5 TYPES OF CLIMATES:
1. TROPICAL - Low latitudes -hot and wet.
-vegetation - tropical rainforest
- great growing conditions...lots of light, heat and rain...1000's of plants
2. DRY - Arid and Semiarid - very hot, but dry.
- not much vegetation(sparse vegetation)...plant grow far apart in sandy, gravelly soil...shallow root systems
3. MODERATE - Middle latitudes - 3 Types of Moderate Climates
a.) Mediterranean - moderate rain...most rain in winter; summers...hot and dry.
plants have leathery leaves...holds in moisture during the dry summers.
-wide variety of vegetation
b.) Marine West Coast - mountainous and are cooled by ocean currents
- vegetation - more forests than grasses.
c.) Humid Subtropical - of the 3 moderate climates, this one had the most precipitation, heat and humidity...many types of vegetation
4. CONTINENTAL - summers are moderate to hot...winters can be very cold.
- vegetation - grasslands and forests
We live in this climate zone...
5. POLAR - High latitudes - cold year round
- Tundra lies along the Arctic Circle...short, cold summers...long, cold winters...No trees...only low shrubs, moss(not Randy Moss), and lichens grow on rock surfaces
Vertical Climate - climate changes according to a mountains height...see page 47 in your textbook.
Monday, September 24, 2007
SEPT. 24 REMINDER...
CHAPTER 2 TEST ON THURSDAY (EARTH'S PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY)
Nice job on the desktop country displays...the food was fantastic!
Remember: When working on projects...I am not interested in having people running off factual information from the Internet and turning it in(anybody can do that)...I want to see what "you" create!
Nice job on the desktop country displays...the food was fantastic!
Remember: When working on projects...I am not interested in having people running off factual information from the Internet and turning it in(anybody can do that)...I want to see what "you" create!
Week of September 24 - 28
SOCIAL STUDIES (TENTATIVE) PLAN FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24-28:
MONDAY - DISCUSS HOW CLIMATE AFFECTS VEGETATION(WKSHT 4, SECTION 4, CH. 2)
Skills Activity, p. 48 and 49 "Using Special Geo. Graphs.
Do - Apply the skill (1-3)P. 49
TUESDAY - Correct p. 49 (1-3)
Make up Rev. Question from Ch. 2 ...these questions will be used to review on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY - Review for Chapter 2 Test(with student generated questions from the chapter)
THURSDAY - Chapter 2 Test
FRIDAY - Population Distribution Activity...
MONDAY - DISCUSS HOW CLIMATE AFFECTS VEGETATION(WKSHT 4, SECTION 4, CH. 2)
Skills Activity, p. 48 and 49 "Using Special Geo. Graphs.
Do - Apply the skill (1-3)P. 49
TUESDAY - Correct p. 49 (1-3)
Make up Rev. Question from Ch. 2 ...these questions will be used to review on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY - Review for Chapter 2 Test(with student generated questions from the chapter)
THURSDAY - Chapter 2 Test
FRIDAY - Population Distribution Activity...
Thursday, September 20, 2007
SEPTEMBER 20 - THURSDAY- CLIMATE AND WHAT INFLUENCES IT...
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE...
WEATHER - day to day changes in the air...people can check it "daily."
- measured by temperature (how hot and cold the air feels) and by precipitation(water that falls to the ground...rain, sleet, hail, or snow)
CLIMATE - average weather of a place over many years...
Climates are different in the low, middle and high latitude regions because latitude affects temperature. Landforms, such as mountains, affect climates in neighboring areas.
WIND/WATER:
Without wind and water, the Earth would overheat...wind and water help spread the sun's heat.
How many of you know the old Bob Dylan song....Blowin' in the Wind?
THE BLOWING WINDS...
EARTH'S ROTATION - creates wind...moves in an east-west direction...see page 35(wind patterns)
2 FACTORS make air move in a north/south direction:
a.)Hot air rises and circulates toward regions where the air is not as hot
b.) Cold air sinks and moves toward regions where the air is warmer
The movement of air keeps the Earth from overheating.
OCEAN CURRENTS:
Ocean currents- created by Earth's rotation...ocean currents are like fast-moving rivers in the oceans.
Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Current....carries warm water to the British Isles
Peru Current - cold water from Antarctica moves towards the equator
Large Bodies of Water:
Remember our discussion of how large bodies of water warm and cool the areas around it?
We compared Iron Mountain to Marquette...winter/summer...be able to explain the process...see page 40.
Hurricanes- storms(wind and rain) form over the tropics of the ATLANTIC...
Typhoons - similar storms which take place in the PACIFIC
WEATHER - day to day changes in the air...people can check it "daily."
- measured by temperature (how hot and cold the air feels) and by precipitation(water that falls to the ground...rain, sleet, hail, or snow)
CLIMATE - average weather of a place over many years...
Climates are different in the low, middle and high latitude regions because latitude affects temperature. Landforms, such as mountains, affect climates in neighboring areas.
WIND/WATER:
Without wind and water, the Earth would overheat...wind and water help spread the sun's heat.
How many of you know the old Bob Dylan song....Blowin' in the Wind?
THE BLOWING WINDS...
EARTH'S ROTATION - creates wind...moves in an east-west direction...see page 35(wind patterns)
2 FACTORS make air move in a north/south direction:
a.)Hot air rises and circulates toward regions where the air is not as hot
b.) Cold air sinks and moves toward regions where the air is warmer
The movement of air keeps the Earth from overheating.
OCEAN CURRENTS:
Ocean currents- created by Earth's rotation...ocean currents are like fast-moving rivers in the oceans.
Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Current....carries warm water to the British Isles
Peru Current - cold water from Antarctica moves towards the equator
Large Bodies of Water:
Remember our discussion of how large bodies of water warm and cool the areas around it?
We compared Iron Mountain to Marquette...winter/summer...be able to explain the process...see page 40.
Hurricanes- storms(wind and rain) form over the tropics of the ATLANTIC...
Typhoons - similar storms which take place in the PACIFIC
Monday, September 17, 2007
September 17 ( Monday) Land, Air and Water
Chapter 2 - section 2 (pages 31- 36)
"I fell into a burning ring of fire....I went down, down, down and the flames went higher...
and it burns, burns, burns....that ring of fire, that ring of fire." That's an old Johnny Cash song...
The "Ring of Fire" is also a place on Earth that circles the Pacific Ocean...this region is where 90% of the world's earthquakes and active volcanoes occur.
Earthquakes and volcanoes reshape the earth and are reasons why the Earth's surface constantly changes.
Water covers 75% of the Earth's surface...25% of the Earth's surface is land.
Pangaea: (Supercontinent)...millions of years ago the Earth had only on landmass.
Earth's crust is broken into huge pieces called plates...the shifting of these plates caused the landmass to break up...plates may move approximately 2 inches a year.
Weathering: breaks rocks into tiny pieces...
3 things cause weathering...wind, rain and ice
Weathering and erosion create new landforms.
Air and Water- 2 Ingredients for Life:
Earth is surrounded by a thick layer of gases called atmosphere.
Atmosphere provides life giving oxygen to people and animals...and life giving carbon dioxide for plants.
Reminder: Make sure you can define all key terms from the section...be able to explain the process of the water cycle...(see page 36).
"I fell into a burning ring of fire....I went down, down, down and the flames went higher...
and it burns, burns, burns....that ring of fire, that ring of fire." That's an old Johnny Cash song...
The "Ring of Fire" is also a place on Earth that circles the Pacific Ocean...this region is where 90% of the world's earthquakes and active volcanoes occur.
Earthquakes and volcanoes reshape the earth and are reasons why the Earth's surface constantly changes.
Water covers 75% of the Earth's surface...25% of the Earth's surface is land.
Pangaea: (Supercontinent)...millions of years ago the Earth had only on landmass.
Earth's crust is broken into huge pieces called plates...the shifting of these plates caused the landmass to break up...plates may move approximately 2 inches a year.
Weathering: breaks rocks into tiny pieces...
3 things cause weathering...wind, rain and ice
Weathering and erosion create new landforms.
Air and Water- 2 Ingredients for Life:
Earth is surrounded by a thick layer of gases called atmosphere.
Atmosphere provides life giving oxygen to people and animals...and life giving carbon dioxide for plants.
Reminder: Make sure you can define all key terms from the section...be able to explain the process of the water cycle...(see page 36).
Friday, September 14, 2007
September 14 - Reminder:Desktop Display Proj.
Just a Reminder:
Your Desktop Country Project is due next Friday(September 21)...don't wait 'til the last minute!!
Ideas:
Choose any country from the Eastern Hemisphere...
choose facts and other interesting information about your country that you may share with your classmates.
Example: make a clay model of a popular landform from that country and list some brief factual information on a note card that relates to it.
Bring in souvenirs from your country and display them...again, write a brief description explaining the significance of the object.
You can choose items that relate to the following topics: foods, traditions, music, art, physical features, tourist attractions, climate, population, natural resources, jobs, holidays etc...
The idea is to have several items on display that relate to your country so that others may learn from your project.
Your Desktop Country Project is due next Friday(September 21)...don't wait 'til the last minute!!
Ideas:
Choose any country from the Eastern Hemisphere...
choose facts and other interesting information about your country that you may share with your classmates.
Example: make a clay model of a popular landform from that country and list some brief factual information on a note card that relates to it.
Bring in souvenirs from your country and display them...again, write a brief description explaining the significance of the object.
You can choose items that relate to the following topics: foods, traditions, music, art, physical features, tourist attractions, climate, population, natural resources, jobs, holidays etc...
The idea is to have several items on display that relate to your country so that others may learn from your project.
Earth's Physical Geography - Chapter 2
Section 1 ( Chapter 2)
This week we talked about how the Earth moves in space and its relation to the sun.
- the Earth, sun, planets and stars are part of a galaxy- our galaxy is the Milky Way...(just a reminder...no Milky Ways in school!)
-The sun provides the Earth with heat and light....Earth travels in an oval-shaped path around the sun called an orbit...it takes 365 1/4 day, one year, to make this journey, or revolution.
- Not only does the Earth revolve around the sun...it also spins on its axis,an imaginary line running through the Earth between the North and South poles. Each complete turn takes about 24 hours...it's called a rotation...as the Earth rotates, it's daytime on the side of Earth facing the sun, but it is nighttimeon the side of the Earth away from the sun.
Seasonal Changes:
Earth's axis is at an angle. As a result, at certain times in the year, days are longer than nights and vice versa...the tilt causes a region to face toward the sun for more hours than it faces away from the sun...days are longer. Sometimes it's just the opposite...the region faces away from the sun for more hours...days are then shorter.
The Earth's tilt and orbit cause temperature changes during the seasons...warmth depends on how the direct sunlight falls upon your region.
LATITIDE LINES:
Equator - On March 21 and Sept. 23...the sun is directly over the equator...as a result, all over Earth, days are almost exactly the as long as nights...the days are called spring and fall equinoxes.
Two other imaginary latitude lines - 23 1/2 degrees north(also called the Tropic of Cancer). The sun shines directly above this line on June 20th or 21st...First Day of Summer!! Also called, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere...summer in the Northern Hemisphere...just the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere(it would be winter)
On December 21st or 22nd...just the opposite occurs...sun's most direct rays fall on 23 1/2 degree south (called the Tropic of Capricorn)...summer in the Southern Hemisphere...(winter in the Northern Hemisphere
The area between the two Tropics( Cancer and Capricorn) are called low latitudes, or the tropics. It is almost always hot in this region.
- The 66 1/2 degree North latitude line is the Arctic Circle...66 1/2 degree South latitude line is the Antarctic Circle...the regions between these lines and the poles are called high latitudes, or polar zones. These places are always COLD...THEY DO NOT RECEIVE DIRECT SUNLIGHT!!
MIDDLE LATITUDES(TEMPERATE ZONES) - These areas receive fairly direct sunlight during certain times of the year...at other times the receive indirect sunlight...therefore, the middle latitudes have SEASONS...SPRING, SUMMER WINTER AND FALL.
REMINDER: PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ILLUSTRATION ON PAGE 30 IN YOUR TEXT!...SEASONS OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE!!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! GO MOUNTAINEERS, BEAT THE MINERS!!!!!
This week we talked about how the Earth moves in space and its relation to the sun.
- the Earth, sun, planets and stars are part of a galaxy- our galaxy is the Milky Way...(just a reminder...no Milky Ways in school!)
-The sun provides the Earth with heat and light....Earth travels in an oval-shaped path around the sun called an orbit...it takes 365 1/4 day, one year, to make this journey, or revolution.
- Not only does the Earth revolve around the sun...it also spins on its axis,an imaginary line running through the Earth between the North and South poles. Each complete turn takes about 24 hours...it's called a rotation...as the Earth rotates, it's daytime on the side of Earth facing the sun, but it is nighttimeon the side of the Earth away from the sun.
Seasonal Changes:
Earth's axis is at an angle. As a result, at certain times in the year, days are longer than nights and vice versa...the tilt causes a region to face toward the sun for more hours than it faces away from the sun...days are longer. Sometimes it's just the opposite...the region faces away from the sun for more hours...days are then shorter.
The Earth's tilt and orbit cause temperature changes during the seasons...warmth depends on how the direct sunlight falls upon your region.
LATITIDE LINES:
Equator - On March 21 and Sept. 23...the sun is directly over the equator...as a result, all over Earth, days are almost exactly the as long as nights...the days are called spring and fall equinoxes.
Two other imaginary latitude lines - 23 1/2 degrees north(also called the Tropic of Cancer). The sun shines directly above this line on June 20th or 21st...First Day of Summer!! Also called, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere...summer in the Northern Hemisphere...just the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere(it would be winter)
On December 21st or 22nd...just the opposite occurs...sun's most direct rays fall on 23 1/2 degree south (called the Tropic of Capricorn)...summer in the Southern Hemisphere...(winter in the Northern Hemisphere
The area between the two Tropics( Cancer and Capricorn) are called low latitudes, or the tropics. It is almost always hot in this region.
- The 66 1/2 degree North latitude line is the Arctic Circle...66 1/2 degree South latitude line is the Antarctic Circle...the regions between these lines and the poles are called high latitudes, or polar zones. These places are always COLD...THEY DO NOT RECEIVE DIRECT SUNLIGHT!!
MIDDLE LATITUDES(TEMPERATE ZONES) - These areas receive fairly direct sunlight during certain times of the year...at other times the receive indirect sunlight...therefore, the middle latitudes have SEASONS...SPRING, SUMMER WINTER AND FALL.
REMINDER: PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ILLUSTRATION ON PAGE 30 IN YOUR TEXT!...SEASONS OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE!!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! GO MOUNTAINEERS, BEAT THE MINERS!!!!!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Sept. 6 Thursday...reminder
Reminder: The worksheet from section 1 (chapter one) is due on Friday...Also, remember to complete Critical Thinking #5 from page 13 of your textbook.
The Hemispheres (Thursday, Sept. 6)
Today we discussed lines of latitude and longitude...here's a brief recap...
Lines of latitude are lines that run in an East/West direction...However, they measure distances North and South of the Equator.
Latitude lines are also called parallels. The equator is the 0 degree parallel or latitude line.
L L
0 i
n n
g e
i s
t
u
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e
Longitude lines measure distances East and West of the Prime Meridian. However, longitude lines, or meridians, circle the globe in a North to South direction.
The Prime Meridian is the 0 degree longitude line.
Lines of latitude are lines that run in an East/West direction...However, they measure distances North and South of the Equator.
Latitude lines are also called parallels. The equator is the 0 degree parallel or latitude line.
L L
0 i
n n
g e
i s
t
u
d
e
Longitude lines measure distances East and West of the Prime Meridian. However, longitude lines, or meridians, circle the globe in a North to South direction.
The Prime Meridian is the 0 degree longitude line.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
World Geography
Hello. Today we discussed the definition of geography...the study of the Earth and how the Earth and its people affect each other.
The 5 themes of Geography were discussed:
1. Location-
a.) absolute-uses latitude and longitude lines ( exact location)
b.) relative - describing place near a certain location...(Green Bay is 100 miles south of Iron Mtn.)
2. Place -
(climate is hot or cold...or the land is hilly) - physical features
(how many people live there and the kinds of work they do) - human features
3. Human-Environment Interaction -
How people affect their environment...how the environment affects people.
4. Movement- helps explain how people, goods and ideas get from one place to another.
5. Regions- used to make comparisons...regions may have similar characteristics such as climate, land, population or history.
The 5 themes of Geography were discussed:
1. Location-
a.) absolute-uses latitude and longitude lines ( exact location)
b.) relative - describing place near a certain location...(Green Bay is 100 miles south of Iron Mtn.)
2. Place -
(climate is hot or cold...or the land is hilly) - physical features
(how many people live there and the kinds of work they do) - human features
3. Human-Environment Interaction -
How people affect their environment...how the environment affects people.
4. Movement- helps explain how people, goods and ideas get from one place to another.
5. Regions- used to make comparisons...regions may have similar characteristics such as climate, land, population or history.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Welcome to 7th grade Social Studies!
Welcome to 7th grade Social Studies! We are going to be learning about the Eastern hemisphere this year and I thought it might be fun to post some information and comments to help you learn the information on my blog spot. More to come... have a great school year!
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