Student Section 

Welcome to the Weather Watching Unit!

        You are about to embark on some exciting cyber-weather experiences. You will be thinking like a meteorologist, gathering weather data, using weather tools, discovering hurricanes and also having fun. Bring along your cyber-sunglasses, umbrella, boots, and coat for you just might need them all…

          Someone once said, "Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it". The best we can do is to prepare for it, if we know what is coming. Weather affects our daily lives in many ways. It determines where we go, when we get there, how we get there and perhaps what we will do. Have you ever been delayed by rain or a snowstorm? Have you ever had to cancel an outdoor event because of bad weather?

          Your weather watching unit has 7 lessons. Each one is in some way tied to the Internet. Before we begin, let’s find out what you already know about weather and hurricanes. Fold a piece of writing paper into three equal parts. You should have three columns. At the top of the first column write the words WHAT I THINK I KNOW. Then write at least five things you think you already know about weather. At the top of the middle column, write WHAT I WANT TO LEARN. Then write at least five things you would like to learn about weather and hurricanes. The last column should have the words WHAT I LEARNED. At the end of this unit, you will add five new things you learned about weather and hurricanes. You will share this information with your teacher and your classmates.

Your graphic organizer should look like this:

What I think I know about weather and hurricanes.	What I want to know about weather and hurricanes.	What I learned about weather and hurricanes.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.	1. 2. 3. 4. 5.	1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

  

                    

 

I.      Lesson One: Making a Glossary

You are going to build some weather tools, but before you begin you need to know some weather terms.

Click on to this site: http://www.weather.com/glossary

On this site find the words below. Then make a glossary and remember to put the words in alphabetical order.

1. hurricane           2. barometer            3. cyclone

4. temperature       5. meteorologist     6. weather

7. atmosphere        8. evaporation         9. precipitation      

10. anemometer

II.  Lesson Two: Making Weather Tools                   

Now that you have finished your glossary, find two friends to join you in your weather data gathering efforts. The three of you will make a barometer and an anemometer. All the materials you need are probably already in your home.

Click below to find directions to make a barometer.

http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/weathertools.html

The barometer will help you measure air pressure. Keep your barometer indoors. Record its reading at the same time everyday.

Click below to find directions for making an anemometer

http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/weathertools.html

The anemometer will help you determine wind speed. This one is a challenge.

 

                                                              

 

III.  Lesson Three: Weather Watchers/ Weather Station

Now you are ready for your weather watch. Every day for two weeks you and your two friends (with your teacher’s permission and adult supervision) are to go into the playground at the same time everyday. You need to bring a Centigrade or Fahrenheit thermometer, an anemometer, and a weather vane. Record the temperature and the wind direction and calculate the wind speed with your anemometer. Also note if there are clouds or if it is sunny and if there is precipitation. When you return to your class log on to the Weather Channel’s web site http://www.weather.com/homepage.html and click on weather information for your zip code. Write both your readings and the Weather Channel’s readings on the blackboard. Compare them and make predictions about what weather is to come.

o        What patterns do you see over time?

o        What apparel choices would you make based on your weather data?

o        Are your readings and the Weather Channel’s readings similar or different?

o        What would influence a difference in the readings?

Write down the answers to these questions and share them with your teacher and classmates.

IV.           Lesson Four: Hurricanes                    

  Read about hurricanes and how they are named.

  Click here http://www.weathereye.kgan.com/cadet/disaster/hurricanes.html

  Read all about it. Click below for more information

  http://www.fema.gov/kids/dizarea.htm

  Here is a writing assignment for you:

o        Who would you name a hurricane after?  Tell why and submit it to your teacher.

           IV.            Lesson Five: Disaster Math     

Exercise your math muscle. Try to solve the "disaster math".

Click here http://www.fema.gov/cgi-shl/kids/quizbuilder.cfm?quiz=mathhurr&prize=l

Don't forget to check your score!

              V.            Lesson Six: Centigrade or Fahrenheit?             

Temperature readings may be given in degrees Centigrade or degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the readings you will find will be in Fahrenheit. It is also important to know how Fahrenheit and Centigrade readings relate to each other.

          In order to convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Centigrade, subtract 32 degrees and multiply by 5. Divide the result by 9.

For example:

Water boils at 212º F

212º – 32º = 180º

180º x 5º = 900º

900º / 9º = 100º

Water boils at 212º F or 100ºC.

Click here http://www.weather.com/weather/us/states/html

to get to Weather Forecasts for forecasts anywhere in the USA.

Find the temperatures of these cities in Fahrenheit degrees and convert them to Centigrade degrees.

Cities	Degrees Fahrenheit	Degrees Centigrade
Chicago, Illinois
Atlanta, Georgia
Anchorage, Alaska
Missoula, Montana
San Francisco, California

 

 

 

     

        VI.            Lesson Seven: What Did You Learn?       

Let’s go back to the very beginning of our unit. Remember the graphic organizer in which you wrote down what you thought you knew about weather and hurricanes? You also wrote five things that you wanted to learn about weather and hurricanes. In the final column, add five new things you learned while doing this unit.

SELF ASSESSMENT             

1.      Was I able to construct the two weather tools?

2.     Was I able to use the weather tools?

3.     Can I describe the three characteristics of a hurricane?

4.     Did I score high on my disaster math quiz (no more than two wrong)?

5.     Can I apply my new knowledge of weather to my daily life?

 Explain your answer.

6.     Did I enjoy my weather learning experience in cyber-space?