CLIMATES

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

4-6
Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 5
Activity Page ▶ page 6
Practice Page ▶ page 7
GRADE

Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
page 8
pages 9 –11
 Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: 4-6

1. Ask: What is the difference between weather and climate? Objectives: The students will be able to
define climate, compare and contrast
2. Allow for responses and discussion. climates, identify effects on a climate, and
label climates throughout the world.
3. Ask: What is the weather like in this area? What is this
State Educational Standards*
area’s climate? What affects this area’s weather and LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1
climate? LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1.c
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.5
4. Allow for responses and discussion. Introduce the
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1
difference between a climate and weather. LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1.c
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.5
5. Distribute Climates content pages. Read and review the
LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4
information with the students. Use the additional resources LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.7
to enhance understanding. Use a world map to identify LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.10
areas referred to in the content pages. Save final question
Class Sessions (45 minutes):
for lesson closing.
At least 2 class sessions.
6. Distribute Activity page. Read and review the instructions. Teaching Materials/Worksheets: Climates
Pair students. Allow access to the Internet for research. content pages (2), Activity page, Practice
Give students sufficient time to complete the activity. page, Homework page

7. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ Student Supplies:
responses. colored pencils, access to the Internet,
handouts
8. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and
Prepare Ahead of Time:
review the students’ responses. World map for display, information about local
weather and climate. Copy handouts.
9. In closing, ask: If you could move to a different climate,
which would you choose and why? Options for Lesson: Students may work
alone, in pairs, or in groups for the
10. Allow for responses and discussion. activity. Create larger world maps for the
activity. Create 6 groups and assign one
11. For a final review, using the large world map, identify continent (except Antarctica) to each
various countries, ask students about its climate. group to research its climate and what
affects the climate, and draw a map of the
continent showing its climates. Assign a city
to each student to research the city’s climate.
*Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.

1
 Teacher Notes
The lesson introduces students to the major climates of the world. Students may have a clear understanding of
weather, but will learn how the climate of an area affects the weather throughout the year. Most students may not
have had an opportunity visit other climates of the world so it is suggested that videos be shown with examples of
various climates in other parts of the U.S. and world.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

2
Climates
What is the difference between the three pictures? Each are located in a different climate.

ARCTIC TEMPERATE TROPICAL

A climate is a country’s normal weather over a long period of time. It is different

from weather. The weather in an area changes from day to day or even from
one hour to the next, but climate changes very little, and if it does, it may
take thousands of years for the change to take place.
Shown above are the three main groups of world climates: arctic, tropical,
and temperate. Climates are also affected by how close a country may be to
the ocean or the elevation of a country. Each group of climates may also be
divided into several other divisions. Review each of the groups of climates.

Located near and around the North and South

Poles
POLAR CLIMATE: Does not support life. It is the climate
of the Arctic and the Antarctic. In the Antarctic the temperature
never goes above freezing. In the Arctic, for a short time,
temperatures may go above freezing and the ice can melt.

SUB-ARCTIC CLIMATE: Covers Greenland, Labrador,

Alaska, Northern Canada, and far north of Scandinavia and
Siberia. In the winter, temperatures are below zero and the
rivers and lakes are frozen. However, in the summer there is a
thaw and the plants on the tundra can support some animal life.

3
 Between the Equator & Lines of Latitude 30 Degrees North & South

EQUATORIAL CLIMATE: TROPICAL CLIMATE: North DESERT CLIMATE: Extremely

Area along the equator. Rainfall all
year long, and the temperatures are
always high. When it does rain it
usually occurs with thunderstorms.
and south of the equator. The
temperatures are also high but only
in the summers is there heavy rain.
In winter, the dry Trade Winds blow
and there is less rain.
dry and hot with very little or no rain
throughout the year. The desert
climates are found in North Africa, such
as the Sahara Desert, Arabia, Southern
California, and parts of Australia.

Two Divisions of Temperate Climates

WARM CLIMATE: Winters are usually mild and wet, but
summers are hot and dry. This includes the Mediterranean climate
as well.

COOL CLIMATE: Winters are cold but the summers are

warm. During the winter there is snow and freezing temperatures
for short periods. Though rain will fall throughout the year, there
is less in the summer than winter. Examples include the British
Isles, northern Europe, and New Zealand.

4
 This mountain is in California, considered a tropical area, but the
higher altitude brings cold and snow to the mountain top.

The Causes of Different Climates

There are other climates and climate zones, with many factors
having an effect on a climate regardless of where an area is located.
Two major variables include the proximity to the ocean and the
its altitude, or its height above sea level. For example, there are
mountains located in warm climates, but as you scale the mountain
it is no longer going to be a warm climate. The seas affect climates
because it can absorb the heat from the Sun. This is why it is warmer
near the coast than inland. Wind also can affect climate, as warmer
winds heat an area, and winds from the North cool an area.

Climates can also be quite different inside a country. The United States is an example. Hawaii is a tropical
climate, Alaska is part of the Sub-Arctic climate, and within the other 48 states there are desert areas, places
with high or low humidity, rainy areas, and dry climates. The warmest areas in the United States are in the
South and towards the West, with the cooler areas in the North. The seasons also affect the climate of an
area. Some areas will experience a wide range of weather patterns throughout the year.

Climate Change
Climates may change over a long period of time and there are several factors including the cycle of the Earth,
but other forces can also have an effect on climate change. Many scientists believe human behavior caused
changes in climates, such building large cities, or cutting down vegetation in places like the rain forest. Other
changes may also have come from pollution, volcanic eruptions, and changes in the Sun.
During the history of the Earth there have been times when the entire climate of the
Earth was much cooler. When this occurred, it was called the ice age. The ice caps
or glaciers covering the North Pole had grown to cover nearly the entire Northern
Hemisphere of the Earth.

If you could move to a different climate, which would you choose and why?

5
 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Access the internet to find climate zones throughout the world.
2. Use colored pencils to identify the different climate zones.
3. Use a different color for each zone.
4. Be sure to include a legend showing the climate and its matching color.
5. Climates should include at least the following: Polar, Temperate, Tropical, Desert (Arid), Mediterranean, and
Mountains.

LEGEND
Practice Name __________________________ Date _________
Homework Name __________________________ Date _________
Activity Answer Key (may vary)
Name __________________________ Date _________
Practice Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
Homework Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________