1. FOSS: Weather and Water Investigation 9
Weather and Climate
FOSS: Weather and Water
Investigation 9
Total time: 40 minutes
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate

2. Today’s Discussion What is the difference between weather and climate?
Students may have heard the term “climate” before used to describe the average weather condition of a location, but they may not understand that climate is the average weather over a long period of time. You may point out the pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, CA) – the one on the left shows a clear, sunny day, while the second shows a rainstorm. The weather in these two photographs is different, but San Francisco always remains in the same climate. Today we will discuss different climate regions across the world, with the goal for the students to learn that climate stays stable across a long period of time, whereas weather is highly variable and can change very quickly. Climate takes into consideration all types of weather in a location. It is based on averages over a long period of time.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate

3. Review: Weather What is weather? How often can it change?
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a given time in a given place, and can change very quickly, and very often!
Students learned in Investigation 1 that weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a given time in a given place. This can change as quickly as hour by hour (e.g., if a thunderstorm brews on an otherwise sunny day) and day by day. Students might also bring up that it can be very cold in the wintertime, and very hot in the summertime – seasons are a good example of how weather can change dramatically in the same location.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate

4. Climate
While a single location’s weather can change very frequently, it is assigned to one climate region.
Climate is the average weather condition over a long time (thirty years or longer).
With your teammates, today you will discuss various climate regions around the world.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate

5. This is an example of climate classification
This is an example of climate classification. Each color indicates a different climate zone. Students do not have to study this; it is just a visual aid to help them understand that locations around the world are all classified into specific climate zones.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate

6. Group Work: Climate Regions
You and your partner(s) will be assigned to complete two worksheets on two different climate regions.
Each group will then present their findings to the class, and we will compare and contrast different climate regions around the world.
The Climate Regions database is available on CD-ROM or on FOSSWeb. We have provided ten tables that correspond to the ten regions covered in the database. Please divide the class into small groups and distribute two tables to each group. Give them about 20 minutes to complete the tables for their assigned regions.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate

7. Climate Regions: Land Surfaces
Tropical Rain Forest
Taiga
Deciduous Forest
Grassland
Tundra
Polar Ice Cap
Desert
Location
Climate
Seasons
Temperature
Precipitation
Organisms
Issues
After students have completed the worksheets for their two regions, the summary charts can be distributed and completed while each group presents their findings from the two regions they focused on.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate

8. Climate Regions: Oceans
Polar Ocean
Temperate Ocean
Tropical Ocean
Location
Temperature
Organisms
Issues
Students complete the summary charts while each group presents their findings from the two regions they focused on.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate

9. Weather vs. Climate: Discussion
City
Latitude
Longitude
Average high Temperature (°F) (January)
Average high Temperature (°F) (June)
Climate Region
Baghdad, Iraq
33° North
44° East
60°
106°
Desert
Lima, Peru
12° South
77° West
78°
67°
Phoenix, AZ USA
112° West
104°
Pittsburgh, PA USA
40° North
80° West
37°
80°
Deciduous forest
Sydney, Australia
33° South
151° East
79°
62°
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Can cities have similar weather but different climates?
Can cities have different weather but similar climates?
One of the main discussion points for this slide is to bring back the idea of weather and how it can change within a place (you can point out that average temperatures can be different in January and/or June), but that climate is measured over a long period of time, so places can all be in the desert despite having different local weather during January or June.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate