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Lesson #10: Weather on Other Planets
Overview
In Lesson #10, students will investigate the weather on Venus and Mars. This lesson is designed as an activity where students will work independently or in small groups to gather available weather and climactic information about Mars and Venus from selected web sites. They will then report on their findings.
Note: Students should have completed an introductory lesson on the planets before beginning this lesson
Objectives
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
Materials
- Weather Learning logs
- Chart paper
Time: Minimum of two class periods for Activities #1-#3. Students may need or want extra time for independent research.
Teacher Preparation
- Venus and Mars are both terrestrial "inner" planets with atmospheres (Mercury is also a terrestrial "inner" planet, but it has no atmosphere). Since Venus and Mars are closest to earth and have some of the active, observable elements of weather, they will be the planets studied in this lesson. Venus is sometimes called earth's sister planet or twin because they are about the same size. The terrestrial planets are composed primarily of rock and metal and have relatively high densities, slow rotation, solid surfaces, no rings and few satellites.
- Before introducing this lesson to the class, it might be helpful for the teacher to go over some background information available on the following sites. Each site has a comprehensive overview and many links to images of Mars and Venus. Select and bookmark one or two images of each planet to use in introductory Activity#1.
- Bookmark the sites that will be used in Activity #2.
Procedures
Activity #1: Introduction
For this activity, do the following:
- Review Earth weather phenomena that they've studied. Ask:
- Do other planets have weather like Earth's?
- If weather is the condition of the atmosphere at any particular time or place, what does a planet need to have weather? (atmosphere)
2. Introduce planets by directing the students to the online images that you have and bookmarked. Note that the Martian sky is butterscotch in color during the day, and reddish pink at sunrise and sunset. Venus is always covered with clouds, but not like the clouds around the earth. They are bright yellow and poisonous.
3. Have students share facts that they know about each planet and make predictions about the atmospheric/weather conditions of each planet. Record predictions on wall chart.
Activity #2: Let's Find Out
For this activity, do the following:
- Students(either independently or in small groups) should use the previously bookmarked web sites to find information about the climate and weather of Venus and Mars. The Mars Orbiter Camera site has January- September 2002 weather data for Mars. There is no regular reporting on the weather on Venus, but students can access information on the climate which is stable - meaning the weather changes very little change day to day. Depending on the ability, reading, and interest level of the students, they may report on any or all of the following topics for each planet:
- Length of rotation and revolution
- Average surface temperature
- Daily high and low temperatures
- Reasons for temperature variation
- Cloud cover, wind, precipitation, storms
- Composition of the atmosphere
Seasons
- Unusual weather patterns or atmospheric behavior
Activity#3: Weather on Mars and Venus
For this activity, do the following:
- Make one chart for each planet.
- As students or groups report on their findings, record the information on the charts.
- Discuss the information that the students have collected. Ask:
- How are these planets similar?
- How are they different?
- How does the weather on Mars and Venus compare to that on Earth?
- Have the students summarize the information in their Weather Learning Logs.
Fun and Games
Windows to the
Universe
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