This resource provides a map, images, and a video to explain the relationship between continental position, proximity to water, wind direction, and climate, citing United States cities as examples.
The resource compares the climates of San Francisco, CA, Wichita, KA, and Virginia Beach, VA, three cities along the same latitude but in different regions of the continent.
The video provides an overview of geography, climate, climate regions, and the effects of latitude, elevation, wind currents, proximity to water, and ocean currents on climate, with references to the Gulf Stream.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The video provides an overview of climate on Earth and the interactive practice questions adapt to the student's answers to ensure understanding.
Additional Prerequisites
Students and teachers must create an account to use some of the interactive tools
Each student will need their own computer and internet connection to do the interactive practice questions.
Differentiation
The first 6 minutes and 20 seconds provide an overview of climate on Earth and other factors that affect climate.
The last segment, starting at 6 minutes, 20 seconds, discusses the effects of wind patterns and ocean currents on climate.
This resource could be incorporated into virtual learning lessons or in-class activities.
Cross-curricular connections could be made with social studies classes when discussing the ways a region's climate affects how people live, or in math classes when analyzing the data presented.
The resource explores continentality effect in San Francisco. Water bodies including Oceans influence the climate condition of locations lying in the same latitude. Inland areas tend to have a different climate (continental) while coastal areas also tend to have a distinct climate (maritime) even when these areas lie in the same latitude. The resource is recommended.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
MS-ESS2-5 Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Geography
D2.Geo.2.6-8 Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions, and changes in their environmental characteristics.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Science & Technical Subjects (6-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.
