Lesson 6: Climate vs. Weather: Key Distinctions

Why is it possible to have a record-breaking snowstorm during the "hottest year on record"? How many years of data do we need to define a "climate"?

climate
weather

HS-ESS3-5: Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth’s systems.

Focus on understanding data presented in tables, graphs, and maps, and drawing logical conclusions.

1 (Recall): Defining key terms (e.g., atmosphere, hydrosphere, greenhouse effect), identifying Earth's major systems.

2 (Skill/Concept): Explaining the relationships between Earth's systems, interpreting graphs of climate data, describing the carbon cycle.

Maps of wetlands.

Climate and weather are the same thing.

Provide simplified diagrams and graphic organizers for complex systems.
Utilize peer-assisted learning and small group work.

Next day - entry do now reviewing the concept and differentiating between them

Local weather data vs. long-term climate data

• Textbook/Online resources

• Laptops/Chromebooks with internet access

• Access to climate data repositories (e.g., NASA, NOAA websites)