Earth Science: Weather & Climate

Students will understand the atmospheric processes that support life and cause weather and climate.

Standard 3
Objective 1
Relate how energy from the Sun drives atmospheric processes and how atmospheric currents transport matter and transfer energy. 

How the Sun Heats the Earth:  University of Illinois Extension

Compare and contrast the amount of energy coming from the Sun that is reflected, absorbed or scattered by the atmosphere, oceans, and land masses.

Weather and Climate Basics. NOAA 

Construct a model that demonstrates how the greenhouse effect contributes to atmospheric energy.   Visit to an Ocean Planet:  Greenhouse Activity

Conduct an investigation on how the tilt of Earth's axis causes variations in the intensity and duration of sunlight striking Earth.   REASONS for the SEASONS:  TED ED

Explain how uneven heating of Earth's atmosphere at the equator and polar regions combined with the Coriolis effect createan atmospheric circulation system including, Hadley cells, tradewinds, and prevailing westerlies, that moves heat energy around Earth. 

Coriolis Effect Lab:  Carolina Biological

Explain how the presence of ozone in the stratosphere is beneficial to life, while ozone in the troposphere is considered an air pollutant.  

The History of the Ozone Hole

Standard 3:
Objective 2
Describe elements of weather and the factors that cause them to vary from day to day.

Identify the elements of weather and the instruments used to measure them (e.g., temperature - thermometer; precipitation - rain gauge or Doppler radar; humidity - hygrometer; air pressure - barometer; wind - anemometer; cloud coverage - satellite imaging). 

History of the Barometer
Weather Instruments and Equipment 
Climate and Weather:  TED ED 
Climate Reality Project

Describe conditions that give rise to severe weather phenomena (e.g., thunderstorms, tornados, hurricanes, El Niño/La Niña). 

Explain a difference between a low pressure system and a high pressure system, including the weather associated with them. 

Air Pressure and How it Affects Weather 
Air Pressure Experiments 

Diagram and describe cold, warm, occluded, and stationary boundaries (weather fronts) between air masses. 

Design and conduct a weather investigation, use an appropriate display of the data, and interpret the observations and data.
NOAA:  Virtual Weather Related Games 

Additional Resources to Explore:

https://ed.ted.com/featured/jyOdrQUt

https://youtu.be/YbAWny7FV3w

https://ed.ted.com/featured/jyOdrQUt#digdeeper

http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2007/07/25/greenhouse_effect/

Arizona Monsoon 

EARTHS ATMOSPHERE COLUMN

UDOE Earth Science Standard 3 

Learning Objective: Students will understand the atmospheric processes that support life and cause weather and climate.

1. Relate how energy from the Sun drives atmospheric processes and how atmospheric currents transport matter and transfer energy. 
2. Compare and contrast the amount of energy coming from the Sun that is reflected, absorbed or scattered by the atmosphere, oceans, and land masses. 
3. Construct a model that demonstrates how the greenhouse effect contributes to atmospheric energy. 
4. Conduct an investigation on how the tilt of Earth's axis causes variations in the intensity and duration of sunlight striking Earth. 
5. Explain how uneven heating of Earth's atmosphere at the equator and polar regions combined with the Coriolis effect create an atmospheric circulation system including, Hadley cells, trade winds, and prevailing westerlies, that moves heat energy around Earth. 
6. Explain how the presence of ozone in the stratosphere is beneficial to life, while ozone in the troposphere is considered an air pollutant. 

Activities:

Recreate the atmosphere column converting feet to inches SERC. (Use cash register machine tape-end model at the thermophere-exosphere boundary. 

Create a model presentation on the Coriolis Effect NOAA  

Smog City Virtual Lab

SERC Site Guides for Educators 

Excellent Resources:

How the Sun Heats the Earth:  University of Illinois Extension 

How Clouds Affect Earth's Temperature 

Goddard Space Station

Local Weather Stations

The Biosphere 

The Atmospheres of the Solar System

Learning Objective:  

Students will compare and contrast atmosphere compositions between all planets in the solar system.  Investigate the evolution of earth's atmosphere, its unique properties, and current environmental degradation. Compare and contrast the scale of objects within our solar system and hierarchy of matter. 

Competency Projects:  

Graphic organizer of Atmospheres of the Solar System.
Individual Presentation (planetary solar system: composition, unique features, contrast to Earth, reflection on life present).
Recreation of Atmospheric Earth Column
Pressure Can Lab
Hierarchy of Matter Lab
Quiz:  Solar System and Atmosphere

https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/07/25/planetatmospheres/

Utah Education Network:  Earth Science Core Objectives

Relate the composition of objects in the solar system to their distance from the Sun.

Compare the size of the solar system to the Milky Way galaxy. 

Compare the size and scale of objects within the solar system. 

Evaluate the conditions that currently support life on Earth (biosphere) and compare them to the conditions that exist on other planets and moons in the solar system (e.g., atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, amounts of incoming solar energy, habitable zone). 

Resources

NOVA: Our Universe

NASA Evolution of the Solar System 

Hotspots for Star Gazing in Southern Utah 

Space Junk 

Blue Dot

WHY THESE TWO LAZERS ARE TWO POWERFUL TO USE IN SPACE

TED TALK:  Reason for the Seasons 

The Smallest to the Biggest Things in the Universe

Bat Evolution, Parasites and Animal Phyla

The evolution of Trypanosoma cruzi: the ‘bat seeding’ hypothesis

Learning Objective:   Diversity of Life and Classification:   Parasitism

Important Links:
Immune Selection Workshop
http://ideas.princeton.edu/workshop-for-2015/
Major Phyla of Animals
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/trnov01.htm

Supplemental Reading:
Parasites and the Evolution of Primates Phylum
http://altizerlab.uga.edu/Publications/PDFs/Nunn%20et%20al%202004%20AmNat.pdf

Review Materials for Biology and Chemistry

Biology Final Test Review

Biology Essential Vocabulary

Chemistry Final Test Review

Heating Curve Basics: Great Video
Heating Curve with Math Calculation Review
Gas Law Quiz
Gas Law Quiz Key
Single Replacement Review Video with Labs

Chemistry Final Sample Test Answers:
Note:  Click on bolded letters for video example
1)d
2)d
3)d
4)c
5)c
6)b
7)d
8)a
9)b
10)c
11)d
12)c
13)b
14)a
15)a
16)d
17)c
18)d
19)a
20)c
21)b
22)c
23)b
24)c
25)d
26)b
27)b
28)d
29)d
30)b
31)c
32)a
33)b
34)a
35)c
36)a
37)d
38)a
39)d
40)b
41)d
42)d
43)c
44)a
45)d

To be continued when you take another Chemistry course in HS or University.  May the force be with you.  

Biogeochemical Cycles, Electrochemistry and Gas Laws

BIOLOGY:   May 5-16, 2014

Biosphere 2:  Oracle, Arizona

The student(s) will compare and analyze the cycles of matter by laboratory inquiry, guided notes, field experiences and production of EduCreate Movies.  


The student willl investigate ecosystem functions, food pyramids, abiotic and biotic components, population dynamics, and the Laws of Thermodynamics by puppets and costumes, guided notes, and production of
multimedia projects.  

Cycle of Matter Supplemental Videos and Links: 

Biogeochemical Cycles
Interactive Carbon Cycle Game
Interactive Nitrogen Cycle Game
Interactive Water Cycle Game
World Water Watch
Water Quality Crossword
Water Quality Crossword Key
Algal Bloom: NASA Lake Eyrie
The Cycle of Matter:  NASA
List of Galaxies
iMatter:  Youth and Global Warming
Explain Everything App Discription

Ecology and Population:  Supplemental Links
An Introduction to Barn Owl Food Pyramids
Rocky the Barn Owl:  Video
Canopy Meg

Biology Final Review Jeopardy
Biology Jeopardy

CHEMISTRY:  May 5-16 2014

May 5-9:  The student(s) will investigate the phenomena and theories about electrochemistry by laboratory investigations, building squishy circuits, problem solving, guided notes and vocabulary activities. 

May 12-16, 2014:  The student(s) will investigate the properties of gases and associated laws by laboratory experiments, guided notes, and vocabulary games. 

Supplemental Video's and Links:

TED TALK: Hands on Squishy Circuit Talk
Squishy Circuits Lesson and Activities
Squishy Circuits Class Project
Electrochemisty and ReDox Review PPTx
UpFront Blog CSM:  The Never Ending
Measuring Gas Pressure:  Dr. Tyler De Witt
How to Make A Liquid Barometer
How to Make A Liquid Barometer:  Video

NASA Gas Laws Animated Activity:  Boyles Law
Gas Laws Activity Sheet: Boyles Law
Khan Academy Ideal Gas Laws Equation
Gas Laws Animated Activity:  Charles Law
Gas Laws Answer Sheet:  Charles Law
Boyle Law:  Dr. Tyler De Witt
QBIC Confluence
Gas Laws and Respiration
NASA:  Climate Change
Stoichiometry Review
Gas Laws: Combined

Evolution, Natural Selection and Aqueous Chemistry

Biology Week 15-16, April 21-May 2, 2014

The student will investigate the processes, development and history of evolution and natural selection by guided inquiry laboratory exercises, video and select readings.  

http://www.high50.com/life/middle-age-our-unique-evolution


Lesson Plans

M:  Artifical and Natural Selection; Vocabulary Game
T:   Divergent and Covergent Evolution
W:  Battle of the Bird Beak Lab and Reading
Th: Classification of Living Things
Fri: Origin of Life Video
Sat: Earth and Sky Field Trip: Harlaquala Wilderness Preserve

M:  Classification of Living Things
T:   Fossil Evidence Lab
W:  Symmetry and Classification of Life
Th:  Arizona Matters:  Desert Biomes and Cycle of Matter
Fri:  Cycle of Matter

Supplemental Links, Presentation PPT's and Video(s)

Darwin's Dangerous Idea:  Part 1-4
Historical Importance Evolution LG1
Genetic Variation Artificial LG2
Natural Selection LG3
Fossil Evidence of Support LG4
The Origin of Life:  David Attenburgh
Harquahala Wilderness Preserve
How are Living Things Classified?


Chemistry: Week 15-16, April 21-May 2, 2014

Lesson Plans:

M: Aqueous Solutions:  Electrolytes, Ionic and Molecular Formulas, Spectator Ions

T:  Aqueous Solutions:  Neutralization of Acids and Bases
W: Aqueous Solutions:  pH
Th: Aqueous Solutions:  pH lab and Introduction Re-Dox Reactions
F:   Oxidation:  Redox IntroVocabulary and Video: Water Chemistry Lab

M: Squishy Chemistry and Electochemistry

T:   Galvanic Cells & Squishy Chemistry LAB
W: Big Quiz:  pH, Aqueous Solution
Th: Gas Laws Part I
Fri:  Gas Laws Part II:  Climate Change Gas Lab

Supplemental Links and Video:

Squishy Chemistry

INTRODUCTION TO OXIDATION REDOX
GALVANIC CELLS
Thermochemistry and Ice
Dr. Julian and Plants

Best Chemistry Videos

Aqueous Chemistry:World of Chem. Ch.8
Quizlet:  Aqueous Chemistry Flashcards: Review
Silver Nitrate and Sodium Chloride Example Lab
Chapter 8:  Answer Sheet