3-ESS2-2 Climate and Latitude Lab
$7.00
An engaging lab activity designed to enhance students’ understanding of how latitude affects the climate of a region. Aligned with NGSS 3-ESS2-2.
Description
3-ESS2-2 Climate and Latitude Lab Preview
SNAPs Lab Stations Activities require students to use science, math, literacy, problem-solving and engineering skills. They are designed to enhance students’ understanding of scientific concepts and help students apply scientific ideas to the real world. Each station activity promotes skills so to develop students into proficient and competent scientific thinkers.
SNAPs lab activities have five components:
• Science Skills Station to develop science skill proficiency
• Narrative Station to build science literacy
• Assessment Station to evaluate learning and understanding
• Problem-Solving Station to foster engineering design
• Synthesis Station and Project to inspire higher-order learning
DIGITAL LABORATORY – DISTANCE LEARNING & DIGITAL CLASSROOMS
• This lab is offered in a digital format to support digital classrooms & distance learning.
• The digital lab activity is designed to work with Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint
• The digital lab activity CANNOT be edited. However:
– Students can manipulate text boxes
– Students can create tables, graphs and diagrams
– Students can insert images and drawings
GOOGLE FORM ASSESSMENT STATION
• The assessment station is offered as a self-grading Google Form.
• Questions are all short answer and are 100% editable.
• Suggestions for use are included in the download.
DISTANCE LEARNING COMPATIBILITY
SNAPs lab activities are rated for their ease with distance – independent learning. Refer to the preview for more information about how well this laboratory works in a fully digital classroom and with distance learning.
EDITABLE DOCUMENTS
This download includes an editable word document (docx file) of all lab components:
• Pre-Lab and Post-Lab Activities
• The Lab Overview
• Lab Station Activities and Questions
• Directed Synthesis Project (when applicable)
Important Notes:
• Diagrams, illustrations, tables and graphs essential to lab activities are included
• Illustrative clipart is NOT included
• Editable documents and rubrics are included with the FREE SNAPs Setup Guide
Editable files allow you to:
• Edit the scope of the activities so to suit your students’ needs
• Edit the materials required based on resource availability
• Create single-period “mini-labs” using activities at the individual skills stations
The activities at each station in this lab are detailed below.
Climate and Latitude Lab Learning Objectives
1. Discuss how latitude affects the climate of a region.
2. Compare polar, temperate and tropical climate zones.
3. Develop a model that illustrates the location of climate zones between significant lines of latitude.
Science Skills Station
Students will conduct an investigation to compare and contrast the sunlight received by low and high latitude locations. Students will consider how the directness of sunlight varies with these regions and how this impacts the temperature of these regions.
Narrative Station
Students will read a text about latitude and the three major climate zones: polar, temperate and tropical. Students will also watch a video about how latitude impacts the climate of latitudinal bands around Earth.
Assessment Station
At this station, students will answer questions about key terms and ideas about climate, the three major climate zones and how climate varies with latitude. Students must employ lower, mid and higher order thinking skills to answer these questions.
Problem-Solving Station
Students will develop a model of Earth that includes the five major lines of latitude and the climate zones found between those lines of latitude. Students will use the model to study how latitude affects the climate of the region.
Synthesis Station
Students will compose a CER (claim-evidence-reasoning) report to summarize the lab. Students are provided the claim statement and must support the claim with observations, data and other information gathered in the lab. Students will explain how the evidence supports the claim using scientific reasoning.
Synthesis Project
Students will have a choice of 11 projects. Refer to the SNAPs Lab Stations Best Practices and Setup Guide for directions and suggestions on how to conduct the project.
This download includes:
• A pre-lab assignment and post-lab reflection
• Directions and questions for each lab station
• Student recording sheets
• Teacher Key
Additional Materials Required:
1 Computer or tablet
Pen light
Ruler
Protractor
Graph paper (4 sheets)
Tape
Inflatable globe (1 per group)
Black sharpie marker
3 Colored sharpie markers (such as pink, yellow and light blue)
Flashlight
Note: A flat global map is included with this lab and can be used in lieu of the inflatable globe.
LINKS TO VIDEOS
This laboratory requires internet to access videos. Videos are hosted on SafeShare.TV so to safely watch and share educational YouTube videos without ads, comments and other distractions. Shortened and full link(s) to SafeShare.TV included. Full link to original YouTube video(s) included.
NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS
This laboratory satisfies NGSS 3-ESS2-2. It combines the three dimensions of science learning – science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts – to meet the standard. This lab also makes interdisciplinary connections to STEM, Math CCSS and ELA CCSS to build the appropriate skills.
TERMS OF USE
• All rights reserved by Stephanie Elkowitz.
• This product is to be used by the original purchaser only.
• Intended for classroom and personal use only.
• Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited.
• This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view.
• Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).