Taking Earth's Temp

Taking the Earth's Temperature and Other Measurements

Introduction:

The physical conditions of the environment determine to a large extent the type of organisms that exist in an ecosystem. The key components of the environments are temperature, moisture, sunlight and soil. Most organisms live within a narrow temperature range, and will not do well, or may even die, outside this temperature range. All living things require water to survive, and rainfall has a major influence on the types of plant that will grow in a region. Ecosystems depend on the energy captured from the sun and the availability of sunlight determines the life an ecosystem will support. The physical and chemical properties of soil determine what plants will grow in any particular place. The absorption of solar radiation influences global patterns of temperature, wind, and rainfall. Seasonal changes caused by differences in longitude cause warming and cooling at different times. Elevation, topography and geology superimpose local variations.

National Standard Addressed:

The national standard of Unifying Concepts and Processes- Change, constancy and measurement can be addressed during this lesson through the use of different tools used to measure the physical environment. Thermometers and rain gauges provide real life experience with measuring the environmental conditions. This hands on experience will allow students the chance to become real scientists.

The teaching standards that are highlighted by this activity include: Constructivism and Facilitating and altering the classroom environment. This is accomplished by allowing the students to be outside to conduct their study of the environment and to collect their measurements.

Objectives and Benchmarks:

The students will take measurements of temperature, barometric pressure, rainfall and pH. They will learn how to use the equipment and compare some of their results with those their classmates will obtain. Students will also become familiar with the meanings of the different measurements.

Materials:

(Standard Lab)

Hand Anemometer Sling Psychrometer A Calculator Rain Gauge

(Advanced Lab)

CBL Devices and Specialized Probes Thermometer Rain Gauge Water Quality Testing Kits

Advanced Preparation:

Obtain the rain gauges, thermometers, pH paper and other equipment

Learn how to manipulate CBL's if using the advanced lab.

Procedure:

1. Make sure to show the students how to read the thermometer, anemometer and other equipment.

2. Using the thermometer have the students take measurements of the temperature in full sunlight and in the shade. Ask, Are your measurements different? Why do you think they are or are not?

3. Have the students use the anemometer to take and record wind speeds at the same sites visited in #2. Ask does the speed vary at the different sites?

4. Help students to setup a rain gauge outside the classroom and monitor the rainfall over the course of a few weeks. Each time make sure they check the pH of the water with pH paper. Ask, Did the pH vary and if so why do you think it did?

5. Have the students use the sling psychrometer to check the relative humidity.

6. If the equipment is available allow students to use the high tech devices to take the same measurements and compare them to the readings from the other equipment.

Things to Consider:

	What did your measurements tell you about the different environments you tested?
	Were some of your readings so extreme that some organisms couldn't survive in those environments?
	Were the CBL's easier to use and understand than the older instruments?
	Did the units of measure differ between the older instruments and the CBL? What system of measurement is used in the scientific community?

Possible Integration:

This lesson primarily focuses on earth science but could also be integrated into a math lesson through the use of data collection. Having the students collect and record their own data and calculating averages for the class could help to involve their math skills. If the advanced equipment is available computer technology could also be tied into the lesson. The use of probes to take the measurements will help to strengthen their computer literacy.

Critical Concepts:

CBL's Solar Radiation Temperature Elevation Barometric Pressure pH Acid Rain Relative Humidity