Week 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

Climate and weather can be hard to differentiate, especially when we live in a country like Colombia where we can experience extreme weather variation in a short amount of time. But understanding the difference between the two is crucial to understanding climate change.

​

Weather (el tiempo) describes the frequent, and

sometimes rapid, variation in temperature, precipitation,

and winds in an  area at any given time. For instance,

in Medellin, it can be sunny in the morning and rainy

in the afternoon.

Climate (clima) describes the long-term averages, in some cases 30 years or more, in weather conditions. It is relatively stable and determines the weather expected at a given time in a given area.

So while the two are related they are not the same – weather changes frequently and sometimes rapidly, while climate remains relatively stable

​

Today we will achieve this learning objective:

​

Describe the difference between climate and weather.

​

​

​

​

​

1) Use as many words as possible to describe the weather in these pictures (use at least 6 words).

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

​2. Visit the AustralianEnvironmentalEducation website and define the terms weather and climate. Make sure you understand their differences.

​

3. From the same website, write the 5 types of climate that exist.

​

4. Choose one of the climates and investigate: 

​

• Describe the general characteristics of this climate.

• Write the names of some countries that have this climate.

• Write the name of at least 7 animals and plants that habit this kind of climate

​

​

​​

​

​

Sometimes, our planet experiences long, freezing periods

called ice ages, where huge glaciers cover vast parts of

the land. Other times, the Earth warms up, melting the ice

and changing landscapes. These shifts happen because

of natural climatic cycles—patterns in Earth’s temperature

that repeat over thousands or even millions of years.

 

In this lesson, we’ll explore what causes these cycles, how ice ages shape the planet, and what they tell us about Earth’s past and future!​

​

Let's read about Yuka's story:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​​​​When Yuka was alive, and for thousands of years afterwards, the Earth was much
colder than it is now. The map shows the parts of the world that were covered by ice sheets 25 000 years ago:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​​

​​

​​

​​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

1) Name a part of the Earth that was covered with ice 25 000 years ago, but is no longer covered with ice.

 

2) When you look at the parts of the Earth that are covered with ice today what do they have in common?

 

3) Read this PAGE about the Ice Ages and answer:

 

    a) How many ice ages do scientists think there have been on Earth?

    b) Is the Earth in an ice age now? Explain why you think that.

    c) Explain the difference between a glacial period and an ice age

    d) Is the Earth in a glacial period now?​​

​

4) Watch this little clip from the movie "ICE AGE"

and describe with your own words, what happens

at the end of the video? why are the animals afraid

and what is going to happen with that ecosystem?

​​

​

5) Visit the Weather.com website. There you will find some shocking images about how human activity and weather change have been causing many consequences in the environment. Watch all the photos and choose 3, then explain them in your notebook (use your own words).