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Why are some places always hot?
Stormy Skies Unit | Lesson 4 of 5

Why are some places always hot?

Stormy Skies Unit | Lesson 4 of 5
Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep
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Discuss:

What’s the climate like where you live: is it more like where Doug grew up? Or more like where Shelley grew up? Or something else?

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Discuss:

What kind of weather, plants, and animals do you think the orange and purple zones have? Why do you think that?

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Discuss: These two places have the same temperatures throughout the year... so why do they look so different?
Do you have any ideas?

Arizona Florida

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Discuss:

(1) Which climate zones have you been to?

(2) Which ones would you want to visit?

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## Extensions

Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity & exploration which you just completed.

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# Readings:

These readings are free with registration on ReadWorks, a nonprofit committed to providing teachers with research-proven, Common-Core-aligned readings. All readings include comprehension questions.

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# Travel Poster

Have each student choose and research a climate zone — then draw a travel poster for that climate.

Encourage students to think about what makes each climate special. What plants and animals live there? What sorts of houses do people build there? What clothes would you need to pack? What time of year would you choose to go?

This is an opportunity for creative writing and thinking.

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Lesson narration:

Grade 3

Weather & Climate

Climate & Global Weather Patterns

3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS2-2

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students are introduced to the concept of “climate” and explore the world’s five major climates. In the activity, Climate Decoder, students color one part of a world map to figure out the different climates of that region. Students then combine maps and search for global climate patterns.

Preview activity
COVID-19 Adaptations
Students can work solo
Students need a printout

Students at home
Each student needs a printed copy of one of the area maps. Share the completed map over video conference with your students so they can make observations.
Students at school
Each student needs one of the area maps. Have one completed map ready to discuss with students.

Exploration

8 mins

Wrap-Up

17 mins

Grade 3

Weather & Climate

Climate & Global Weather Patterns

3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS2-2

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