Week 4: Influences on Climate 3

Geography + Precipitation
Air Masses + Their Interactions

ASSIGNMENTS DUE: Independent Project Week 4 (20% of grade), LN-SMT3 (60% of grade)

Unit overview

NGSS Standards: MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6, MS-ESS3-2, MS-PS4-2

Unit Overview: This unit explores the phenomenon of La Niña and El Niño patterns and their impact on New Mexico's climate and drought conditions. Students will investigate the water cycle, air masses, ocean currents, and thermal energy transfer to understand how these factors contribute to regional climates and drought prediction.

Use this CALENDAR to write in your agenda each MONDAY!!!

Monday, May 5 - Geography + Precipitation 1

Do Now (page 70): Write what you've noticed about weather in the MOUNTAINS compared to flatter areas.

Activities for the day (p.70) - work with your group, but write your answers on page 70 (your group wins if everyone has all the answers correct for part 2)

Part 1: Learn About Rain Shadows

Go to this website: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/rain-shadow/
As you read, write short answers to these questions on page 70:
1. What is a rain shadow?
2. How do mountains and wind cause a rain shadow?
3. What kind of climate is usually found in a rain shadow area?

Part 2: Group Challenge – Atacama Desert

Work with your group to investigate the Atacama Desert using this map:

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/atlas/index.html?appid=0cd1cdee853c413a84bfe4b9a6931f0d&webmap=51a15d5dd0054155bd2cd11001a3f1b3

Search for 'Atacama Desert' and use the map to answer (write your answers on page 70 in your notebooks):

1. Is the Atacama Desert wet or dry? What color is it on the map (you may have to zoom out a little bit)? Click in the desert and write how much rain it gets each year.

2. Which side of the Andes Mountains gets more rain? How much does that side get (click to see)?

3. What direction is the wind likely coming from?

4. Why is this desert one of the driest places on Earth?

EXIT TICKET (Your table must show me this before you can get your table's TASK CARD to get backpacks): On the whiteboard at your table, draw how a rain shadow forms, using parts of the WATER CYCLE!

Tuesday, May 6 - Geography + Precipitation 2

Do Now (page 71): Draw a diagram that explains how a rain shadow forms, OR color your diagram from yesterday!

Part 3: Explore a City of Your Choice

Using the same website, look up the city you chose for your Independent Project on your own. On your La Nina Winter section of your Independent Projects page, then answer the following:

1. How much rain does your city get each year? (Look at the color on the map)

2. Are there mountains, oceans, or valleys near the city?

3. Can you see a rain shadow or other landforms affecting the rainfall? How?

4. What’s something interesting you noticed about this city’s climate?

EXIT TICKET (Your table must show me this before you can get your table's TASK CARD to get backpacks): On the whiteboard at your table, complete this sentence, "As the wind pushes the air toward the mountains, it rises and ______________, causing it to condense into precipitation. This is why there is usually more precipitation on the _____________ side of mountains."

Wednesday, May 7 - Air Masses+ Weather

Do Now (page 72): TITLE your page, then write what these words might mean (or what they remind you of):

Continental:
Maritime:
Polar:
Tropical:

Activities for the day (p.72)

Part 1 (with your table group): Where do air masses form?
An air mass is a large body of air with about the same temperature, moisture, and pressure. They are NAMED based on where they form, which can influence their characteristics.

Use the WORD CLUES in this list of air masses that affect North America below to complete the tasks on the worksheet.

cP (Continental Polar) mP (Maritime Polar) cT (Continental Tropical) mT (Maritime Tropical)

Part 2 (on your own): Label the Air Mass Map (one per person) and glue it on page 72 in your Notebook

Remember, air masses are named for where they form. Review which characteristics air mass will have based on where it forms by circling the correct answer:
c = continental (dry/wet)
m = maritime (dry/wet)
P = polar (cold/warm)
T = tropical (cold/warm)

LINK TO THE WIND DATA!!!!

EXIT TICKET (Your table must show me this before you can get your table's TASK CARD to get backpacks): On the whiteboard at your table, complete this sentence, "Air masses that form over continents are ____________, and air masses that form over oceans are _______________."

Thursday, May 8 - Air Masses + Weather 2

Do Now (page 73 NOTICE/WONDER): WRITE or DRAW WHAT YOU NOTICE HAPPENING in the video to the right. We will let it replay for 5 minutes so you can keep observing.

Activities for the day:

Complete all 3 parts of the handout from yesterday on page 72
1. Part 1: Label the air mass map
2. Part 2: Explore Wind Direction and Predict Air Mass “Fronts”
3. Part 3: Predict the weather in a part of the country!
Notice/Wonder (at least 5 of each, or at least 3 diagrams!!!) on page 73 while watching the VIDEOS to the right about how WEATHER CHANGES when different air masses MOVE and MEET!!! The chart below can help you ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES (you should ADD information and diagrams to each of the types of fronts).

Air_Masses_Student_Version.docx

EXIT TICKET (Your table must show me this before you can get your table's TASK CARD to get backpacks): On the whiteboard at your table, complete this sentence, "When air masses, meet, the weather ___________"

Friday, May 9 - SMT3 (Geography, Air Masses + Climate)

Do Now (p. 28 in agenda): Check your grades for week 8 of Quarter 4 and write them on page 28 in your agenda. Then LIST anything you need to retake or redo or turn for this SATURDAY in your agenda (you can find these in "Classwork" and then "View Your Work".

Activities for the day

LN-SMT3: Take the Quizziz Standard Mastery Ticket for this week. You can take it as MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT until you get the grade you want.
La Nina Winter INDEPENDENT PROJECT: Make sure you've added the information for ALL FOUR WEEKS so far! There is a Google Doc to the right and printed in the room (please return the handout if you use it in class).
MISSING WORK for any class: If you need to complete I-Ready or any work for my class or any other class, today is the day. There are only 2 weeks left to get your grades up!!!

EXIT TICKET: Prove that your table did your table task in order to get your backpack!

La Nina Winter Independent Project Checklist

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