Climate, Weather, and Trees Lab

• This 4-part lab begins with students taking a walk outside to observe and reflect on nature, then students identify some local plants, describe clouds, and make connections between weather, climate, and the environment.
• Students will also use their math skills to graph climate data, think critically about how weather and climate affect living organisms, and have the opportunity to focus on the climate in their local area.
• This is the first lab in the Climate and the Biosphere unit.
  

Positives

• The "Lab Overview" section includes lists of the materials the teacher will need to complete each activity and there are numerous extension ideas and links to additional resources.
• Each section is outlined in the educator's section.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students do not need access to a computer for this lab.
  
• Teachers must sign in to access the assessments.
  

Differentiation

• Economics classes could discuss the importance of native species, such as the sugar maple, to the economy in parts of New England. Students could discuss what would happen to the businesses and people working for those businesses if the climate became too warm for sugar maples to grow in New England. 
• Students can use their artistic skills to draw the clouds and trees they observe in this lab.
• This could be a great way to introduce the connections between climate and society, while integrating math, science, and language skills.
  
• Other resources on this topic include this lesson on the biosphere, this video on the differences between climate and weather, and this video on extreme weather and climate change.