Examination Of Weather

AUTHOR:NIE Curriculum Guide - The Montana Standard - Butte, MT.

GRADE LEVEL: 3 - 6

OBJECTIVE: To examine the weather via newspaper reports

MATERIALS NEEDED: Newspapers, cardboard, markers

TO START:

Ask: Is weather study a science? Why or why not? Explain that meteorology is the study of the weather; we know many scientific facts about various weather conditions. But unlike many other areas of science that can be manipulated by humans, scientists can't create or change the weather-they can only try to predict it from what they know. And that's hard enough! Students may have their own stories to tell about weather forecasts that weren't very accurate.

GROUP ACTIVITY:

Distribute newspapers and have students turn to the weather section. Ask the class to find and define some common weather terms:

• Front (cold, warm or static)
• High and low pressure systems
• Wind velocity
• Precipitation
• Relative humidity
• Pollution levels
• Sunset and sunrise

Look at the newspaper's weather map. Point out that the map is based on information from the National Weather Service, which forecasts national weather conditions on a round-the-clock basis. Newspaper weather maps usually feature various forecast symbols. Have students find examples of 3 or 4 of these symbols on the map and explain what each means.

FOLLOW-UP:

The students may want to make cards for various temperature ranges-say 65- 70 degrees, 70-75 degrees and so on. Assign a weather team (two or three students) for each day of the week to read the newspaper's morning weather forecast and post the appropriate symbols and temperature ranges in the classroom. Each day the class can interpret they symbols, checking the forecast with the weather outside.

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