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Browse ESS2.A Resources

Browse ESS2.A Resources

Investigating the Climate System: Clouds

Thumbnail for Investigating the Climate System: Clouds
Primary Topic: 
Weather and Climate
Subtopics: 
Water Properties, Energy Cycle
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8
Standards: 
ESS2.A
Keywords: 
clouds, energy cycle, climate, condensation
Summary: 
A downloadable PDF lesson plan which explores clouds and their role in Earth systems.

GCPEx Snow Campaign Wrap-Up

GCPEx logo on a snowy background
Primary Topic: 
Weather and Climate
Subtopics: 
Precipitation, Weather
Type: 
Video
Audience: 
Formal, 9 - 12
Standards: 
ESS2.A
Keywords: 
snowfall, field campaigns, algorithms, GCPEx, ground validation, Ontario
Summary: 
A summary of the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment, which took place in January and February 2012 in Ontario, Canada.

NASA Earth Science: Water and Energy Cycle

Polar sea ice
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Energy Cycle
Type: 
Website
Audience: 
Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8
Keywords: 
hydrologic cycle, energy cycle, polar caps
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Summary: 
The Water and Energy Cycle Focus Area studies the distribution, transport and transformation of water and energy within the Earth System.

Science for a Hungry World: Agriculture and Climate Change

Fields in a farm
Primary Topic: 
Societal Applications
Subtopics: 
Climate, Freshwater Resources
Type: 
Video
Audience: 
Informal, 6 - 8, 9 - 12
Standards: 
ESS2.A
Keywords: 
climate, agriculture, crops, food production, farms
Summary: 
Video that explores how climate change will impact agriculture.

Our World: Snowflakes

Thumbnail for Our World: Snowflakes
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Precipitation
Type: 
Video
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
snowflakes, snow, crystals, history
Summary: 
Find out how you can help NASA scientists study different types of snowflakes to learn about the atmosphere and changes in climate.

Water, Water, Everywhere!

Waves crashing on the rocks
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Earth Systems, Energy Cycle, Freshwater Resources
Type: 
Video
Audience: 
Informal, General
Standards: 
ESS2.A
Keywords: 
water cycle, oceans, streams, climate
Summary: 
This video explains what the water cycle is and how important it is to life on earth.

Investigating the Climate System: Precipitation

Investigating the Climate System: Precipitation
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Precipitation
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8
Standards: 
ESS2.A
Keywords: 
active sensor, bright band, cloud nuclei, rainfall rate, supercooled water
Summary: 
A downloadable PDF lesson plan which explores precipitation's role in the climate system.

Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar Arrives at Goddard

A NASA engineer removing the DPR from its shipping container
Primary Topic: 
Technology
Subtopics: 
Remote Sensing, STEM Careers
Type: 
Video
Audience: 
Outreach, General
Standards: 
ESS2.A
Keywords: 
DPR, radar, Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA
Summary: 
Engineers from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. oversee the arrival and unpacking of the dual-frequency Precipitation Radar.

The Shape of a Raindrop

Basic illustration of air pressure on a raindrop
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Type: 
Article
Audience: 
Formal, 9 - 12
Standards: 
ESS2.A
Keywords: 
raindrops, precipitation microphysics, drop size
Summary: 
This article teaches how a drop of rain changes shape as it falls through the atmosphere.

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