Topic: What are the characteristic features of climate zones?

Target group

5th‑grade student of elementary school

Core curriculum

General requirements

I. Geographical knowledge.

6. Identifying interdependencies between elements of the natural and socio‑economic environment as well as relationships and dependencies in a geographical environment on a local, regional and global scale.

Detailed requirements

IV. World landscapes: the forests of the Equator and the temperate climate, savannahs and steppes, hot and ice deserts, taigas and tundras, the Mediterranean climate, high altitude Himalayas; zonal vegetation and altitudinal zonation in the world. The student:

2) reads the value and describes the course of air temperature and the distribution of atmospheric precipitation based on climographs and climate maps.

The aim of education: The student will learn about the characteristic features of Earth's climate zones

Criteria of success

• explain the concepts of: climate zones, types of climates, non‑zonal climates;

• list climate zones occurring on Earth;

• discuss climate conditions in individual climate zones.

Key competences

• communication in the mother tongue;

• communication in foreign languages;

• mathematical competences;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Methods / forms of work

• the problem‑solving methods: discussion, report;

• programmed learning: via computer, e‑textbook;

• practical learning: exercises on the subject;

• individual activity, activity in groups, and collective activity.

Teaching aids

• computers (or tablets) with internet access;

• multimedia resources available under “What are the characteristic features of different climate zones?” in the e‑textbook;

• interactive whiteboard/blackboard, marker/chalk.

Lesson plan overview (Process)

Introduction

1. Before the lesson, the teacher instructs the students to get familiar with all the material under “What are the characteristic features of climate zones?” in the e‑textbook.

2. During the class, the teacher defines the purpose of the lesson, informing students about its planned course.

3. In the first stage, the students work alone, checking how well they managed to learn about the following concepts: climate zones, types of climates, non‑zonal climates.

Realization

1. Students perform an interactive exercise involving matching concepts with their definitions. The teacher checks on the work and helps students struggling with the exercise.

2. A brief summary of the work so far, serving to consolidate theoretical knowledge and the correct terminology.

3. Work in groups. The teacher divides the class into 6 groups and each of them assigns one of the following topics to study:

• tropical rainforest climates;

• tropical climates;

• humid subtropical climates;

• warm temperate climates;

• cold temperate climates;

• subarctic climate.

The students prepare a brief overview of each zone based on the information contained in table 1 attached to the lesson.

The teacher informs students about the required form of presentation of the prepared material and about the elements of work that will be evaluated.

4 . Presentation of the results of work in groups on the class forum. The teacher complements students' statements and corrects wrong answers. Then, based on the criteria set previously, he gives feedback to individual groups on the strengths of the prepared discussion and the elements that need to be further developed.

5. Discussion on the geographical location of Earth’s climate zones and the effect of such a location on average monthly temperatures and precipitation volume for several selected places on Earth. For this purpose, the teacher presents illustration showing earth’s climate zones under “What are the characteristic features of climate zones?” and shows the latitudinal course of individual climate zones.

Summary

The last stage of the lesson is a short discussion and summary during which students ask for clarification and complete their notes.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

What are the characteristic features of climate zones?

The climate on Earth is very diverse, because its features are determined by both zonal, related to latitude, and non‑zonal factors. After determining the characteristic climatic conditions, it was possible to distinguish areas with a similar climate, including a similar annual course for temperature, precipitation, humidity and atmospheric pressure. These places are arranged on Earth’s surface in latitudinal belts, which we call climate zones. One of the often used climate classification is the division into 5 climatic zones: equatorial, tropical, subtropical, temperate (warm and cool) and subarctic. Each has several type of climate

In certain climate zones on Earth, there are climates with predominance of marine (oceanic), continental and transitional features; more humid, dry or extremely dry climates.

Each zone also has different types of non‑zonal climates, conditioned by location in relation to the seas and oceans, terrain cover, height above sea level or human activity. These include: mountain climate and urban climates. The table below presents general data on selected zones in particular climates, including air temperature, precipitation, and human living conditions.

• There have been several climates zones distinguished on Earth: equatorial, tropical, subtropical, temperate and subarctic.

• Climatic conditions in each climate zone are a result of latitude, but may be modified by the presence of other climate‑forming factors.

• There are different types of climates in each zone.

• There are also, independently from climate zones, non‑zonal climates, e.g. on mountains.

• The characteristic features of the climate can be simplified by using a climograph.