PBS
Rain Shadows
Satellite images from NASA help scholars focus on the similarities on the planet rather than the differences. The photos from the installment of a larger PBS series exploring weather and climate compare geological formations in the...
PBS
Mountains and Rain Shadows
Scholars use an online interactive to learn just how different the other side of the mountain actually appears. They use satellite images, graphics, and videos to compare the impact of winds, oceans, clouds, precipitation, and more on...
PBS
Mountain Weather: Orographic Lift
Why do so many mountain ranges exist next to a desert? As part of a larger series, PBS 6-8 Weather and Climate answers this question. The presentation offers diagrams and photographs of the development of a rain shadow. From Oregon to...
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In the Rain Shadow
Students, while utilizing a large wall map, experiment recording the annual precipitation for cities on the east and west sides of the Cascade Mountains. They discover that volcanic mountains do not have to erupt to affect the atmosphere.
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You Can Die Here – Death Valley California
Students use Google Maps to explore the rain shadow desert. In this climate lesson, students use the Internet, Google Maps, and directed inquiry worksheets to understand how rain shadow deserts form. Students apply climate concepts to...
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In the Rain Shadow
Learners charts the rainfall averages on either side of a mountain range. In this water cycle lesson, students discover that mountain ranges affect weather patterns. Learners pretend they are air traffic controllers and must calculate...
PBS
Regional Patterns of Climate: Pacific Northwest
Climate systems involve sunlight, ocean, atmosphere, ice, land forms, and many other factors. Scholars explore each of these variables related to the Pacific Northwest rain forest. They use an online interactive to investigate the polar...
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Individual Sundial (Cloud/Rain Activity)
Students make a simple sundial to examine the changes in shadows over time. In this sundial and shadow instructional activity, students make a simple sundial out of a manila folder and pencil. They observe how shadows change over time,...
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Rainfall Mapping
Students explore rainfall and habitats. In this rainfall lesson, students explore the relationships among rainfall, vegetation, and animal habitats. Resources are provided.
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Rain Shadows and Sea Breezes
Students plot the average rainfall for a variety of cities in the United States. Using the map, they work together to determine patterns on which toxicants are transported through the air. They determine the impacts of various weather...
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Oregon Rainshadows
Students brainstorm list of possible highest locations in Oregon, identify and label places from list on map using color code, and discuss and identify causes of a rain shadow.
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Weather Olympics
Students consider the effects of topography on climate patterns. In this earth science lesson, students research weather patterns and make inferences of how the land forms may create different climates. Students compare Celsius...
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The Tibetan Plateau
Students discuss the characteristics of the biosphere, with a focus on the Tibetan Plateau. They participate in a question and answer period discussing biomes and climate patterns. They compare and contrast different ecosystems.
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You Can Die Here
Students examine Death Valley including the amount of precipitation and winds that it gets. In this climate based instructional activity students explain the reasons for the amount of precipitation and windward patterns in Death Valley.
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Biome Exchange - Send the "Stuff" Not The Kids
Students exchange ecological information with students from different geographic biomes. They box up the "unique ecologically significant features" of their area, send the box to another class in another area and then receive a similar...
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Introduction to Climatology
Young scholars are introduced to the topic of climatology. In groups, they use the Digital Atlas of Idaho to identify the layers of the atmosphere and review concepts of weather. To end the lesson, they examine different photographs...
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Weather Walks
Students study weather by taking walks in various types weather conditions.
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Biome Detective Sheet
In this biomes worksheet, students research the plant and animal life found in different habitats. This worksheet has 38 short answer questions.
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Biome Exchange: Send the Stuff Not The Kids
Learners exchange information with students from various geographic biomes. They explore the unique ecologically significant features of the biomes and share with other learners.
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Earth's Weather
Seventh graders learn how solar radiation, latitude, and other factors affect weather. They break into six groups and are assigned a topic to research and to present their findings orally.
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Clouds and Rainfall
Young scholars use the general climate section of the Digital Atlas of Idaho.
Then they identify and interpret some basic concepts about climatology. Students also read through the information contained in the Digital Atlas on...
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Weather Myths
Fourth graders relate myths to weather phenomenon. They write and illustrated a weather myth and present it to the class.