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...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
You Can Die Here – Death Valley California
Young scholars 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. Young scholars apply climate...
Curated OER
In the Rain Shadow
Students charts the rainfall averages on either side of a mountain range. In this water cycle lesson, students discover that mountain ranges affect weather patterns. Students 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...
Curated OER
Individual Sundial (Cloud/Rain Activity)
Students make a simple sundial to examine the changes in shadows over time. In this sundial and shadow lesson, students make a simple sundial out of a manila folder and pencil. They observe how shadows change over time, and relate it to...
K20 LEARN
It’s Raining Whats and Whats? Colloquial Language
"Yuns betta outten the lights!" Colloquial language is the focus of a lesson that asks middle schoolers to consider the pros and cons of using idioms. They read articles, match expressions with their meaning and place of origin, and...
Curated OER
How Mountains Shape Climate
Pupils use raw data to make a climatograph; they explain the process of orographic precipitation and the concept of a rain shadow.
Curated OER
Rainfall Mapping
Students explore rainfall and habitats. In this rainfall instructional activity, students explore the relationships among rainfall, vegetation, and animal habitats. Resources are provided.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Weather Olympics
Students consider the effects of topography on climate patterns. In this earth science lesson plan, students research weather patterns and make inferences of how the land forms may create different climates. Students compare Celsius...
K5 Learning
The Moon
Second graders read a short informational text passage about the moon and answer a series of questions based on what they read.
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
You Can Die Here
Students examine Death Valley including the amount of precipitation and winds that it gets. In this climate based lesson students explain the reasons for the amount of precipitation and windward patterns in Death Valley.
Curated OER
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...
Calvin Crest Outdoor School
Survival
Equip young campers with important survival knowledge with a set of engaging lessons. Teammates work together to complete three outdoor activities, which include building a shelter, starting a campfire, and finding directions in the...
University of Arizona
Found News Poems
Combine informational text and creative writing with one fun activity! Middle and high schoolers write found poems based on newspaper headlines that they find. The resource includes a thorough lesson plan and many links to articles that...
Humanities Texas
Primary Source Worksheet: Excerpt from the Diary of Union Soldier Samuel Cormany
Young historians read and analyze a soldier's direct account of his participation in the battle of Gettysburg, as well as consider the overall strategy and tactics taken by the Union and Confederate troops.
Curated OER
World Climates Study Guide
In this geography skills worksheet, students respond to 24 fill in the blank and multiple choice questions about the climate regions and characteristics of the world.
Curated OER
Introduction to Climatology
Students 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 and...
Curated OER
Weather Walks
Students study weather by taking walks in various types weather conditions.