Four Cities - Task F
Lesson
Alignment and Connections of Task Components to the Standards Bundle Task Components C, D, E, F, G, and H ask students to compare the temperature and precipitation data of four selected cities to evaluate how latitude, geographic location, ocean currents, prevailing wind direction, altitude, and topography influence the regional climates of these cities and to build a map outlining where these will affect climate in the western half of the United States. By asking students to construct arguments and explanations, these task components together partially address parts of the NGSS core ideas of Weather and Climate (ESS2.D as it relates to MS-ESS2-6) and The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes (ESS2.C as it relates to MS-ESS2-6); parts of the practices of Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Engaging in Argument from Evidence, and Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions; and parts of the crosscutting concepts of Cause and Effect, Patterns, and Energy and Matter. The development of the map allows students to demonstrate their understanding of the NGSS practice of Developing and Using Models (as it relates to MS-ESS2-6). The use of scatterplots in the interpretation of the climatological data addresses CCSS-M standards 7.SP.A.1, 7.SP.B.3, and 7.SP.B.4 as well as CCSS-M practices MP.2 and MP.3. In these task components, an understanding of statistical values, such as mean and range, enhances students interpretation of the effects the various listed factors have on climate, while interpretation of the plotted data populations in the context of climate enhances students’ understanding of those statistical values. By constructing how and why explanations in Task Components D, E, F, and G, students can partially address on W.7.2, W.7.2.a, W.7.2.b, W.7.2.b, WHST.6-8.2, WHST.6-8.2.a, WHST.6-8.2.b, and WHST.6-8.2.c.