As a high school or undergraduate Physics or Earth Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching about Coriolis Force, the Coriolis Effect, and how the Coriolis Effect influences climate (trade winds and upwelling).
This lesson plan allows students to understand the Coriolis Force, and the effect of the Coriolis Force on weather and climate. The videos and activity explain how the Coriolis effect determines the direction of trade winds and upwelling in the oceans.
As a high school or undergraduate Physics or Earth Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching about Coriolis Force, the Coriolis Effect, and how the Coriolis Effect influences climate (trade winds and upwelling).
This lesson plan allows students to understand the Coriolis Force, and the effect of the Coriolis Force on weather and climate. The videos and activity explain how the Coriolis effect determines the direction of trade winds and upwelling in the oceans.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
| Grade Level | High School, Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Physics, Earth Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Atmospheric Physics, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Coriolis Force, Coriolis Effect, Trade Winds, Upwelling |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Atmosphere, Climate and the Hydrosphere |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online / Offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 40 – 45 mins |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Micro-lecture (video) (~8 min)
Classroom/Laboratory activity (10 – 15 min)
Next, conduct a hands-on classroom/laboratory activity, “Coriolis Effect Activity”, created by Laura Reiser Wetzel, Eckerd College, to help students gain a better understanding of the Coriolis Effect. In this activity, students use a simple paper-based model to answer questions and discuss the Coriolis Effect.
Micro-lecture (video) (~6min)
Micro-lecture (video) (~6 min)
Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Micro-lecture (video) | A micro-lecture (video), “The Coriolis effect”, from Khan Academy This can be accessed here |
| 2 | Reading | A reading, “Coriolis effect”, from National Geographic: This can be accessed here |
| 1 | Micro-lecture (video), “Coriolis Effect” | Prof. Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland (content developed for the TROP ICSU project, at the Science Media Center, IISER Pune) |
| 2 | Classroom/Laboratory activity, “Coriolis Effect Activity” | Laura Reiser Wetzel, Eckerd College, available on the Teach the Earth Portal at SERC Carleton |
| 3 | Micro-lecture (video), “Upwelling” | Prof. Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland (content developed for the TROP ICSU project, at the Science Media Center, IISER Pune) |
| 4 | Micro-lecture (video), “Trade Winds” | Prof. Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland (content developed for the TROP ICSU project, at the Science Media Center, IISER Pune) |
| 5 | Additional Resources | Khan Academy; National Geographic |
| Grade Level | High school, Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Physics, Earth Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Physics: Coriolis Force, Coriolis Effect Earth Sciences: Coriolis Force, Coriolis Effect, Trade Winds, Upwelling |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Atmosphere, Climate and the Hydrosphere |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online / Offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 40 – 45 mins |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
1. Introduce the topic by playing a micro-lecture (video)
Micro-lecture (video) (~8 min) 2. Conduct a classroom/laboratory activity
Classroom/Laboratory activity (10 – 15 min) Next, conduct a hands-on classroom/laboratory activity, “Coriolis Effect Activity”, created by Laura Reiser Wetzel, Eckerd College, to help students gain a better understanding of the Coriolis Effect. In this activity,students use a simple paper-based model to answer questions and discuss the Coriolis Effect. 3. Play a micro-lecture (video)
Micro-lecture (video) (~6min) 4. Play a micro-lecture (video)
Micro-lecture (video) (~6min) 5. Questions/Assignments
Suggested
questions/assignments
for learning evaluation Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Micro-lecture (video) | A micro-lecture (video), “The Coriolis effect”, from Khan Academy This can be accessed here |
| 2 | Reading | A reading, “Coriolis effect”, from National Geographic:
This can be accessed here |
| 1 | Micro-lecture (video), “Coriolis Effect” | Prof. Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland (content developed for the TROP ICSU project, at the Science Media Center, IISER Pune) |
| 2 | Classroom/Laboratory activity, “Coriolis Effect Activity” | Laura Reiser Wetzel, Eckerd College, available on the Teach the Earth Portal at SERC Carleton |
| 3 | Micro-lecture (video), “Upwelling” | Prof. Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland (content developed for the TROP ICSU project, at the Science Media Center, IISER Pune) |
| 4 | Micro-lecture (video), “Trade Winds” | Prof. Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland (content developed for the TROP ICSU project, at the Science Media Center, IISER Pune) |
| 5 | Additional Resources | Khan Academy; National Geographic |
