Name: Date:
Student Exploration: Comparing Climates (Metric)
[Note to teachers and students: This lesson was designed as a follow-up to the Observing
Weather (Metric) lesson. We recommend doing that activity before trying this one.]
Vocabulary: adaptation, climate, equator, hot desert climate, humidity,
latitude, precipitation, temperature, tropical monsoon climate, weather
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Climate is the average of all weather conditions in a location.
Climates can be warm or cold, rainy or dry, and windy or calm.
What do you think the climate is like where this palm tree grows?
The climate is probably really warm in order for the palm tree to
grow.
2. What is the climate like where you live? The climate where I live is constantly changing, but
for the most part it is mostly hot weather. For example, it could be close to 100 degrees
Fahrenheit and then the next day it could drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gizmo Warm-up
In the Comparing Climates (Metric) Gizmo™, you will compare
weather conditions, landscapes, and wildlife from different parts
of the world. To begin, choose Barcelona from the Location 1
menu. Select the LANDSCAPE tab. Barcelona is a city in Spain
that is located on the Mediterranean Sea. You are looking at a
landscape near Barcelona.
1. Drag the slider from January to December. Based on what you observe, do you think
Barcelona has large temperature changes throughout the year?
I don’t think that Barcelona has large temperature changes throughout the year because the
temperature ranged from 12 to 26 degree Celsius.
2. Click on an olive tree and read about it. Based on what you read, do you think the climate of
Barcelona is very wet or rather dry? Explain.
The olive trees are able to handle droughts which means that the climate in Barcelona is dry.
2019
, Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Describing • On the WORLD MAP tab, select New York from
climate the Location 1 menu.
Introduction: Climate is the average of weather conditions in a location over many years. In
this Gizmo you will focus on four aspects of climate: temperature, wind speed, precipitation
(rain and snow), and humidity (how much moisture is in the air). Other climate characteristics
include cloud cover and hours of sunlight.
Question: How do we describe climate?
1. Predict: Look at New York’s position on the globe. What do you notice? New York is halfway
between the equator & the North Pole & is on the coast.
Based on this, what do you think New York’s climate will be like? The climate should be
calm.
2. Observe: Select the LANDSCAPE tab. Drag the slider from January to December.
A. What changes do you see throughout the year? In the winter there’s snow on the
ground and no leaves on the trees. In the spring there is small leaves on the trees. In
the summer there’s large green leaves on the trees. In the fall the leaves are orange.
B. How many distinct seasons do you notice? I noticed 4 distinct seasons.
3. Analyze: Go to the DATA tab. Look at the Avg. temperature graph and table.
A. What is the general shape of the graph? The general shape of the graph looks like a
hill.
B. What are the highest and lowest monthly temperatures, and what would you
estimate is the average temperature for the year? (Hint: The average temperature for
the year will be about halfway between the highest and lowest temperatures.)
Highest temp. 25 degrees Celcius Lowest temp. 0 degrees Celcius
Avg. temp. 12 degrees Celcius
C. Select Two locations and choose Barcelona for the second location. Based on
what you see, which location experiences greater seasonal changes? Explain.
New York experiences greater seasonal changes. New York & Barcelona are about
equally hot in the summer, but New York is much colder during the winter season.
(Activity A continued on next page)
2019
Student Exploration: Comparing Climates (Metric)
[Note to teachers and students: This lesson was designed as a follow-up to the Observing
Weather (Metric) lesson. We recommend doing that activity before trying this one.]
Vocabulary: adaptation, climate, equator, hot desert climate, humidity,
latitude, precipitation, temperature, tropical monsoon climate, weather
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Climate is the average of all weather conditions in a location.
Climates can be warm or cold, rainy or dry, and windy or calm.
What do you think the climate is like where this palm tree grows?
The climate is probably really warm in order for the palm tree to
grow.
2. What is the climate like where you live? The climate where I live is constantly changing, but
for the most part it is mostly hot weather. For example, it could be close to 100 degrees
Fahrenheit and then the next day it could drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gizmo Warm-up
In the Comparing Climates (Metric) Gizmo™, you will compare
weather conditions, landscapes, and wildlife from different parts
of the world. To begin, choose Barcelona from the Location 1
menu. Select the LANDSCAPE tab. Barcelona is a city in Spain
that is located on the Mediterranean Sea. You are looking at a
landscape near Barcelona.
1. Drag the slider from January to December. Based on what you observe, do you think
Barcelona has large temperature changes throughout the year?
I don’t think that Barcelona has large temperature changes throughout the year because the
temperature ranged from 12 to 26 degree Celsius.
2. Click on an olive tree and read about it. Based on what you read, do you think the climate of
Barcelona is very wet or rather dry? Explain.
The olive trees are able to handle droughts which means that the climate in Barcelona is dry.
2019
, Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Describing • On the WORLD MAP tab, select New York from
climate the Location 1 menu.
Introduction: Climate is the average of weather conditions in a location over many years. In
this Gizmo you will focus on four aspects of climate: temperature, wind speed, precipitation
(rain and snow), and humidity (how much moisture is in the air). Other climate characteristics
include cloud cover and hours of sunlight.
Question: How do we describe climate?
1. Predict: Look at New York’s position on the globe. What do you notice? New York is halfway
between the equator & the North Pole & is on the coast.
Based on this, what do you think New York’s climate will be like? The climate should be
calm.
2. Observe: Select the LANDSCAPE tab. Drag the slider from January to December.
A. What changes do you see throughout the year? In the winter there’s snow on the
ground and no leaves on the trees. In the spring there is small leaves on the trees. In
the summer there’s large green leaves on the trees. In the fall the leaves are orange.
B. How many distinct seasons do you notice? I noticed 4 distinct seasons.
3. Analyze: Go to the DATA tab. Look at the Avg. temperature graph and table.
A. What is the general shape of the graph? The general shape of the graph looks like a
hill.
B. What are the highest and lowest monthly temperatures, and what would you
estimate is the average temperature for the year? (Hint: The average temperature for
the year will be about halfway between the highest and lowest temperatures.)
Highest temp. 25 degrees Celcius Lowest temp. 0 degrees Celcius
Avg. temp. 12 degrees Celcius
C. Select Two locations and choose Barcelona for the second location. Based on
what you see, which location experiences greater seasonal changes? Explain.
New York experiences greater seasonal changes. New York & Barcelona are about
equally hot in the summer, but New York is much colder during the winter season.
(Activity A continued on next page)
2019
