Mollie Deuel's Teaching Portfolio
Inquiry Lesson Plan
Here is an example of an Inquiry lesson plan I created.
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Topic: Cloud Formation and Thermal Energy in Relation
to Weather Related Phenomena
Grade level: 6th Grade
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Essential Questions:
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How are clouds formed?
What is the role of solar and thermal energy in weather related phenomena like thunderstorms and Hurricanes?
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Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs):
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6.3 The student will investigate and understand the role of solar energy in driving most natural processes within the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and on Earth’s surface. Key concepts include
d) cloud formation
e) the role of thermal energy in weather-related phenomena including thunderstorms and hurricanes.
Objectives:
Understand:
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Thermal energy in the earths atmosphere comes from solar energy.
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Thermal Energy drives cloud formation and all weather phenomena, including thunderstorms and hurricanes
Know
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When air or water is heated, the molecules move faster and farther apart, reducing their density and causing them to rise. Cooler air or water molecules move more slowly and are denser than warm air or water. Warm air or water rising coupled with cooler air or water descending forms a cyclic rising/falling pattern called convection.
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Radiation and convection from Earth’s surface transfer thermal energy. This energy powers the global circulation of the atmosphere and the oceans on our planet.
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As bodies of water (oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.) absorb thermal energy, the water evaporates causing the air to be warm and moist. Warm, moist air is less dense than cold, dry air, so it rises relative to colder, drier air. As warm, moist air rises, it gives off some thermal energy as the moisture condenses, forming clouds. Clouds are not gaseous water vapor; rather they are minute, condensed water particles.
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Some thunderstorms are formed where the land is strongly heated. Hurricanes form over warm, tropical water and are fed by the energy of that water.
Be Able to do
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analyze the role of heating and cooling in the formation of clouds.
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order the sequence of events that takes place in the formation of a cloud.
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describe the relationship between thermal energy and the formation of hurricanes and thunderstorms.
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