Ocean Currents & Climate - Temperature, Salinity & Ocean Circulation MS-ESS2-6

Explore the relationships between water temperature and convection currents, and in a second lab, salinity and convection currents through two hands-on activities. The lab analysis sheets provide an opportunity for students to begin making sense of their observations and includes additional questions to help students connect their observations in the lab to climate and weather.  Extension questions provide an opportunity for students to make further connections to global climate change and the melting of polar ice.

This activity is part of the middle school unit Organisms and Their Environments, which ties together concepts in the Life and Earth Sciences (Water Cycle, Climate, and Weather). If you are interested in the complete unit, you can find additional activities at iExploreScience on TeachersPayTeachers (see the bundled resources below) or through iExploreScience’s Spark Science program. 

This activity is part of a unit that addresses the following standards:

• MS-LS2-1 Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
• MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
• MS-ESS2-4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity. 
• MS-ESS2-5 Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
• MS-ESS2-6 Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Learning Targets:

•  Students will carry out an investigation to determine how changes in temperature and salinity can cause fluids to move.
• Students will explain how the geographical distribution of land limits where ocean currents can flow.
• Students will explain how the global ocean convection cycle transfers heat from the equator to the poles.

This lesson includes:

• 6 student pages
• detailed teacher lesson guide (12 pages)
• answer keys

How can this lesson be used?

• develop student understanding of ocean currents and circulation patterns
• make connections between density, water temperature, salinity, to the movement of ocean waters and its impact on climate
• incorporate hands-on science learning into Earth and Space Science classes

How much class time will this take?

This lesson may take up to two 50-minute periods to complete. 

Is this NGSS-aligned?

This activity works toward student mastery of the Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and/or Crosscutting Concepts in the tagged Performance Expectations. Learn more about the intention for this unit at https://iexplorescience.com/earth-science-curriculum/

This activity works towards the following Disciplinary Core Ideas:

• ESS2.D: Weather and Climate Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns. (MS-ESS2-6) Because these patterns are so complex, weather can only be predicted probabilistically. (MS-ESS2-5) The ocean exerts a major influence on weather and climate by absorbing energy from the sun, releasing it over time, and globally redistributing it through ocean currents. (MS-ESS2-6)
• ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes Water continually cycles among land, ocean, and atmosphere via transpiration, evaporation, condensation and crystallization, and precipitation, as well as downhill flows on land. (MS-ESS2-4) The complex patterns of the changes and the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, landforms, and ocean temperatures and currents, are major determinants of local weather patterns. (MS-ESS2-5) Variations in density due to variations in temperature and salinity drive a global pattern of interconnected ocean currents. (MS-ESS2-6)

This activity engages students in the following Science and Engineering Practices:

• Developing and Using Models

This activity encourages students to think about the following Crosscutting Concepts:

• Cause and Effect

Can I see an example of how you structure your lessons and student materials?

Download my Let's Talk Trash Anchor Phenomenon freebieHERE</a>!

What if I have questions?

You can email me at nvantassel@iexplorescience.com with questions about resources or implementation. I'm happy to help!

Check Out These Related Resources

• Weather and Climate Unit Storyline (NGSS MS-ESS2-5 MS-ESS2-6) BUNDLE
• Weather Fronts and Air Masses: 5E & NGSS Unit Storyline (MS-ESS2-5) BUNDLE
• Climate Factors Bundle - 5E and NGSS Aligned (MS-ESS2-6) BUNDLE
• The Water Cycle - 5E & NGSS Unit Storyline (NGSS MS-ESS2-4) BUNDLE
• Climate Factors: Exploring Climate Data With Climatograms (MS-ESS2-6)
• Climate Factors: Exploring Latitude (NGSS MS-ESS2-6) - Distance Learning
• Climate Factors: Exploring Atmospheric Circulation (MS-ESS2-6)
• Climate Factors: Geography - Mountains, Elevation, & Bodies of Water (MS-ESS2-6)
• Climate Factors: Ocean Currents, Temperature, & Salinity (NGSS MS-ESS2-6)
• Modeling Earth's Climate: Performance Task Assessment & Activity (MS-ESS2-6)
• Weather Maps and Weather Basics (MS-ESS2-5)
• Weather Fronts And The Movement Of Air Masses (MS-ESS2-5)
• Investigating Thunderstorms and Severe Weather (MS-ESS2-5)
• Tornadoes and Severe Weather (MS-ESS2-5)
• Air Masses: Types, Source Regions, & Weather Riddles (MS-ESS2-5)
• Weather Mystery: Case Of The Desert Tornado (MS-ESS2-5)

⭐️ What Other Teachers Are Saying ⭐️

⭐️ “This was a great resource! Instructions were clear and the labs provided a great model for students to see how temperature and salinity affect ocean currents.”

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