1. Seasons Globe Lab Inquiry
Honors Environmental

2. 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

3. Bill Nye Earth, Sun, and Seasons Video:
4:45 min

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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?

9. 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