Seasonal Change on Land and Water

GLOBE Program

In this worksheet-based activity, students review global visualizations of incoming sunlight and surface temperature and discuss seasonal change. Students use the visualizations to support inquiry on the differences in seasonal change in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and how land and water absorb and release heat differently. The activity culminates in an argument about why one hemisphere experiences warmer summers although it receives less total solar energy.

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Notes from our reviewers

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An additional assessment strategy for students should be designed to ensure student understanding of the lesson and to prevent misconceptions from being developed. Educator should set the stage for the activity with a demonstration of the reason for the seasons. If a color copier/printer or computer projector are not available, there is an opportunity for students to color their own diagrams.
Worksheet-based activity in which students interpret global visualizations of incoming solar radiation, average surface temperatures, land/sea distribution diagrams in order to understand the reason for the seasons and the effect of different heat capacities of land and water. Good background information, but additional reference materials are not provided to support educator. The oblique diagram on Earth's location relative to the sun appears to show a highly elliptical orbit that may cause misconceptions. It should be pointed out that the diagram on the left is oblique and the diagram on the right is looking straight down on the orbital plane. This activity may not effectively address (and could reinforce) misconceptions about the reason for the seasons. Comment from scientist: Freezing point of water is 0 deg C and not 3 deg C. Incoming solar radiation is approx 342 W/m2 and not 300. The term albedo should be introduced when teaching about reflectiveness of different surfaces, and the term heat capacity could be made explicit in the student materials to introduce students to proper scientific terminology.
Well-designed worksheet, good visualizations and guidance for educator. Rubrics/answer key for assessing students are available. Resource urges group work and discussion among groups, which enhance learning for diverse groups. Material is challenging to teach and engage students. It will need skilled educator guidance.