The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind:
A New Use for Old Cellphones:
Category Archives: Atmosphere & Weather
Why does it snow? How do the layers of the atmosphere influence our climate? Why did Hurricane Katrina cause so much devastation? When we explore this unit, we will answer these questions and more!
Through the study of atmosphere and weather, we can become critical thinkers, stronger scientists, and better stewards of the earth!
November 23 – November 27
Homework for the Week: Turn in any missing assignments for late credit. Study for Weather Retest 12/1 if you received less than 75 percent. Students taking the retest MUST complete test corrections and hand in a study guide.
Monday, November 16: Can Turkey Guts Turn Into Fuel?, Stewardship Brochure Part 2, Keystone Pipeline Close Reading (Block 5)
Tutoring 8 a.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Tuesday, November 17: Test Review, Stewardship Brochure Part 3, Keystone Pipeline Debate (Block 5)
Wednesday, November 18: No School!
Thursday, November 19: No School!
Friday, November 20: No School!
November 16 – November 20
STUDY EVERY NIGHT!! Your Air Masses, Fronts & Winds Test is FRIDAY!
Homework for the Week: Watch video #10 (WEDNESDAY), Study for Weather Test (FRIDAY), Bill Nye Wind Extra Credit (FRIDAY), Study Guide Extra Credit (FRIDAY)
Monday, November 16: Review: Wind & Breezes, Agenda for the Week, Scientist of the Week
Tutoring 8 a.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Tuesday, November 17: Movie Theater: Global Warming
Wednesday, November 18: Close Reading Strategies: Global Warming, Global Warming: Gallery Walk, Professor & Scholar Test Review Poster Creation
Tutoring 4:15-5:30 p.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Thursday, November 19: Professor & Scholar Review, Kahoot: Test Review
Friday, November 20: Weather Test, Raffle
Growth Mindset Quote of the Week: “There has to be this pioneer, the individual with the courage, the ambition to overcome the obstacles that always develop when one tries to do something worthwhile that is new and different.” -Alfred P. Sloan
Scientist of the Week: Rachel Carson
Today, we hear about environmental activism a lot in the news. Did you ever wonder how environmental activism began? Look no further than our scientist of the week: Rachel Carson. Ms, Carson was an ecologist and marine biologist. She adored nature! In 1962, Ms. Carson published Silent Spring, a book about the dangerous effects of pesticides on our environment. There were many people who pressured her to deny what she learned about pesticides 
(mainly the pesticide companies!). However, Ms. Carson stood her ground! She is considered the founder of the modern environmental movement. Her book led to the creation of the Enviornmental Protection Agency. Learn more about Rachel Carson in this short video: PBS
Are you captivating by issues about the environment? Check out this major: Environmental Science. Do you love to write? Check out this description: Become a Writer .
November 9 – November 13
BEGIN STUDYING!!! Your Air Masses, Fronts & Winds Test is November 19!
Monday, November 9: Wind Nearpod, Collecting Meteorological data notes, “Moving Windmills ‘The William Kamkwamba Story,” Agenda for the Week, Scientist of the Week, Growth Mindset Quote of the Week, Raffle
Homework: Complete Triple Play Project (Due Tuesday)
Tutoring 8 a.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Tuesday, November 10: Weather Technology Scavenger Hunt, Wind with Bill Nye
Homework: Study for Wind & Weather Technology quiz (Friday)
Wednesday, November 11: NO SCHOOL
Thursday, November 12: Wind & Weather (Kahoot & Review), “High-altitude wind energy from kites,” Air Quality Guided Notes
Homework: Study for Wind & Weather Technology quiz (Friday)
Friday, November 13: Wind & Weather Technology Quiz, Greenhouse Gases Guided Notes, Global Stewardship Brochere, Raffle
Saturday, November 14 9:30-12:00 p.m.: All students welcome! Come to school for a relaxed and fun weather test review! RSVP by Thursday, November 12
Growth Mindset Quote of the Week: “Most people never run far enough on the first wind to find out they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got, and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.” -William James
Scientist of the Week: William Kamkwamba
Many times, we think that scientists are just old dudes who hibernate in a laboratory! But that is not true!
When he was just 14 years old, our scientist of the week, William Kamkwamba, invented a wind mill. The wind mill provided electricity to his small poor village in Malawi. Was Mr. Kamkwamba an old scientist with years and years of training, you ask?! No! He designed the windmill after finding a library book about using electricity and came up with a bright idea. He used the resources around him (The windmill he built was made of scrap metal.) You can read the full story here from PR Newswire.
Does building a wind mill sound like a dream come true to you? Or do you love the library and accessing infomration as much as Mr. Kamkwamba? Check out the description of the following college majors on College Board: Library Science, Civil Engineering
Weather Documents **TRIPLE PLAY INSTRUCTIONS HERE**
Hey Wildcat Team!
I’ll be updating this page with all of the documents we’ve used for this unit! Stay tuned!
Study Guide for Test 11/19: weather_test_study_guide
Air Quality & Greenhouse Gases
- Air Quality Guided Notes
- Independent Assignment-Air Quality & Review
- Air Pollution and our Health- Reading
- Global Warming Greenhouse Guided Notes
- Keystone Pipeline Discussion
- Air Quality & Greenhouse Gases Power Point
- Reduce your Carbon Finger Print Stations
Weather Forecasting, Wind, & Weather Technology
- Isobar Lab
- Triple Play Project Directions: weather_triple_play_project
- weather_forecasting_stations
- Weather Map Practice
- Tip Sheet-Weather Forecasting
- Forecasting Weather Gallery Walk: WS Forecasting weather map 1 5
- Weather Forecasting Scavenger Hunt
- Wind & Weather Vane Lab
- nye-wind[1]
- movement_of_air
- Wind Nearpod:
https://app.nearpod.com/#/?pin=0AA46086A2DB32973E15B81ABB98E96C-0&he=true
Hurricanes
- Hurricane Nearpod Presentation: LINK
- hurricanecasestudy
- Newsela Text Complexity Assignment: Which would you rather face: Hurricane or Tornado? (Take the quiz on Newsela AND write 5 sentences about if you would rather a hurricane or a tornado)
- Hurricane Katrina Video: National Geographic
Tornadoes
Air Masses & Fronts
Water Cycle & Clouds
- Types of Clouds: Video
- Journey of a Water Droplet: Video
- Journey of a Water Droplet Stations
- Wet Jeans Warm Up
Español
November 2 – November 6
Please note shifted tutoring times this week! Your Air Masses, Fronts & Winds Test November 19!
Monday, November 2: Tornado Notes, Agenda for the Week, Scientist of the Week, Growth Mindset Quote of the Week
Homework: Complete Text Complexity Assignment (Due Tuesday), Complete Hurricane Case Study (Due Thursday)
Tuesday, November 3: Weather Maps, Isobar Lab
Homework: Complete Hurricane Case Study (Due Friday)
Wednesday, November 4: Triple Play Assignment, Hurricane Case Study, Test Study Guide
Homework: Complete Hurricane Case Study (Due Friday)
Thursday, November 5: Triple Play Assignment,
Tutoring 4:15-5:30 p.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Homework: Complete Triple Play Assignment (Due Tuesday 11/10), Complete Hurricane Case Study (Due Friday)
Tutoring 8 a.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Friday, November 6: Bill Nye: Storms, Review Day: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Weather Maps
Homework: Complete Triple Play Assignment (Due Tuesday 11/10)
Growth Mindset Quote of the Week: “Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” -Benjamin Franklin
Scientist of the Week: Benjamin Franklin
On November 2, 1743, Benjamin Franklin was attempting to look at the eclipse of the moon in Philadelphia, but a storm blocked his view! Ben was bummed. When Mr. Franklin’s brother told him that he had a clear view Boston, Mr. Franklin noticed 
something: storms move! Some folkse at the time believed that storms formed and died in the same place. (All of you fabulous 7th graders know this is not true!) Mr. Franklin discovered that storms travel. You can read the full story here from The Washington Post.
Would you be as mad as Ben was if you missed an eclipse? Check out the description of the following college majors on College Board: Astronomy
October 26-October 30
Your Air Masses, Fronts & Winds Test November 19!
Monday, October 26: Forecasting Weather Gallery Walk, The Coriolis Effect
Tutoring 8 a.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Tuesday, October 27: High and Low Pressure, Text Complexity: Hurricane Article
Wednesday, October 28: Hurricane Notes
Tutoring 4:15-5:30 p.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Thursday, October 29: Hurricane Reading
Friday, October 30: Hurricane Review, Hurricane Case Studies, Raffle
Growth Mindset Quote of the Week: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” -Albert Einstein
Scientist of the Week: Carl Young, Joel Taylor, Marcus Gutierrez
Carl Young studied atmospheric science in college. He grew up in California and initially hoped to become a filmmaker. However, he soon became mesmerized by tornadoes and changed his career path! Throughout his life, he worked to get close to tornadoes and uncover what they looked like on the inside!
Joel Taylor is a meteorologist who has a passion for storm chasing. He grew up in Tornado Alley. His fascination with extreme weather led him to study meteorology in college and later become a storm chaser.
Marcus Gutierrez is a former U.S. Navy member. His main role is to drive the Dominator. However, if anyone ever gets hurt during the chase, Mr. Gutierrez is ready to help-he has a medical background in surgery!
Do you love extreme weather? Check out the description of the following college majors on College Board: Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics, Atmospheric Science
Do you like healing people? Check out this description: How to become a surgeon
October 19-October 23
Monday, October 19: Agenda for the week, Occluded Fronts, Wind & Pressure Playlist
Homework: Study for Air Masses, Fronts & Winds Test (TBA),
Tuesday, October 20: Wind & Pressure Notes
Homework: Study for Air Masses, Fronts & Winds Test (TBA),
Wednesday, October 21: Review, Air Masses, Pressure
Homework: Study for Air Masses, Fronts & Winds Test (TBA),
Tutoring 8 a.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Thursday, October 22: Review, Raffle
Homework: Study for Air Masses, Fronts & Winds Test (TBA),
Friday, October 23: No School!
A+ Student Tip: Start studying for you Air Masses/Fronts test (TBD) today! Every night, review your notes for 5 minutes. Some materials you have already to help:
-Air Masses Independent Review Sheet
-Notes from Air Masses Pathway
-Notes from Wednesday power point
-Humidity Worksheet
-Air Masses Worksheet
-Notes from Front skit
-10/16 Glossary Worksheet Homework
Growth Mindset Quote of the Week: “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” -Winston Churchill
Scientist of the Week: Al Roker
Al Roker is a weathercaster, author, and television personality, best known as the weather anchor on NBC’s Today Show. Born in Queens, NY.
Mr. Roker received a degree in Communications from the State University of New York: Oswego.
Last year, Al was trending on twitter (#rokerthon). Wow! Al seems so cool! He set the official Guinness World Record for the longest weather forecast report–he reported the weather for 34-hours!
Several famous forecasters have catchphrases. During his forecast, Al says: “That’s what’s going on around the country. Here’s what’s happening in your neck of the woods.”
Do you love being in front of a camera? Check out the description of the following college majors on College Board: Broadcast Journalism, Mass Communications
October 12-October 16
Monday, October 12: Official Notebook Check, Air Masses Pathway, Agenda for the week
Tuesday, October 13: Air Masses Pathway
Homework: Watch Video #6 and complete glossary worksheets (Due Thursday)
Wednesday, October 14: Humidity, Air Masses Lecture, Data Tracking (Assignments returned and brought home)
Homework: Watch Video #6 and complete glossary worksheets (Due Thursday), Return signed Data Tracking folders (Due Thursday)
Tutoring 8 a.m. (Please email Ms. Y if you are coming: regina1.yorkgitis@cms.k12.nc.us)
Thursday, October 15: Fronts Lecture & Skit, Air Masses Playlist
Friday, October 16: *Ms. Y is at a workshop today, assignment instructions on Google Classroom* Air Masses Playlist, Bill Nye: Water Cycle
Documents: Pathway_AirMasses, Journey of Water Droplet Tracking Sheet
A+ Student Tip: Start studying for you Air Masses/Fronts test (TBD) today! Every night, review your notes for 5 minutes. Some materials you have already to help:
-Air Masses Independent Review Sheet
-Notes from Air Masses Pathway
-Notes from Wednesday power point
-Humidity Worksheet
-Air Masses Worksheet
-Notes from Front skit
Growth Mindset Quote of the Week: “The power of imagination makes us infinite.” -John Muir
Scientists of the Week: The Montgolfier Brothers
The Montgolfier Brothers, a.k.a. Joseph-Michael and Jacques-Ètienne Montgolfier, invented the first successful hot air balloon in 1783. They worked as paper manufacturers. While at work, they used the Scientific Method and attempted to create devices that could float in the air. They eventually discovered that through the use of fire, they could make a paper bag rise.
The first hot air balloon they created was made of silk and paper. It was 10 meters in diameter (that’s 33 feet!).
Do stories like this fascinate you? Check out College Board’s description of majoring in history: History
Water Cycle – Real World Situations
Station #1 – Grandma Johnson Likes to Garden
Scenario:
There is a sweet little old lady who lives down the street. Everyone calls her Grandma Johnson. One afternoon when you were walking home from school, you saw her standing in front of her house looking really frustrated. You stop and ask her what is wrong. She says that she is having a hard time with the plants in her yard. When she waters them around noon everyday she notices that the water dries up really quickly, and it doesn’t really seem like her plants are able to soak up the amount of water they need because they look droopy.
How can you help out Grandma Johnson with your knowledge of the water cycle?
Station #2 – What’s wrong with my Mountain Dew?
Scenario:
Your Aunt bought a 2 liter Mountain Dew for the whole house to share with dinner the night before. You decided to have a glass of it with your breakfast before school (even though this is very unhealthy!). You realized that you were about to miss the bus so you put the cap on and just left it on the counter in front of the window. When you got home from school later that day you noticed all these drops of liquid at the top of the bottle. You wonder how they got there.
Using your knowledge of the water cycle explain which steps of the water cycle caused the drops of liquid to be at the top of the bottle.
Station #3 – Why is it so humid?
Scenario:
Alyssa goes to school in Atlanta during the school year, but visits her dad in Wilmington (which is on the coast of North Carolina, close to the ocean) for a few weeks every summer. When she came this summer she noticed that it was VERY humid here compared to Atlanta. Weather is more humid when there is more water in the air.
Explain to Alyssa why it is more humid in Wilmington than Atlanta.
Station #4:
Scenario: Antarctica is a frigid place with lots of snow and many glaciers! Glaciers are made up of fallen snow that, over many years, compresses into large, thickened ice masses. Glaciers form when snow remains in one location long enough to transform into ice. What makes glaciers unique is their ability to move. Due to sheer mass, glaciers flow like very slow rivers. Some glaciers are as small as football fields, while others grow to be dozens or even hundreds of kilometers long.
Figure out the role that glaciers play in the water cycle.
Station #5:
Scenario: Ms. Street is from the great state of Michigan! Michigan is surrounded by four of the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie). These lakes are a part of the world’s hydrosphere, which is the liquid water component of the Earth (not solid, like ice, or gas, like water vapor).. It includes the oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. The hydrosphere covers about 70% of the surface of the Earth and is the home for many plants and animals. Ms. Street goes back home to visit Michigan and she notices that the temperature is much hotter than it was a few months before. Since she is teaching her students about the water cycle, she wonders how this temperature change is impacting the water cycle.
Help Ms. Street figure out how the world’s temperature change can impact the water cycle and more specifically the Great Lakes.
Name:___________ Block:_____
Water Cycle – Real World Edition!
| Station #1
– What time of day do you think water evaporates more quickly: morning, afternoon, or evening? Explain why. – What time of day is Grandma Johnson watering her plants? Is that a good time? Explain why you think that. – What time of day would you suggest Grandma Johnson water her plants? Why did you suggest that time? |
| Station #2
– Where did you leave your bottle of Mountain Dew? – What did you see in your bottle of Mountain Dew when you got home? – What stage of the water cycle causes a liquid to turn into a gas (water vapor)? – What stage of the water cycle causes a gas to change back into a liquid drop? – What two parts of the water cycle caused the droplets at the top of your Mountain Dew bottle? |
| Station #3
– Where does Alyssa live during the school year? Is that close to a body of water? – When it is humid there is more ___________ in the air. – What part of the water cycle takes water from different places on Earth and puts it into the air? – Why is it more humid in Wilmington compared to Atlanta? |
| Station #4
– What is a glacier? – How is a glacier formed? – Do glaciers move? If so, how? – Do you think that water gets out of a glacier quickly/easily? – Do glaciers hold on to water or move it around quickly in the water cycle? How do you know this? |
| Station #5
– What Great Lakes surround Michigan? – What is included in the hydrosphere? – What part of the water cycle happens more when temperature increases? – When the temperature increases in Michigan, what happens to the Great Lakes (in terms of the water cycle)? |
Ms. Y Science (2015-2016) 