OUTCOMES

By working with this guide, students should be better able to:

	define climate and weather and explain their importance to sustainable agriculture
	examine the relationship between living and non living components of ecosystems depending on climate and weather for sustainable agricultural production
	identify and discuss different affects of climate and weather on agricultural production
	explain the importance of monitoring climate and weather systems in a variable climate for sustainable agricultural production
	appreciate the difficulties of agricultural production in a place where there is variable climate and weather
	develop their scientific literacy, and in particular their use of terminology relevant to climate, weather and agriculture.
	participate in the use of classroom applications of relevant scientific data (eg climate, weather and agricultural records).
	discuss the social implications of climate, weather and agriculture.

USING THE TEACHER'S GUIDE
The guide is designed to give teachers the necessary background material and a set of activities to facilitate the teaching of relevant atmospheric and weather outcomes. Suggestions for further study are also included.

Each new addition to the Project ATMOSPHERE Australia series of teacher's guides will introduce a fundamental understanding about its relevant module topic and will complement others in the series.

COMPONENTS OF THE GUIDE
Introduction: The introduction provides an overview of the module topic.

Background: This is a narrative summary of information to help the teacher become acquainted with the topic and thus makes up the bulk of the guide.

Activities: Each module includes one or more investigations related to the module topic. Each activity is typically described in two parts. The first part provides directions and information useful in presenting and completing the accompanying activity. The activity lists the objectives, emphasising the purposes and requirements of the activity. The method section gives directions. The questions are designed to reinforce the outcomes.

Suggestions for further activities follow the investigation(s).

Vocabulary: Definitions are given for terms related to the module topic that might not be available in other classroom references.

Information sources: References related to the topic are included.

Computer software: It is essential to have up to date rainfall and climate statistics for your location. The product "AUSTRALIAN RAINMAN" has this and would be recommended. This may be purchased through the QDPI, Bureau of Meteorology or NSW Agriculture.

Internet: Internet access for this module would be a benefit.