CARDIO1. Based on the map in

page 35, which area get the most precipitation? Which one the least? What do you think it will affect their lives?

Weather is the day-to-day changes in temperature and precipitation, or water that falls to the ground as rain, sleet, or snow. For example, Tuesday was rainy, with a high temperature of 57 degrees Fahrenheit.  Climate describes the average weather in a place over many years. For example, Nome, Alaska, is cold and snowy. Climate is affected by wind and water.  Air moves generally in an east-west direction. Air also moves in a north-south direction. Hot air at the Equator rises and moves toward the North and South poles; cold air at the poles sinks and moves toward the Equator.

Section 3: Climate and Vegetation

The Earth’s rotation creates ocean currents. Water takes longer than land to heat and cool. In the summer, wind blows cooler air from the water over the land. The reverse happens in the winter.

Scientists have divided the Earth into five climate regions. Each has special characteristics, such as amount of rain and sunlight, temperature, and vegetation, or plants that grow there naturally.

DRY: Dry and hot, with little rain. Little vegetation with shallow roots to absorb water, small leaves to hold in moisture.

TROPICAL: Hot, wet, and sunny. Thousands of kinds of trees, plants, and flowers. Trees can grow to 130 feet high. Smaller trees, vines, and ferns grow in their shade. MODERATE: Moderate rainfall and temperatures. Varied vegetation, including trees that lose their leaves in the fall, shrubs, low bushes, wildflowers, and grasses.CONTINENTAL: Moderate to hot summers and cold winters. Tall grasses and large forests with trees that lose their leaves and trees with needles and cones.

POLAR: Cold all year. Small shrubs, mosses, and lichens. No trees and few flowering plants.

Classroom Discussion Questions:

1. What is the difference between weather and climate?

2. In which region would you find cactus? Which region has the most varieties of flowers?

CLASS WORK FIND THE DEFINITION OF THE FOLLOWING KEY TERMS (PAGE 646) LANDFORM PLATE TECTONICS ATMOSPHERE EROSION NATURAL RESOURCE FOSSIL FUEL CLIMATE VEGETATION

CLASS WORK

PAGE 30 QUIESTION (1-4) ALL

HOME LEARNINGSTUDY FOR A QUIZ1. CONTINENTS (LOCATION)2. LANDFORM3. PLATE TECTONICS4. ATMOSPHERE5. EROSION6. NATURAL RESOURCE7. FOSSIL FUEL8. CLIMATE9. VEGETATION10. LATITUDE (DIRECTION)11. PRIME MERIDIAN (LOCATION)12. EQUATOR (LOCATION)13. TROPIC OF CAPRICORN (LOCATION14. TROPIC OF CANCER