Students review what they know about the continents and oceans. Then they learn additional information about both. Next, they explore the differences between weather and climate and look at the climate zones throughout the world. Finally, students work in groups to learn about climate-related topics and report back to the rest of the class.
Students are introduced to the lesson focus on continents, oceans, and climates, then review the objectives. Using a digital map, they label as many continents and oceans as they can, and afterward discuss as a class what they already know and what they are unsure about, setting learning goals for the experience.
Teacher MovesPresent an overview of the experience and explicitly review the objectives. Monitor students as they label the map, then facilitate a whole-class discussion to surface prior knowledge and gaps, guiding the class to articulate specific goals for what they want to learn before moving on.
Students use a note-taking table to record each continent, important facts, and bordering oceans as they watch the video Seven Continents of the World and read the article What are the 5 Oceans of the World? They then answer a multiple-choice question about the percentage of Earth covered by water and post to a collaborative wall one surprising fact they learned about continents or oceans, followed by a brief class discussion of these surprises.
Teacher MovesExplain how to use and sort the digital note-taking table and ensure students capture key information about continents and oceans. After students view and read the resources, administer the percentage-of-water question and review responses as needed. Lead a discussion of students’ surprising facts, prompting them to ask follow-up questions and, if time allows, conduct quick additional research to deepen or extend their findings.
Students read What’s the Difference Between Weather and Climate? and complete a graphic organizer comparing weather and climate, including examples and components of each system. Next, they explore the interactive site Climate Types for Kids, using the map and tabs to learn about major climate types and subclimates. They answer several poll questions about specific subclimates and locations, then post to a collaborative wall identifying the subclimate where they live and one fact about it.
Teacher MovesGuide students to focus on the distinctions between weather and climate as they complete the graphic organizer, checking for accurate understanding. Direct students’ attention to the legend and tabs on the climate map and clarify how major climate types and subclimates are organized. Review poll results to address misconceptions about climate regions. Facilitate discussion about students’ local subclimate and encourage them to connect it to places where they or their families have lived, traveled, or would like to visit.
In small groups, students are assigned one climate-related topic—drought, El Niño, or ice and global warming—and research it using the resources Drought, El Niño, and Changing Arctic Landscape. Each group creates a poster that includes a clear description of the topic, 3–5 key facts, at least two images, and a statement explaining why the topic is important. A group recorder uploads a screenshot of the poster, and groups present their posters to the class. Afterward, students review and discuss the presentations on topics their own group did not study.
Teacher MovesForm small groups and assign each one a specific topic, ensuring roles such as recorder and presenter are clear. Support groups as they research and design posters, prompting them to include accurate information, visuals, and an explanation of significance. Schedule and facilitate student presentations, encouraging clear oral communication and attentive listening. After all presentations, guide students in comparing the different climate-related phenomena and discussing connections among them.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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