YEARS: 5–6, 7–8, 9–10
There is a saying: 'climate is what you expect and weather is what you get'.
Understanding climate change is very difficult for most people, especially when the weather we experience is different from the information we are given by scientists about the climate changing.
The difference is that weather reflects short-term conditions in the atmosphere, while climate is the average daily weather at a location over a long period of time.
Scientists make predictions about future climate using computer models that have been developed from taking averages about rainfall and temperature over long periods and over large areas of the Earth.
Things to think about
- 1.In class, or among your friends, have a discussion about what could happen if we get too much rain. What could happen if we get too little?
- 2.Rain is measured in millimetres (a length measure) not millilitres (a volume measure). Why is that? How much is a millimetre of rain? Guess or estimate, then discuss and check your answers.
- 3.Using chalk, try to draw some squares and rectangles on the ground that are approximately one square metre in area. Then measure the sides of the drawn shapes and calculate the area exactly. How close in area were your shapes to a square metre? Now draw some circles and triangles. Again, calculate the areas accurately using the appropriate measurements. How close were your shapes to a square metre? Which shape was hardest to estimate? Why? Now draw a square and a rectangle that are exactly one square metre in size. Using a tape measure or ruler find some shapes that are approximately one cubic metre in volume. What objects did you find?
- 4.How many millimetres of rain will it take to fill a cubic metre? Brainstorm some suggestions and then check your answer. How many litres of water are required to fill the cubic metre? Is there a connection between measuring rainfall in millimetres and the volume of water required for that measurement? Explain your thinking. Make a rain gauge out of an empty plastic drink bottle (or an ice-cream container or a bucket). What is the most important fact to know when making an accurate rain gauge? Explain your thinking. Will the scale on a gauge made from a water bottle be the same as the scale on a gauge made from a bucket? Why? Why not? How can you test your rain gauge?
Acknowledgements
Video © UTS Maths Inside.
Production Date: 2018
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