Earth - weather, water cycle, and atmosphere - Concepts

Primary

Weather Concepts

1. Weather changes from day to day and over the seasons.

Water cycle Concepts

1. Clouds are necessary for rain.
2. Most of the Earth's surface is covered with water.

Atmosphere Concepts

1. There are gases surrounding the Earth Living organisms interact with the Earth.

Intermediate

Weather Concepts

1. Weather can be described by measurable quantities, such as temperature, wind direction, speed, and precipitation.

Water cycle Concepts

1. Clouds form from water vapor.
2. Water, which covers the majority of the earth's surface, circulates through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere and is known as the water cycle.

Atmosphere Concepts

1. The Earth's atmosphere is made of gases, one of which is oxygen, that animals breathe.
2. Living organisms change the Earth's atmosphere.

 

Middle School

Weather Concepts

1. Weather is driven by solar energy.
2. Oceans have a major effect on climate, because water in the oceans holds a large amount of heat.
3. Global patterns of atmospheric movement influence local weather.

Water cycle Concepts

1. Water cycle includes the evaporation of water from the earth's surface, rises and cools as it moves to higher elevations, condenses as rain or snow, and falls to the surface where it collects in lakes, oceans, soil, and in rocks underground.
2. Water is a solvent. As it passes through the water cycle it dissolves minerals and gases and carries them to the oceans.

Atmosphere Concepts

1. The atmosphere is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace gases that include water vapor.
2. The atmosphere has different properties at different elevations.
3. Living organisms have played many roles in the earth system, including affecting the composition of the atmosphere, producing some types of rocks, and contributing to the weathering of rocks.