Yakima WATERS Mini Lesson
El Niño and the Pacific Northwest
Targets and Assessment
WA Science GLEs Addressed:
 9-12 INQA, 9-12 INQC, 9-12 INQH, 9-11 ES2A, 911 ES2B,
Lesson Parameters
Content Area: Systems of the Earth
Overview: El Niño and its impact on the PNW
Grade Level: 9th Grade
Assessments:
 Application to previous data collected, written
formative assessment
Suggested Time: 1 Class Period following Field Trip
Special Materials:
 Demonstration materials listed below
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge: Describe potential cause of weather patterns in Ellensburg/PNW, impact of El Niño on
global climate, differences between this occurrence and potential impacts of global warming.
Skill: Data manipulation and analysis, modeling of systems, evaluation of reasons provided to explain
events.
Science Concept Background:
As an extension to activities studying the weather patterns of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region students
are provided a background on the potential cause and effect of the El Niño Southern Oscillation. They are
able to use this knowledge to evaluate data collected on a prior field trip to find if weather patterns
measured (ie snow pack in Snoqualmie Pass) suggest the potential of an El Niño year. Also,
misconceptions associating this event to global warming are dispelled.
Materials:
Projector (connected to computer for PowerPoint presentation)
Hair dryer
Large glass baking dish
Vegetable Oil
Blue food coloring
Red oil based paint
Procedure:
To initially engage students they are greeted with a video from YouTube of a Saturday Night Live skit
featuring Chris Farley as “El Niño.” This video provides a light mood in the class, and establishes the
topic of conversation for the day.
Following the video the class will be prompted by probing questions to gauge their understanding of
the event (causes and effects) which will guide the direction of the conversation and dictate points of
emphasis needed throughout the powerpoint presentation.
An in-class demonstration is performed to allow the students to see how the changes in wind patterns
can impact the water cycles along the equator. This involves filling a large glass baking dish with blue
water (colored with food coloring), followed by a layer of vegetable oil that has been mixed with red oil
based paint to simulate the warm surface water. A hair dryer is used to show the typical flow of winds
across the equator which causes the rise of cold water along South America and movement of warm
water to the Western Pacific. When the hair dryer is turned off to show the El Niño effect the students
can easily notice the spread of the “warm” water, and how the cold water is not longer upwelling to
the surface.
Key questions:
What is the cause of El Niño?
What does it mean to us since it takes place along the equator?
Are scientists able to predict an El Niño year far in advance? Is there a cycle?
Extension(s):
Utilizing data collected on a snow pack measurement field trip, students are given the task of graphing
data and comparing it to historical data. This practice is done to see if students are able to find trends
associated with El Niño years and non- El Niño years as far as snow pack in Snoqualmie Pass.
Teaching Tips:
Allow the students to guide the discussion. Although there is a presentation prepared it is more a tool
of direction rather than a strict guide.
Supplements:
PowerPoint, NOAA footage of real time temperature measurements along equator
Author: Terry Helland, Yakima WATERS Project, CWU, 2009-2010