Understanding Weather
AUTHOR: Janet R. Sheppard, Paragon Elementary School, Paragon, Indiana
MAJOR OBJECTIVES:
- To use instruments to record and predict the weather
- To graph and compare weekly, monthly, and seasonal weather observations
GRADE LEVEL: 4
MATERIALS CHECKLIST:
- One or multiple computers; printer
- Software: integrated software package (spreadsheet, database, word processor), graphing,
teacher-prepared templates, desktop publishing (optional)
- Indoor/outdoor thermometers; barometer; hygrometer
TIME REQUIRED:
- 10 minutes per day throughout the year to record data
- 30 minutes per week to make and discuss graphs
- 1 class period per month to make and discuss monthly average and total graphs
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
- Have the students keep daily records of temperature, air pressure, humidity, cloud
types, cloud cover, wind, and precipitation, enter the data into the teacher-developed
spreadsheet template, and make bar graphs weekly.
- At the end of each month, have the students transfer the averages and totals from the
spreadsheet to a weather summary database, make graphs, and compare the weather across
different months and seasons.
- Divide the students into six groups and assign each group a different project:
- (1) question-and-answer data file;
- (2) a flashcard set;
- (3) coloring book using the desktop publishing software;
- (4) crossword puzzle;
- (5) set of word search and spelling practice exercises; and
- (6) a survey of weather instruments students have at home.
- Use the student-created materials with the whole class. Have the students use the
desktop publishing software to make greeting cards, banners, and signs for Groundhog Day.
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