Weather and Atmosphere CER Writing Activity | Uneven Heating, Pressure & Wind
Help students explain how energy from the Sun ultimately creates wind with this structured Weather and the Atmosphere CER writing activity.
Students respond to the statement:
“The Sun warms Earth, but it does not play a role in creating wind.”
They must make a clear claim, support it with scientific evidence, and explain the cause-and-effect relationship between solar energy, uneven heating, air density, air pressure, and wind.
The included pre-writing page breaks the CER process into manageable sections before students complete their final response. A 20-point rubric and sample teacher key make grading clear and consistent.
What’s Included
Weather and atmosphere CER writing prompt
Pre-write and brainstorming page
Separate final CER response page
Student-friendly success criteria
Evidence reminders
20-point teacher grading rubric
Sample teacher answer key
Expected cause-and-effect chain
Thank-you and terms-of-use page
Students Will Practice
Writing a clear scientific claim
Selecting accurate and relevant evidence
Connecting evidence to a claim through reasoning
Explaining scientific cause-and-effect relationships
Using weather and atmosphere vocabulary correctly
Writing a complete scientific explanation
Key Concepts
Energy from the Sun
Uneven heating of Earth’s surface
Temperature differences
Air density
High and low air pressure
Wind
Cause-and-effect relationships
Perfect For
Weather and atmosphere units
CER writing practice
End-of-unit assessment
Science literacy instruction
Independent classwork
Homework
Sub plans
Small-group instruction
Review before a quiz or test
This resource is designed for grades 6–8 and can typically be completed in one class period. Students should have a basic understanding of uneven heating, air density, air pressure, and wind before beginning.
