TABLE OF CONTENTS - Lindbergh School District

Strand 5: Processes and Interactions of the Earth’s Systems
(Geosphere, Atmosphere, and Hydrosphere)
2. Earth’s systems (geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) interact with one another as they
undergo change by common processes
Major Objectives IS Suggested Activities Suggested Assessments
Concept F: Constantly changing properties of
the atmosphere occur in patterns which are
described as weather
5.2.F.a Predict the weather at a designated
location using weather maps (including
map legends) and /or weather data (e.g.,
temperature, barometric pressure, cloud
cover and type, wind speed and direction,
precipitation)
Concept F: Constantly changing properties of
the atmosphere occur in patterns which are
described as weather
5.2.F.b Discover and evaluate patterns and
relationships in the causes of weather
phenomena and regional climates (e.g.,
circulation of air and water around the
Earth, movement of global winds and
water cycles due to solar radiation)
Concept G: The geosphere, hydrosphere, and
atmosphere are continually interacting through
processes that transfer energy and Earth’s
materials
5.2.G.a Explain how global wind and
ocean currents are produced on the Earth’s
surface (e.g., effects of unequal heating of
the Earth’s land masses, oceans and air by
the Sun due to latitude and surface material
type: effects of gravitational forces acting
on layers of air of different densities due to
temperature differences: effects of the
rotation of the Earth: effects of surface
topography)
R
W
T
C1
C3
C10
C1
C3
C8
C10
R
W
Students will complete a week long meteorology lab
that includes using weather maps and finding our
current weather data.
Students will observe a diagram that indicates the
global wind patterns of the Earth. They will also
observe a chart that shows how ocean currents
circulate around the Earth.
Partially covered in PS.
Ocean Density Lab to show how cold/warm and
salt/fresh water react to one another.
Students will measure each day’s current weather
conditions using a thermometer, anemometer, matches
(wind direction), rain gauge, and a barometer that they
have created in class with wet and dry bulbs. They will
also be noting the types of clouds that they are seeing
in the sky each day. They will then analyze their data
at the end of the week and answer various questions
relating to their findings.
Students will predict what type of weather/climate can
be expected in specific areas around the globe due to
the ocean currents and wind patterns near the area.
Pretest
Students will compare and contrast cold and warm
water to one another and salt and fresh water to one
another. They will then explain why cold currents
come from the poles and warm currents come from the
equator. They will also be able to predict what
happens when fresh river water washes into ocean
water.
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