Lesson Plan: The Global Wind System

Subject: Earth Science Grade Level: High School (9th-12th grade) Duration: 60 minutes

Introduction: - Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever wondered why the wind blows in different directions or why some areas experience strong winds while others are calm. - Explain that today’s lesson will focus on understanding the global wind system, which plays a crucial role in shaping weather patterns around the world.

Lesson Outline: 1. Warm-up Activity (5 minutes): - Show a short video clip of different weather conditions, including strong winds, hurricanes, and calm days. - Ask students to share their observations about the wind patterns they noticed in the video.

1. Introduction to the Global Wind System (10 minutes):
   • Present a brief overview of the global wind system, including the primary factors that influence wind patterns (e.g., Earth’s rotation, temperature differences, and pressure gradients).
   • Use visual aids, such as diagrams or maps, to help students visualize the global wind belts (e.g., trade winds, prevailing westerlies, and polar easterlies).
2. Questioning and Discussion (15 minutes):
   • Engage students in a discussion by asking questions such as:
     • What causes wind to blow?
     • How does Earth’s rotation affect wind patterns?
     • Why do we have different wind belts around the globe?
   • Encourage students to share their ideas and reasoning, and facilitate a class discussion to deepen their understanding.
3. Video Resource: “The Global Wind System” (15 minutes):
   • Show a video that provides a detailed explanation of the global wind system, including the Coriolis effect and the three-cell model.
   • Pause the video at key points to allow for class discussion and clarification of concepts.
4. Worksheet Activity: Analyzing Global Wind Patterns (10 minutes):
   • Distribute a worksheet that includes a map of the world showing the major wind belts.
   • Ask students to label the wind belts and answer questions related to the factors influencing wind patterns.
   • Encourage students to work individually or in pairs, and provide support as needed.

Assessment: - To assess students’ understanding of the global wind system, assign a short quiz or a set of questions related to the lesson’s content. - The assessment can include multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and diagram labeling.

Differentiation: - For students who need additional support, provide simplified diagrams or maps to help them visualize the wind patterns. - Offer extra guidance during the worksheet activity and encourage peer collaboration. - For advanced students, provide additional resources or challenge them to research and present on a specific aspect of the global wind system.

Plenary: - Summarize the key points covered in the lesson, emphasizing the factors that influence the global wind system. - Ask students to share one new thing they learned about the global wind system and how it impacts weather patterns. - Encourage students to think about real-world examples where understanding wind patterns is important (e.g., aviation, sailing, climate predictions).

Video Resources: 1. “The Global Wind System” by National Geographic: [insert link] 2. “How Do Wind Patterns Work?” by TED-Ed: [insert link]

Worksheet Resource: 1. “Analyzing Global Wind Patterns” worksheet: [insert link]