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    412 views4 pages

    Activity and Lesson Plan in Layers of Atmosphere

    Uploaded by

    Teresa Marie Yap Cordero

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 4

    Lesson 15.

    3: Layers of the Atmosphere

    Difficulty Level: Basic | Created by: CK-12

    Add to Library

    Key Concepts

    Temperature of the atmosphere

    Troposphere

    Stratosphere

    Mesosphere

    Thermosphere

    Exosphere

    Lesson Objectives

    Describe how the temperature of the atmosphere changes with altitude.

    Outline the properties of the troposphere.

    Explain the role of the ozone layer in the stratosphere.

    Describe conditions in the mesosphere.

    Explain how the sun affects the thermosphere.

    Identify the exosphere.

    Lesson Vocabulary

    exosphere: outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere above the thermosphere

    mesosphere: layer of Earth’s atmosphere between the stratosphere and thermosphere

    ozone: gas with molecules consisting of three oxygen atoms (O3) that absorbs UV light in the
    stratosphere but pollutes the air when it forms in the troposphere

    stratosphere: layer of Earth’s atmosphere between the troposphere and mesosphere

    temperature inversion: reversal of normal temperatures in the troposphere, with cooler air closer to the
    ground and warmer air above it

    thermosphere: layer of Earth’s atmosphere between the mesosphere and exosphere


    troposphere: lowest, densest layer of Earth’s atmosphere where weather occurs

    Teaching Strategies

    Introducing the Lesson

    Introduce the layers of the atmosphere with the cartoon video at the following URL. The video briefly
    describes each of the layers and some of their important characteristics.

    http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/weather-and-climate/earths-atmosphere.htm

    Activity

    Students can learn about the layers of the atmosphere by doing the foldable activity at the URL below.

    http://www.campaignforcleanair.org/tl_files/cfca/docs/No_Idling_Toolkit/Lesson_Plans/Stage
    %201%20Activity%202%202%20Foldable.pdf

    Demonstration

    Use the modeling activity “Stratospheric Ozone: A Balancing Act” (see URL below) as a demonstration to
    illustrate the concept of equilibrium as it applies to stratospheric ozone. In the activity, you will build a
    model that represents the natural balance of stratospheric ozone production and destruction. Then you
    will alter the model to represent changes human actions have caused in the ozone balance.

    https://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_6_2_25t.htm

    Differentiated Instruction

    The kinesthetic activity at the following URL will help less proficient readers and English language
    learners understand the stratospheric ozone balance. Students will play the roles of atoms and
    molecules and simulate the formation and destruction of ozone molecules in the stratosphere. From the
    activity, students should be able to understand how ozone is formed and destroyed in the stratosphere
    and why stratospheric ozone is important.
    https://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_6_2_26t.htm

    Differentiated Instruction

    Visual learners might benefit from watching a video version of lesson content. They can learn about the
    layers of the atmosphere in the video “Reveal the Atmosphere” at the following URL.

    http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=5126&CategoryID=2666

    Enrichment

    Have a few students collaborate to make a to-scale model of atmospheric layers that shows their relative
    thicknesses, temperature gradients, and a few distinguishing features of each layer. Display their model
    in the classroom and urge other students to examine it.

    Science Inquiry

    The two-part inquiry activity at the URL below demonstrates the relative thickness of the thin layer that
    includes the troposphere and stratosphere. By doing the activity, students will be able to explain how
    relatively thin the atmosphere is, relative to the size of the planet, and will understand the relative
    extent of the four major atmospheric layers.

    https://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_1_2_2t.htm

    Physical Science Connection

    Explain the role of the ionosphere in the transmission of AM and FM radio waves. At night, AM radio
    waves reflect off this layer of the atmosphere and can thereby travel to places on Earth’s surface that lie
    beyond the horizon from the radio transmission tower. FM radio waves, in contrast, pass straight through
    the ionosphere and out into space, at night as well as during the day. Because FM waves are not
    reflected back to Earth’s surface, they cannot travel to places on the surface that lie beyond the horizon
    from the transmission tower. As a result, at night you can hear an AM radio station from farther away
    than an FM radio station. You can learn more about this phenomenon at the following URLs:
    http://www.cybercollege.com/frtv/frtv017.htm

    http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/why-am-radio-stations-must-reduce-power-change-operations-or-
    cease-broadcasting-night

    http://www.modestoradiomuseum.org/how%20it%20works.html

    Reinforce and Review

    Lesson Worksheets

    Copy and distribute the lesson worksheets in the CK-12 Earth Science for Middle School Workbook. Ask
    students to complete the worksheets alone or in pairs to reinforce lesson content.

    Lesson Review Questions

    Have students answer the Review Questions listed at the end of the lesson in the FlexBook® student
    edition.

    Lesson Quiz

    Check students’ mastery of the lesson with Lesson 15.3 Quiz in CK-12 Earth Science for Middle School
    Quizzes and Tests.

    Points to Consider

    Energy from the sun is responsible for winds that blow in the troposphere. What is wind?

    How does energy cause winds to blow?

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