Grade 4 : Standard 8 - The Atmosphere

Conceptual Strand 8

The earth is surrounded by an active atmosphere and an energy system that controls the distribution life, local weather, climate, and

global temperature.

Guiding Question 8

How do the physical characteristics and the chemical makeup of the atmosphere influence surface processes and life on Earth?

 

Grade Level Expectations

Checks for Understanding

State Performance Indicators

GLE 0407.8.1 Recognize the major components of the water cycle.

GLE 0407.8.2 Differentiate between weather and climate.

 

0407.8.1 Prepare a model that illustrates the basic features of the water cycle.

0407.8.2 Use long term weather data to distinguish between weather and climate.

0407.8.3 Use an illustration to predict and draw conclusions about how weather and climate affect the water cycle.

SPI 0407.8.1 Identify the basic features of the water cycle and describe their importance to life on earth.

SPI 0407.8.2 Distinguish between weather and climate.

 

Lesson Plans

Water Cycle

  1. Watch these two internet animations to go over vocabulary for the water cycle.

Rivers and Coasts http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/water_cycle/rivers/pg_02_flash.shtml
Water Cycle Diagram http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/watercycle/

  1. BrainPop "Water Cycle" http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/watercycle/
  2. Study Jams! - Water Cycle http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/studyjams/water_cycle/
  3. United Streaming The Water Cycle   (17:00)
     
  4. Have students listen to the computer read this story "To the Mountain and Back." http://www.kimballmedia.com/Drippy/DrippysWorldTrialStories/ToMountainsAndBack/Entry.htm
     
  5. Have students draw and label the Water Cycle using one of these worksheets as a guide.
  6. Water Cycle Game http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/topic_subtopic_entry.php?RECORD_KEY(entry_subtopic_topic)=entry_id,subtopic_id,topic_id&entry_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=447&subtopic_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=27&topic_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=3
     
  7. Have students complete the following activity on individual computers:
    Science Lab (Select weather.) http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=Science%20Lab
     
  8. TCAP Coach Lesson 17 "The Water Cycle" pages 104-106
  9. Internet Animations
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/water_cycle/rivers/pg_02_flash.shtml
    http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/watercycle/
    http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=Science%20Lab

    Water Cycle Worksheets

     

Weather and Climate

What's the Difference Between Weather and Climate?

http://www.mobot.org/education/02programsresources/mappingenvironment/mynaturalcommunity/weathervsclimate.htm

 

Weather - conditions in an area for a short period of time… today, this week, or this month - Weather is what's happening right now or is likely to happen tomorrow or in the very near future.

Climate - conditions conditions over a long period of time...over many years

So…The conditions this September would describe the weather…the conditions in September averaged out over the past 30 or 50 years would tell you about the climate of the area.

What is Weather?  http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/whatisweather/aboutweather/flash_menu.shtml