North Carolina Grade 7 Science

Read the sky.
Explain the weather.

A 30-day field guide to the atmosphere, water cycle, winds, fronts, forecasting, climate, air quality, and severe-weather safety.

Start day 1 Download student workbookESS.7.1 + ESS.7.2

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FIELD NOTE 01PIEDMONT

What evidence would help you predict what happens next?

29° air72% humidity1004 mb

Your route

Five investigations. Thirty days.

Every lesson includes readable notes, vocabulary, a misconception check, an investigation, an interactive challenge, and an exit ticket.

Reading the Atmosphere

Days 1-5

Water and Energy

Days 6-10

Air on the Move

Days 11-16

Forecast Lab

Days 17-23

Climate and Safety

Days 24-30

Unit 1

Reading the Atmosphere

Days 1-5

Weather Detectives

I can distinguish weather from climate and identify evidence meteorologists collect.

What Is Air Made Of?

I can interpret a model of atmospheric gases and explain why trace gases matter.

Layers of the Atmosphere

I can compare atmospheric layers using altitude, temperature, pressure, and defining features.

Day 4ESS.7.1.1, ESS.7.1.4

Air Pressure and Weather Tools

I can explain air pressure and select appropriate weather instruments.

Atmosphere Data Lab

I can analyze atmospheric data to compare layers and make an evidence-based claim.

Unit 2

Water and Energy

Days 6-10

Water Takes Many Paths

I can model multiple pathways water follows through Earth's systems.

Phase Changes and Energy

I can explain whether water absorbs or releases energy during each phase change.

Day 8ESS.7.1.2, ESS.7.1.4

Humidity, Dew Point, and Clouds

I can use temperature and moisture evidence to explain condensation and cloud formation.

Day 9ESS.7.1.2, ESS.7.1.4

Clouds and Precipitation

I can connect cloud form and atmospheric motion to likely weather.

Day 10ESS.7.1.2

Water-Cycle Systems Model

I can create and evaluate a model that links solar energy, gravity, phase changes, and weather.

Unit 3

Air on the Move

Days 11-16

Day 11ESS.7.1.5

Uneven Heating and Convection

I can model how uneven surface heating creates convection in air.

Day 12ESS.7.1.5

Pressure Gradients and Local Winds

I can explain how pressure differences drive wind and reverse local breezes.

Day 13ESS.7.1.5

Earth's Rotation and Global Flow

I can use a model to explain why global winds curve and form circulation cells.

Day 14ESS.7.1.5

Global Wind Belts

I can connect global circulation cells to prevailing wind belts and climate patterns.

Day 15ESS.7.1.5

The Jet Stream

I can explain how temperature contrasts shape the jet stream and steer weather systems.

Day 16ESS.7.1.5

Convection-to-Jet Model Checkpoint

I can build a connected model from unequal heating to regional weather.

Unit 4

Forecast Lab

Days 17-23

Day 17ESS.7.1.3

Air Masses

I can classify air masses by source region and predict their temperature and moisture.

Day 18ESS.7.1.3

Cold and Warm Fronts

I can compare frontal lifting and predict weather near cold and warm fronts.

Day 19ESS.7.1.3

Stationary and Occluded Fronts

I can explain stationary and occluded fronts and interpret their map symbols.

Day 20ESS.7.1.3

Highs, Lows, and Midlatitude Systems

I can use pressure patterns and front locations to explain likely weather.

Day 21ESS.7.1.4

Weather Maps and Station Models

I can decode a simplified station model and find patterns across a weather map.

Day 22ESS.7.1.4

Clouds, Satellites, and Radar

I can compare what surface observations, satellites, and radar reveal.

Day 23ESS.7.1.3, ESS.7.1.4

Forecast Challenge

I can construct a short forecast from multiple observations and explain uncertainty.

Unit 5

Climate and Safety

Days 24-30

Day 24ESS.7.1.5, ESS.7.2.2

Weather, Climate, and North Carolina

I can compare weather and climate data across North Carolina regions.

Day 25ESS.7.2.2

Greenhouse Effect and Global Temperature

I can analyze a model and data to explain how greenhouse gases influence temperature.

Day 26ESS.7.2.1, ESS.7.2.3

Air Quality and Environmental Indices

I can interpret AQI, UV Index, and Heat Index information and recommend protective action.

Day 27ESS.7.2.3

Thunderstorms, Lightning, and Tornadoes

I can explain storm hazards and select evidence-based protective actions.

Day 28ESS.7.2.3

Hurricanes, Floods, and Winter Weather

I can compare major North Carolina weather hazards and select mitigation strategies.

Day 29ESS.7.2.1, ESS.7.2.3

Weather-Ready Community Performance Task

I can communicate a hazard forecast and practical mitigation plan for a North Carolina community.

Day 30ESS.7.1.1-ESS.7.1.5, ESS.7.2.1-ESS.7.2.3

Weather Systems Synthesis and Summative Assessment

I can integrate atmosphere, water, energy, circulation, forecasting, climate, and safety concepts.

Practice makes patterns visible

All 30 challenges in one lab.

Revisit choices, matching sets, and sequence puzzles at any time. Your lesson progress stays on this device—no account required.

Enter the practice lab