MS-ESS2.C-2

Weather Changers

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Game Info for Teachers

COMBINED RATING

3.8 Stars

TEACHERS (9)

3.8

STUDENTS (9815)

3.8

LENGTH

15 Minutes

GRADES

CAPABILITIES

Spanish Language Support

Text-to-Speech Support

Saves Progress

Description

Travel around the world to learn about the water cycle and weather patterns! From deserts with evaporating water, to snowy regions with ice, collect instruments to do experiments.

Vocabulary Words

water cycle

weather

atmosphere

climate

weather patterns

air mass

temperature

humidity

weather station

meteorology

evaporation

heliograph

pyranometer

solar radiation

thermometer

crystallization

water cycle

hydrosphere

air pressure

density

wind

anemometer

forecast

relative humidity

condensation

precipitation

rain gauge

Instructions

Play through this interactive game to learn about The Water Cycle and Weather Patterns. Suitable for Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8.

Main Concepts

Weather changes when a new air mass with different characteristics replaces or interacts with another.

The complex patterns of the changes and the movement of water in the atmosphere are major determinants of local weather patterns.

The water cycle includes transpiration, the process in which plants absorb liquid water through their roots and then release water vapor through their leaves.

The water cycle includes precipitation, the process in which liquid water or ice falls from the sky.

Air masses cool as they rise over landforms such as mountains, causing water vapor to condense and fall as precipitation.

The water cycle includes evaporation, the process in which liquid water changes into water vapor.

Wind moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

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

The flow of air as wind on Earth is related to heating from the Sun.

Weather is defined as the conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.(MS)

The water cycle includes crystallization, the process in which liquid water changes to ice.

Gravity pulls denser air masses downwards, causing less dense air masses to rise.

Wind is moving air.

Earth's atmosphere is the envelope of gas surrounding the planet.

Water is located in oceans, rivers, lakes, swamps, groundwater, aquifers, and ice.

Thermal energy transfers via conduction and radiation between the ocean and the air above it.

The water cycle includes condensation, the process in which water vapor changes into liquid water.

Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.

Local weather patterns are determined by the movement of water in the atmosphere.

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

Earth's water cycle involves the processes by which water circulates between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living organisms.

An increase in humidity decreases the density of air, causing it to rise upward.

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

Discussion Questions

Before the Game

What are some features of the weather we can observe every day?What is weather? What does a weather map of the United States tell us about different parts of the country? What do we call the science of studying weather?

After the Game

. What are three things that impact local weather? What causes temperature differences across the Earth? What are three examples of instruments you used to gather information about the weather and climate in an area? What are some areas on Earth in which water naturally exists? Why is there less oxygen available atop mountains? How does density affect air pressure? What causes wind? How is condensation different from evaporation?