View Bozeman science video Cause and Effect.

• What examples of cause and effect can you identify in the weather? Write down your ideas and observations for these. For example, when it rains, the water flows in a certain pattern in my yard and there is a large puddle. Consider the following questions and see if you can identify cause and effect.

  1. What has the weather been like the last week? How hot or cold has it been? How rainy has it been? How windy has it been?

  2. How is the weather alike or different from the summer or the winter? Is it similar enough from day to day so that you know what you would wear if you were to go outside?

  3. Do you think that Arizona or Colorado have the same weather systems? Do you think that the weather there today is the same as our weather here in Oregon today? Why or why not?

Read this short article from NOAA about ocean temperatures.

Identify cause and effect for why ocean temperatures vary. For example: Earth is round, so the sun’s energy (solar radiation) varies depending on location (latitude). Which do you think is the cause and which do you think is the effect?

Watch these two videos with the ideas of cause and effect from the article in mind.

• Cold water sinks, warm water rises

• Fresh water mixing with salt water

These two videos explore changes in temperature and salinity.

• Ocean stratification demonstration

• How changes in temperature create ocean currents

Read this short article from NOAA about the connection between the ocean and land.

Identify cause and effect for why ocean temperatures vary. For example:

• Cause: sun’s radiation is absorbed by the ocean

• Effect: water temperature is warmer

What did you learn this week about weather and climate?

Use this graphic organizer to share your what you learned about cause and effect that is related to weather and climate

Ideas for optional independent investigation.

• Read more about the connection between the ocean and climate from NASA or from NOAA.

• Watch this video that compares ocean currents to a roller coaster.

Materials: paper (Newspaper, junk mail, index cards, etc.) 2 feet of tape.

Challenge: Using only the materials from the list above, create a freestanding structure that is at least one foot high and can hold a small stuffed animal or toy.

Think about it:

• What are some strong shapes that you can see in bridges or towers?

• Could you combine the tape and paper to make a stronger material?

• What’s the most important use of your tape?

• After you test: If you did this again, what would you do differently?

Use the Engineering Design Process to build your structure:

• Define: What is it that needs to be accomplished?

• Brainstorm: What are your ideas for meeting the criteria of the challenge?

• Plan: Draw and discuss your design.

• Make It! and then Test It!

Improve: Make it better by repeating the Engineering Design Process again!