MS - ESS2.C (B) - Water in the Atmosphere - FINAL (RC 1/28/2014)

Module: Water in the Atmosphere

DCI: ESS2.C (B) The complex patterns of the changes and the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, landforms, and ocean temperatures and currents, are major determinants of local weather patterns.

PE: MS-ESS2-5 Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.

 [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on how air masses flow from regions of high pressure to low pressure, causing weather (defined by temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, and wind) at a fixed location to change over time, and how sudden changes in weather can result when different air masses collide. Emphasis is on how weather can be predicted within probabilistic ranges. Examples of data can be provided to students (such as weather maps, diagrams, and visualizations) or obtained through laboratory experiments (such as with condensation).] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include recalling the names of cloud types or weather symbols used on weather maps or the reported diagrams from weather stations.]

The ideas we see in this standard are: 

- patterns of change of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, are major determinants of local weather patterns. 

- patterns of change of water in the atmosphere, determined by landforms, are major determinants of local weather patterns. 

- patterns of change of water in the atmosphere, determined by ocean temperatures, are major determinants of local weather patterns. 

- patterns of change of water in the atmosphere, determined by ocean currents , are major determinants of local weather patterns. 

- patterns in the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, are major determinants of local weather patterns. 

-patterns in the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by landforms, are major determinants of local weather patterns. 

-patterns in the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by ocean temperatures, are major determinants of local weather patterns. 

-patterns in the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by ocean currents, are major determinants of local weather patterns. 

I broke it out this way because there is a lot of information in the DCI that we can use to help us write a few questions.  It's best not to complicate MC questions by trying to confuse many contributing factors at once.  When the standard is broken out this way, it helps point to some specific interactions we can ask about in our questions.  

The standard tells us to collect data to provide evidence.  I am thinking in order to do this, we might provide information on the weather for a particular day, and place it next to a map showing the movement of air masses.  We can ask then, for how the movement of a warm air mass or a cold air mass affects the weather in the particular area.  Since the DCI is focused mainly on water, we should be focused more on precipitation than other factors.

I am not sure it is within the standard for students to know what type of weather is associated with each type of frontal system, so that is why I am suggesting that we provide weather data as well as weather maps.  We have several weather maps already made from previous assessments, so I will attach them to this blog.  You should be able to download them and insert them into the ppt file if you would like.  We might consider making some of these without the jet stream, as I fear that may be somewhat confusing. 

Possible Question Starters:
"Ocean currents play a significant role in the formation of weather systems because they - "
correct answer - store and transport thermal energy from the Sun
incorrect answer - provide a habitat for a wide variety of organisms 

"According to the information provided in the weather map, which city is likely to experience a drop in pressure?"
correct answer - Baltimore

NOTE: We have plenty of illustrations that we can use and tweak. Some of this are not good. The key has warm and cold fronts, but the maps themselves show low and high pressure zones. We can make better maps.