Lesson Plan

1800 and Froze to Death

cabin in the snow

Cold weather was no joke on the fronter.

National Park Service

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Science
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
State Standards:
Kentucky
Science
3-ESS2-1. 
4-ESS2-2., 4-ESS3-1. 
5-ESS2-1.
Thinking Skills:
Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts.

Essential Question

How can natural occurrences impact our climate?

Objective

Students will explore how can the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact when the atmosphere is impacted by volcanic activity.

Background

Preparation

Students should have the article to read or be read to as a class about 1816 “The Year Without a Summer” volcanic activity and impact on climate. Also, find video or book on volcanoes, as well as a world map. 

Materials

Year Without Summer - ARTICLE

Download Year Without Summer - ARTICLE

Rainfall Amounts Chart

Download Rainfall Amounts Chart

Lesson Hook/Preview

Imagine snow or a heavy frost spoiling your plans for a 4th of July picnic? Find out why in 1816 many settlers experienced this unusual weather pattern!

Procedure

Step 1.  Before reading the article “1816-The Year Without a Summer”, students should be familiar with volcanoes and their impacts, either from book read in class or video of teacher’s choosing. 

Step 2.  Have students or as a class, read the article “1816-The Year Without a Summer”, and have discussion of impacts that it might have had on climate and vegetation in the area.   

Step 3.  Have students create table of current weather conditions to compare the climate of today with that of 1860. (You may use the one attached, or have students create one of their own with further research). 

Vocabulary

Climate--the weather conditions in an area in general or over a long period. 

Geosphere--the layer of Earth made up of solid rock and other rocky materials.  

Biosphere-- the region on, above, and below the Earth's surface where life exists.  

Hydrosphere--the total amount of water on a planet. 

Atmosphere-- a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. 

Assessment Materials

Create a Model/Drawing

Students create chart or weather comparison for climates now and in 1816, (see materials for sample)

Students create a model/drawing of the interactions of the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and geosphere during the summer of 1816.

Enrichment Activities

For extensions, students may complete further research on the 1816 “Year Without a Summer”. 

Related Lessons or Education Materials

Meets Kentucky 3rd-5th grade science standards. This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project.

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Last updated: July 23, 2024