Seasonal Change on Land and Water
http://www.globe.gov/documents/356823/412c9bdf-60d7-473d-9ecd-392158d3d232
http://www.globe.gov/documents/356823/412c9bdf-60d7-473d-9ecd-392158d3d232
GLOBE Program
Activity takes one class period.
Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»
See how this Activity supports the Next Generation Science Standards»
Grade Level
Appropriate for middle school and lower high school students.
Topics
Climate Literacy
This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.
Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.
Energy Literacy
This Activity builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.
Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.
Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines
1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:G) Drawing conclusions and developing explanations
Other materials addressing:
G) Drawing conclusions and developing explanations.
Other materials addressing:
G) Drawing conclusions and developing explanations.
1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:C) Collecting information
Other materials addressing:
C) Collecting information.
Other materials addressing:
C) Collecting information.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.1 The Earth as a Physical System:A) Processes that shape the Earth
Other materials addressing:
A) Processes that shape the Earth.
Other materials addressing:
A) Processes that shape the Earth.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.1 The Earth as a Physical System:C) Energy
Other materials addressing:
C) Energy.
Other materials addressing:
C) Energy.
Notes From Our Reviewers
The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness.
Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about
how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- An additional assessment strategy for students should be designed to ensure student understanding of the lesson and to prevent misconceptions from being developed.
- Educator should set the stage for the activity with a demonstration of the reason for the seasons.
- If a color copier/printer or computer projector are not available, there is an opportunity for students to color their own diagrams.
About the Content
- Worksheet-based activity in which students interpret global visualizations of incoming solar radiation, average surface temperatures, land/sea distribution diagrams in order to understand the reason for the seasons and the effect of different heat capacities of land and water.
- Good background information, but additional reference materials are not provided to support educator.
- The oblique diagram on Earth’s location relative to the sun appears to show a highly elliptical orbit that may cause misconceptions. It should be pointed out that the diagram on the left is oblique and the diagram on the right is looking straight down on the orbital plane.
- This activity may not effectively address (and could reinforce) misconceptions about the reason for the seasons.
- Comment from scientist: Freezing point of water is 0 deg C and not 3 deg C. Incoming solar radiation is approx 342 W/m2 and not 300.
- The term albedo should be introduced when teaching about reflectiveness of different surfaces, and the term heat capacity could be made explicit in the student materials to introduce students to proper scientific terminology.
About the Pedagogy
- Well-designed worksheet, good visualizations and guidance for educator. Rubrics/answer key for assessing students are available.
- Resource urges group work and discussion among groups, which enhance learning for diverse groups.
- Material is challenging to teach and engage students. It will need skilled educator guidance.
Related URLs These related sites were noted by our reviewers but have not been reviewed by CLEAN
- This activity is part of the larger GLOBE collection http://www.globe.gov/do-globe/globe-teachers-guide.
