Climate Museum Showcase

AUDIENCE:
We will invite the school to attend our Climate Museum at the end of this unit, including our principal,
teachers, and other students. You will be creating a display for your region that includes visuals (maps,
data, charts, headers w/ some text, artifacts, food, etc…) to feature in our Climate Museum and
demonstrate your knowledge by addressing the key points below. The better you know your stuff, the
more knowledgeable you will appear to your audience – preparation is key.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
LEGEND:
 COLORADO STANDARDS
 How you will demonstrate your knowledge of the standards

a. Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation that shows climate is a
result of energy transfer among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere (DOK 1-3)
a. Describe the topography of the region.
b. What is the location’s latitude? What type of climate is associated with this latitude? (Polar,
Mid-Latitude (cold), Mid-Latitude (warm), Arid/Dry, or Tropical)
c. Describe your climate.
b. Analyze and interpret data on Earth’s climate (DOK 1-2)
a. Interpret how much incoming solar radiation this location receives in July.
b. Determine the average temperature this location receives in the July.
c. Describe the relationship between average monthly precipitation and temperature (as
temperature increases, precipitation (increases/decreases/does not change). Infer why this
relationship is true for your location.
c. Explain how a combination of factors such as Earth’s tilt, seasons, geophysical location, proximity
to oceans, landmass location, latitude, and elevation determine a location’s climate (DOK 1-3)
a. Compared to a location of equal latitude but on the other side of the equator, how does this
incoming solar radiation and temperature compare? What is the reason for these
differences? Explain in terms of closeness to the sun, proximity to oceans).
b. What is the range of annual temperature for this location? How does the amount of land and
water around this region explain this?
c. Explore this region’s climate data and explain what factors have a major effect on its
climate
d. Identify mechanisms in the past and present that have changed Earth’s climate
a. Describe how this region’s climate has changed over the past 1000 years.
b. Explain what factors affect Earth’s changing climates
e. Analyze the evidence and assumptions regarding climate change (DOK 1-3)
f. Interpret evidence from weather stations, buoys, satellites, radars, ice and ocean sediment cores,
tree rings, cave deposits, native knowledge, and other sources in relation to climate change (DOK
1-3)
a. Describe the evidence that scientists use to infer the global climate is changing.
b. Explain why some people refute global climate change.

EXTRA CREDIT: If you would like to learn more about your region’s culture, history, or climate, you can
investigate further:
a. How does the location’s geographical features (topography, proximity to water, elevation)
influence the interaction of people, places, and environments?
b. Investigate the cause and effect of a significant world event in this location’s history
c. Describe the historical development and impact of this location’s region and society.
d. Describe this region’s influential entrepreneurial figures and what they have done to create new
goods and services.
 Climate Museum Showcase
Checklist
The following is a checklist to help you keep track of your information with your ‘answer key’ to write
down what you find. You might choose to keep track of your information in your own dedicated
notebook, but please keep it numbered as you will turn it in for credit.
 1. Turn in THIS CHECKLIST on ______________. (5 points)

(4 points each) CLIMATE INFORMATION

 2. What is the location’s latitude? http://www.climate-zone.com/ Describe the location’s terrain.

 3. What type of climate is associated with this latitude? (Polar, Mid-Latitude (cold), Mid-Latitude
(warm), Arid/Dry, or Tropical). Describe your climate.
 4. Write down this region’s climate data attached to you “Climate Factors” data table. What are the
major and minor factors that influence this region’s climate?
 5. Justify why you chose the major climate factors from question #4.
 6. Interpret how much incoming solar radiation this location receives in July.
 7. Describe the relationship between average monthly precipitation and temperature (as temperature
increases, precipitation (increases/decreases/does not change). Infer why this relationship might be
true for your location.
 8. Compared to a location of equal latitude but on the other side of the equator, how does this
incoming solar radiation and temperature compare? What is the reason for these differences? Explain
in terms of closeness to the sun, proximity to oceans).
 9. What is the range of annual temperature for this location? How does the amount of land and water
around this region explain this?
 10. Describe 2-3 ways how this region’s climate system has changed from month to month using this
website: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/.
 11. Describe how this region’s temperature and CO2 levels have changed over the past 200 years.
 12. Describe the evidence that scientists use to infer the global climate is changing. (Use your notes)
 13. Explain why some people refute global climate change.

(3 points each) TRAVEL INFORMATION:

 14. What are some features a traveler might find if vacationing here?
 15. What is the best season or months for travel? Should any season or months be avoided?
 16. What kind of clothing and gear should a traveler bring with them to really be able to explore and
enjoy this area?

(6 points each) ARTIFACTS:

 17. A colored bar graph of monthly average precipitation (titled, axis labeled with units)
 18. A scatter plot of monthly average HIGH and LOW temperature (titled, axes labeled with units,
legend)
 19. A variety of visual displays, including a map and important climate and cultural facts.

20. AND have at LEAST two of the following to showcase on presentation day: (20 points total,
10pts ea)

 Food or a recipe native to your location

 Traditional music playing in the background native to your location (can be played on a small
speaker, phone, ipod, etc)
 Something handmade that has cultural significance in your location (a flag, coins/bills, musical
instrument, recreation of native flora and fauna)
Name: ______________________________ MY LOCATION: ___________________________

ANSWER SHEET

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BONUS INFORMATION (EXTRA CREDIT)

Integrating aspects of social studies will enhance your presentation. Choosing one of the four options below will be worth
up to 10 extra credit points. Because it is an extension activity, the research for this information must be done at
home, or in class only after 100% of your ground research has been completed. Your written explanation of this
information will due on Thursday, December 12th and will be scored on a scale of 1 – 10. Please see the Extra
Credit Rubric before turning in your submission.

1. How does the locations geographical features (topography, proximity to water, elevation) influence
how people interact with each other and travel to other places?

2. Investigate the cause and effect of a significant world event in this location’s history

3. Describe the historical development of this location’s religion or philosophy and how it has
impacted the people and areas surrounding this region.

4. Describe this region’s influential entreprenuial figures and what they have done to create new
goods and services.