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Science Background: Wind driven oceanic currents: The surface currents of the oceans are driven by the prevailing wind systems which in turn are driven by rotation of the Earth and air mass heating and cooling systems. Ocean currents are also contained by continental boundaries. All of this we can model using bricks (continental land boundaries), straws (wind), ice cubes (temperature differences). Connecting all three, creates currents flowing in large circular patterns called gyres.
These oceanic gyres are important in redistributing energy from lower latitudes to higher latitudes. They influence ocean temperatures, local weather patterns and climates. |
Ocean Circulation Lab
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pdf_w32d2__kamilo_beach_lab_teacher_slides.pdf | |
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Click on Teacher lab slides to see an outline of the lab. This is an EXPLORE lab where students have not yet been explicitly taught the content. Instead students investigate first to make observations and identify patterns. The next day I introduce vocabulary words and specific content understanding. This allow students to have a mental and physical experience with hard to grasp concepts, giving them reason to understand the material.