Take a moment and think about the weather today where you are. Is it typical? If it’s been cool the past few days but the temperature is climbing today, is that considered weather or climate? Are weather and climate the same thing? Though they are closely related, weather and climate aren’t the same things. Climate is what you expect. Weather is what actually happens.
The factors that affect the climate are latitude, altitude, landscape, nearby seas, or sea currents. Because of these factors, the elements that make up the climate (temperature, precipitation, humidity, pressure, or winds) vary from one place to another. There is a big variety of climates on Earth that we normally divide into hot, temperate, and cold climates.
Over the past centuries, the climate on Earth has been changing as a consequence of global warming, meaning the increase in global temperature owing mainly to human activity. Remember that it’s in your hands too, to look after the planet and prevent global warming.
This video satisfies the 3-ESS2-1 and 3-ESS2-2 requirements for third-grade science proficiency.
Students who demonstrate understanding can:
3-ESS2-1. Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
3-ESS2-2. Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
