Seasons Globe Lab Inquiry Honors Environmental 2016-17

Biomes- Groups of ecosystems whose communities have adapted to particular abiotic conditions. Terrestrial Biomes Latitude- Earth/sun relationship; angle of rays Global atmospheric circulation Global ocean circulation Coastal/Continental The Rain Shadow Effect Topography- Elevation

Bill Nye Earth, Sun, and Seasons Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUU7IyfR34o 4:45 min

Seasons Globe Lab: An Inquiry of Earth's Tilt, Seasons, & Time Lab Objectives: Set the planisphere to the indicated position. Examine the relationship between the line of illumination and the poles, as well as the location on the globe in which the most direct rays hit perpendicular to the Earth’s surface. Support the provided claim with specific evidence using the planisphere. Provide reasoning to connect your evidence to your claim.

Seasons Globe Lab: An Inquiry of Earth's Tilt, Seasons, & Time Reminder: Examine the relationship between the line of illumination and the poles, as well as the location on the globe in which the most direct rays hit perpendicular to the Earth’s surface.

Seasons Globe Lab: An Inquiry of Earth's Tilt, Seasons, & Time Seasons are determined by the Earths tilt 23.5° Suns rays arrive in parallel fashion to Earth (due to Earths relatively tiny size by comparison) called the ecliptic plane. Rays hit perpendicular to Earth’s surface. Sun shines on a spherical Earth; ½ light and ½ dark due to the line of illumination Earth turns/rotates through light/dark and revolves on the ecliptic plane. 4 important positions in orbit- 2 solstices and 2 equinoxes.

Seasons Globe Lab: An Inquiry of Earth's Tilt, Seasons, & Time The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.5 ˚. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, and vice versa.

Lab Reflection: What is the relationship between the line of illumination and the poles during solstices? Where is the zenith sun? What is the relationship between the number of hours of light/dark during an equinox? Where is the zenith sun? What is the relationship between 2 locations in opposite hemispheres that fall on the same latitude lines?

Reflecting upon the NGSS… Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) Cross Cutting Concepts (CCCs) Patterns Cause and effect Scale, proportion, and quantity Systems and system models Energy and matter Structure and function Stability and change Asking questions and defining problems Developing and using models Planning and carrying out investigations Analyzing and interpreting data Using mathematics and computational thinking Constructing explanations and designing solutions Engaging in argument from evidence Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information