Weather

Air Masses

Cold air has a higher pressure, pushes beneath the lower air pressure found in the warm air mass which causes the warm air mass to rise quickly.  As it rises, it becomes colder.  As the air vapor cools, it condenses becoming water droplets. These tiny drops of water are called clouds.  The clouds continue to form and may become dark as they block the sun from reaching the bottom of them.  As the water droplets collide, they join to form larger drops of water that can no longer be held up in the air and fall as rain.

Activity:  To observe the behavior of different temperature masses

Since we can't see air, we will use water which behaves the same way.

Students were given the goal of creating a model to represent the hot and cold masses.  The materials were
2 plastic cups
2 push pins
large clear plastic tub
room temperature water
hot water
cold water (ice)
food coloring

Push pin is inserted into a plastic cup.  Water is poured into cups. Add food coloring. Cups are placed into large clear tub with room temperature water.  Note: the level of water in the cups needs to be higher than the level of water in the tub. Simultaneously remove push pins.  

this student is describing the upward movement of the warm mass

.http://www.coreknowledge.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/lesson_plans/103/METEOROLOGY%20MADNESS.pdf

http://www.mesonet.org/index.php/earthstorm/page/climate_101_workshops - great powerpoints

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/nttidb/lessons/dn/airdn.html

Layers of the Atmosphere

Atmosphere

Step book for layers of the atmosphere.  We read several selections about the atmosphere.  Students worked in groups to create a page for each layer.

this one is so creative!

http://mjksciteachingideas.com/pdf/LayersMania.pdf

http://www.ck12.org/earth-science/Importance-of-the-Atmosphere/

http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/atmos.html

http://www.msnucleus.org/membership/html/jh/earth/atmosphere/jhatmosphere.pdf

Space

Space

Post cards from Pluto

After reading the book Postcards from Pluto, students made their own postcard from their chosen planet.

The assignment was to research facts about their planet and include it in their writing.  They needed to include the purpose for their trip, whether they are a scientist on a mission, a traveler on vacation, visiting a relative or at summer camp, and finally persuade the reader to visit, make a donation, purchase a ticket or property.

Space Unit Foldable

Using 2 sheets of copy paper, fold into fourths to create a barn door foldable.  Glue the center two sections of the first paper into the second paper.  

On the outside, design a diagram of the solar system and label.

On the back, write vocabulary words for the chapter.

Inside center page, create and label a diagram of the sun.  On the left and right side, write definitions.

Fold center paper flaps in toward the center.

  

One the left side, which is the back of the cover, students write information for each planet.

On the right side, which is the back of the back, students write the definition and diagram for rotation, revolution, (day/year/month).  The final box describes tides.

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