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Name: Taylor Scott Date: 11-9-21
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 will be very hot.
2. What is the climate like where you live? Where I live it is very hot and humid.
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?
Yes, because the temperature increases throughout June- September.
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.
Barcelona is a very dry environment since the olive trees are grown in drought areas.
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? I noticed that New
York is up North from the equator.
Based on this, what do you think New York’s climate will be like? New York’s climate is
probably a wet and cold climate.
2. Observe: Select the LANDSCAPE tab. Drag the slider from January to December.
A. What changes do you see throughout the year? It stays the same temperature
throughout the year between April- September but decreases in October- February.
B. How many distinct seasons do you notice? I see winter, spring, summer, and fall
during the changes in New York.
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 shape of the points on the graph made
a mountain or a large 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 Lowest temp. 0 Avg. temp. _12 _
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 had greater changes since its climate experienced all four seasons
throughout the year unlike Barcelona being mostly hot.
(Activity A continued next page)
2019
Name: Taylor Scott Date: 11-9-21
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 will be very hot.
2. What is the climate like where you live? Where I live it is very hot and humid.
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?
Yes, because the temperature increases throughout June- September.
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.
Barcelona is a very dry environment since the olive trees are grown in drought areas.
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? I noticed that New
York is up North from the equator.
Based on this, what do you think New York’s climate will be like? New York’s climate is
probably a wet and cold climate.
2. Observe: Select the LANDSCAPE tab. Drag the slider from January to December.
A. What changes do you see throughout the year? It stays the same temperature
throughout the year between April- September but decreases in October- February.
B. How many distinct seasons do you notice? I see winter, spring, summer, and fall
during the changes in New York.
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 shape of the points on the graph made
a mountain or a large 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 Lowest temp. 0 Avg. temp. _12 _
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 had greater changes since its climate experienced all four seasons
throughout the year unlike Barcelona being mostly hot.
(Activity A continued next page)
2019
