16

Lesson 16 of 84 ยท Earth Systems

Experimentโญ 30 XP๐ŸŒ‹ Rock Realm

Ocean Currents and Climate

๐ŸงชLab Brief #16

Earth Systems.

๐ŸŽฏ Your mission

Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.

โšก The twist

Weather isn't random โ€” it's just complicated.

๐Ÿคฏ

Mind = Blown

๐ŸŒŠ The deepest part of the ocean is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

๐Ÿ”ฎ

Make a hypothesis first

Before you observe: what shape will it leave?

What You'll Learn

Ocean currents distribute heat around the planet, affecting climate worldwide. Warm currents flow from the equator toward the poles, and cold currents flow from the poles toward the equator.

Key Words

  • metamorphic
  • sedimentary

Materials Needed

  • newspaper
  • spray bottle
  • cups
  • thermometer
  • rain gauge

Safety First

  • Be careful with scissors โ€” ask an adult for help if needed.
  • Do not look directly at the sun or bright lights.
  • Clean up spills immediately to prevent slipping.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Read about Earth Systems and write down three key facts.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Investigate soil layers: fill a jar with soil and water, shake it, and let it settle overnight. Identify the layers of clay, silt, sand, and organic matter.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Create a data table to organize your measurements.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What causes wind?

๐ŸŒ

Where you see this in real life

This is shaping the ground you walk on, slowly, every single day.

๐Ÿ†

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Find a rock outside and try to guess how old it is.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

For the dinner table

โ€œWhat's the slowest change you can think of?โ€

๐ŸŽฏ

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

๐ŸŒฑShare card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ

Checkout complete lesson on Earth Systems for 4th Grade

Get the full Earth Systems track as a printable PDF โ€” all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

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Ocean Currents and Climate โ€” Earth Systems | 4th Grade Science | LittleActivity | LittleActivity