Why are Earth’s Poles so Cold?
Name:____________________________ Hr
_____
The area on Earth near the poles is called the “Land of the Midnight Sun.” We analyzed graphs (data) that
showed that during summer, the sun never sets and the days last 24 hours. The crazy thing is that even with
24 hours of sun every day, the poles are colder than at the equator where the days are 12 hours long.
TASK: Write a scientific explanation that answers the question:
“Why are the North and South Poles colder than the Equator
even though they get 24 hours of sun in the summer?”
Your explanation should be a formal paragraph that answers the question and explains how you know. Make
sure you:
 State your claim (Your answer to the question using a complete sentence)
 Describe the evidence from our investigations that support your claim (data, facts and observations)
 Include reasons to explain how the evidence supports your claim.
o Explain why 24 hours of sun doesn’t make is hotter
o What is the link between them the data and the claim?
o Your reasoning should explain what your evidence means.
 A concluding statement that wraps it up and helps the reader see the big picture
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Why are Earth’s Poles so Cold?
Name:____________________________ Hr
Scientific
Explanation
Overall
4 - Advanced
3 - Proficient
2 - Approaching
Claim, evidence and
reasoning all there
Maybe missing a part
of these
Claim
Accurate and complete
sentence that stands on its
own
Data, observations, facts that
support the claim are well
described with details and
important data mentioned
Explains why the data, facts,
or observations prove your
point (support your claim).
Links your evidence to
scientific principles and what
it all means.
Claim, evidence
and reasoning
all there
Accurate and
complete
sentence.
Evidence is
mostly well
described
Evidence
Reasoning
Reasoning is
used, but not as
clear as for a 4
_____
1 - Basic
Missing large
part of
explanation
Accurate. Might not be Mistakes here,
a complete sentence
not accurate or is
unclear
Evidence is partially
Evidence is
described. Not enough mentioned, but
details to really
not described at
convince your reader.
all
Weak explanation
Reasoning
about your evidence.
missing or does
Reader is still confused not make much
about the link between sense.
the data and the claim