Lesson Plan: Major Landforms: Mountains and Climate

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.

Step 1: Topic introduction and discussion (Go to the Reading)

1. Use the reading, ‘Mountain- Landform’ by Peter H. Molnar, Encyclopedia Britannica, to introduce the topic of mountains and their geomorphic characteristics.
2. Use the text to explain the tectonic processes that are involved in the formation and degradation of mountain belts.
3. Describe different types of mountains such as fold and fault-block mountains giving suitable examples and explain the processes involved in their formation.

Step 2: Develop the topic of mountains further by describing their role in climate (Go to the Video)

1. Play the video lecture, ‘Global Climate Drivers’ by Coursera to introduce your students to the role of mountains in global climatic conditions.

2. Use the video lecture to first describe various global climate drivers such as the Hadley Cells and the Coriolis Force that can cause imbalances in temperature, wind and precipitation on the Earth’s surface.
3. Extend this understanding by using the lecture and the quoted examples to explain how factors such as latitude, elevation and continentality of mountains influence the climate of different regions across the globe.
4. Discuss how these factors affect mountain climate and in turn, how regional or local climates are affected by mountain belts.

Step 3: Dicuss further with a reading (Go to the Reading)

Use the reading, ‘Mountains and Climate Change- From Understanding to Action’, pages 68-70, by Thomas Kohler and Daniel Maselli, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), Bern, to briefly discuss the global geo-physical, biological and socio- economic effects of climate change on mountains.

Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation :

1. What is orogeny? Where are most orogenic belts located?
2. Compare and contrast between fold and fault-block mountains.
3. How do global climatic factors affect mountain climate and how do mountains in turn, affect regional climate?

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

1. explain orogeny and the orogenic processes
2. describe different types of mountains and major mountain systems of the world
3. understand the factors determining mountain climate
4. discuss how mountains affect regional climate

If you or your students would like to explore the topic further, these additional resources will be useful.