observations.
Use the video 'Understanding and Measuring Weather' to explore how weather patterns are influenced by the Earth's position and climate.
Hands-On Activity
Have students create a seasonal chart, illustrating the changes in temperature, daylight, and nature for each season.
Conduct an experiment to measure wind speed and direction using simple materials. Refer to the 'Measure Wind Speed and Direction' assessment for guidance.
Independent Practice
Assign students to observe and record weather conditions over a week, noting temperature, precipitation, and daylight hours.
Utilize the 'Observing the Weather' assessment to guide students in creating a graph of their observations.
Check for Understanding
Facilitate a class discussion to review the key concepts of Earth's tilt, orbit, and how they affect seasons. Encourage students to ask questions.
Use the 'Seasons' assessment to evaluate students' understanding of the causes of seasonal changes and their characteristics.
Review and Reflection
Have students reflect on how the changes in seasons affect their daily lives and the environment. Encourage them to write a short paragraph.
Show the video 'Weather vs. Climate: Unraveling a Common Misconception' to clarify the difference between weather and climate.
Assessment and Extension
Administer the 'Review – Weather and Climate' assessment to test students' comprehension of the unit.
Try the Quiz
For an extension activity, have students research and present on how climate change might affect seasonal patterns in the future.
