MS-ESS2.D-1

Project Bloom: A Quest for Home

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Game Info for Teachers

COMBINED RATING

4.3 Stars

TEACHERS (11)

4.5

STUDENTS (3704)

4.1

LENGTH

20 Minutes

GRADES

CAPABILITIES

iPad Support

Spanish Language Support

Text-to-Speech Support

Saves Progress

Description

A group of space frogs have been exiled from their planet, and are seeking refuge. Lend a hand for these poor hapless creatures, and they shall be forever grateful. Make use of your knowledge about climate and weather to find them a suitable home across Earth!

Vocabulary Words

equator

latitude

temperature

atmosphere

altitude

topographic features

weather

weather forecast

climate

humidity

evaporation

relative humidity

water vapor

tropical climate

high pressure

low pressure

clouds

wind

Coriolis Effect

global winds

desert climate

highland climate,

Instructions

Play through this interactive game to learn about Weather and Climate Factors. Suitable for Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8.

Main Concepts

Weather characteristics include: temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction.

Climate is defined as the average weather over decades in a particular region.

The Coriolis effect deflects atmospheric and oceanic currents, which affects regional climates.

Because of differential heating from the Sun, climate is warmer at equatorial regions and cooler at higher latitudes.

Ocean water heats and cools more slowly than land, causing temperate climates in regions near the ocean.

The angle at which the sun strikes different latitudes on Earth causes unequal heating across the globe.

Air pressure and temperature drop with elevation, causing changes in climate.

The cycling of matter and energy between living things and the atmosphere affects climate.

When warm water evaporates from the ocean, it can condense to form storm clouds or intense tropical storm systems, such as hurricanes and tsunamis.

The interactions affecting weather and climate vary with latitude, altitude, proximity to the ocean, topography, and surface characteristics.

Earth's hydrosphere includes all of the water existing in the atmosphere, bodies of water, and ground.

Dense air masses are cool and dry, while less dense air masses are warm and humid.

Discussion Questions

Before the Game

What is precipitation? What is wind speed? What is the imaginary line that divides the Earth into two halves? Which way do lines of latitude go on the map?

After the Game

What causes temperatures to be warmer at the equator and gradually get cooler as you move north or south? What is the difference between climate and weather? What is relative humidity? What is the Coriolis Effect? What are the characteristics of a tropical climate, desert climate, and a highland climate?