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Resource Detail: Science Object

Resource Image Ocean's Effect on Weather and Climate: Changing Climate
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Details

Type of Resource: Science Object
Average Rating: Rating
 based on 5 - 22 / 4.4 reviews
Publication Title: Ocean's Effect on Weather and Climate SciPack
Publication Date: 3/28/2007
Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Description

Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the fourth of four Science Objects in the Ocean’s Effect on Weather and Climate SciPack. It explores how Earth’s climate has changed in the past and how it may change in the future. Climate change may occur as a result of changes in Earth's surface, atmosphere, and oceans. Such changes may be abrupt (such as gas and dust from volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts) or may occur over very long times (such as changes in landscape or increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere). Even relatively small changes in atmospheric or ocean content and/or temperature can have widespread effects on climate if the change lasts long enough. Since the industrial revolution, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased at an unprecedented rate. Though climate change and changes in the composition of the oceans and atmosphere are natural, present modifications far exceed natural rates.

Ideas For Use

Science Objects are two hour learning experiences teachers can use to enhance their understanding of a particular scientific concept. Teachers can access any topic “on demand” from the Internet. Topics are based on the science literacy goals in the national standards (NSES, Science for All Americans, Benchmarks, and the Atlas of Scientific Literacy) and tied to state standards.

Each Science Object provides an understanding of the science content by providing a structured set of learning experiences through simulations and practice assessments. Science Objects challenge teachers to explore and explain real world phenomena and are founded on the principle that learners must be challenged with a problem, observation, data, etc., in order to develop scientific understanding. Science Objects utilize the five phases of inquiry-based learning: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.

Learning Outcomes:

Oceans Effect on Weather and Climate: Changing Climate

  • Explain the role that phenomena such as volcanic eruptions or asteroid impact play in changing climate.
  • Describe the type of atmospheric conditions and weather related data that can be obtained from ice core and deep-sea sediment records.
  • Describe how a small change in the content of oceans and atmosphere (such as a rise in carbon dioxide levels) can have significant impacts on global climate.
  • Describe human activity that has an affect on climate.

Discussions

Coral Reef Ecosystems
Posted in Life Science by Kendra Young on Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:08 AM

I see Ronaldo has already shared his experience about the Coral Reef SciPack - thanks, Ronaldo! Did you also know you...

Additional Info

Science Discipline: (mouse over for full classification)
Global climate change
Clouds
Fronts
Precipitation
Pressure
Storms
Wind
Intended User Role:Elementary-Level Educator, Middle-Level Educator, Teacher
Educational Issues:Inquiry learning, Professional development, Teacher content knowledge, Teaching strategies

Technical

Resource Format:application/x-shockwave-flash, audio/mp3, image/gif, image/jpeg, text/html, video/quicktime
Installation Remarks:Run the Science Objects System Check to ensure that your system is capable of viewing the simulations: http://ecommerce2.nsta.org/system_check/
Requirements:Requires Macromedia Flash Player and Apple Quicktime Player


National Standards Correlation

This resource has 3 correlations with the National Standards.  
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This resource has 3 correlations with the National Standards.  
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  • Earth Science
    • Changes in earth and sky
      • The surface of the earth changes.
      • Weather changes from day to day and over the seasons.
      • Weather can be described by measurable quantities, such as temperature, wind direction and speed, and precipitation.

State Standards Correlation

Use the form below to view which of your state standards this resource addresses.





User Reviews

Evidence of Climate Change
  Jennifer Rahn (Delafield, WI) on November 11, 2010
  This Science Object does a nice job of building a case for climate change based on data. Great introduction to the topic of climate change with focus limited to science. This resource is most appropriate for teachers who want to begin developing a background; teachers of high school classes will want to delve into additional resources.

Examine evidence to understand the changing clima
  Angelika Fairweather (Bradenton, FL) on May 17, 2011
  Even if you understand the elements of climate change, this scipack presents statistics gathered from NOAA and NASA that will deepen your understanding of climate change. The history of climate change, the current data trends and the future predictions are all examined in this informative scipack. The student misconceptions addressed were also a huge asset to my instruction planning.

Science object
  Brian Ruckdeschel on December 14, 2011
  This science object reviews the effect the ocean has on climate change. It reviews the effect carbon dioxide has on the oceans and the long term effects of the climate.

Good weather overview
  Laura Dickey on December 14, 2011
  This was a great overview of weather, climate, sun's energy, heating earth's surfaces and the differences between land and water masses. My only drawback was that so much was offered that I need time to absorb all that was learned, especially the vocabulary towards the end of the segment.

Great overview
  Christina Crawley on February 21, 2013
  I found this object to be very well written with good transitions and suitable diagrams and animations. I am no expert on climate change but now I feel like I have a good understanding that I can share with students.