Responding to Patterns of Change

Yellow
Green
Blue
Red
Magenta
Remove
    Bookmark This Page
    Unbookmark This Page
    Module Overview
    • Doing Technology
    • Module Overview
    • Chapter 1
    • Chapter 2
    • Chapter 3
    • Chapter 4
    Module Overview
    Figure 1

    One, two, three, four … what comes next in the series? Have you done problems in math class that require you to determine what comes next in the series? In other words, have you figured out the pattern? You may not have thought about it before, but climate and weather also have patterns. These patterns can be explained by science.

    Sometimes responding to changes in weather is easy because the patterns are familiar to us. At other times, responding to changes in weather is more difficult. Other types of natural events also have patterns to which people must respond. What can people do when they know that certain events may occur? How can knowing about patterns better prepare us to respond?

    Goals for the Module

    In this module, Responding to Patterns of Change, you will learn about different weather events and how they can be explained by science. As you learn about the weather, you will also see examples of technologies that help scientists study storms and natural disasters.

    A key idea in this module is patterns. Patterns can help us determine where and when different weather events are likely to occur. If people know that a particular type of storm is likely to happen, they can use that knowledge to make decisions. For example, think about people who live where there is a good chance for a blizzard. If a blizzard is coming in the next couple of hours, they may simply decide to stay indoors. Other decisions need to be made in advance. If you needed to clear snow off the roads, you might need more than a couple of hours to get a plow. You would most likely need to have a plow well before the blizzard hits. Would everyone make the same choices? By the end of the module, you will have new ways of thinking about how people use information to make decisions.

    The titles of the chapters are as follows:

      Chapter 1: What Causes Weather Patterns?
      Chapter 2: When Natural Events Become Natural Disasters
      Chapter 3: Chance Affects Decision Making
      Chapter 4: Making Decisions to Solve Problems

    Module Overview

    The theme of this module is the science of weather patterns. Students will learn about the science that enables people to understand weather, and therefore to make predictions about the weather. They will learn about how scientists use a variety of technologies to monitor, record, and study weather data. They will consider how people use information about weather and weather patterns to make decisions. Some of these decisions may concern natural events and how people can prepare for and protect themselves when natural events occur.

    In this module, Responding to Patterns of Change, students will learn fundamental science concepts that help people understand weather. For example, evaporation and condensation are key parts of the water cycle. The movements of water via these processes are also a key part of weather events. Students will learn about the movements of air in the atmosphere and how these movements are caused by differences in air pressure, temperature, and density.

    Students will learn about natural weather events, some of which can become natural disasters. They will learn the importance of patterns when studying weather events. Because scientists can explain why air and water movements occur, they are able to predict weather patterns and, thus, severe weather events such as hurricanes.

    Technology can be important both for predicting weather and in helping us prepare for natural events. Although technology can be very helpful for solving problems, it can also present some challenges. Often people will have to decide between different technologies to solve a problem or will have to decide how beneficial a technology is for solving the problem. Therefore, another theme in this module is using information to make decisions. What information do people need to make sound decisions? How likely is it that a specific type of natural event will occur in a given location? How does the probability of an event influence our choices? What are the benefits and costs associated with a choice?

    The activities in this module will require students to work in collaborative teams. Research shows that working in teams helps students see that the teacher is not the sole authority in the classroom. Students are empowered by sharing information among their peers. Working in teams also allows students to practice teamwork skills, an important characteristic for students who will be entering the workforce in several years.

    Goals for the Module

    By the end of the module, students should

    • understand evaporation and condensation as part of the water cycle
    • be able to explain how temperature, air pressure, and density influence air movements in the atmosphere
    • understand that a variety of factors can interact to make a natural event more severe
    • be able to describe how patterns help scientists make predictions about future weather events
    • give examples of benefits and costs associated with choices
    • use probability to inform decisions.

    The titles of the chapters are as follows:

      Chapter 1: What Causes Weather Patterns?
      Chapter 2: When Natural Events Become Natural Disasters
      Chapter 3: Chance Affects Decision Making
      Chapter 4: Making Decisions to Solve Problems