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Heat, Wind and Pressure
from the Weather Smart Series
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Alan Sealls, Meteorologist
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Weather Smart:
Heat, Wind and Pressure
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Curriculum Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Program Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Series Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Teacher Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Instructional Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Pre-Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Student Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Student Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Introducing the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Discussion Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Blackline Master Activities . . . . . . . . . . .7
Extended Learning Activities . . . . . . . . .8
Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Reference Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Script of Narration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
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HEAT, WIND and PRESSURE. This right is restricted only for use
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HEAT, WIND AND PRESSURE
from
the Weather Smart Series
INTRODUCTION
Weather Smart is a series comprised of 10 weather programs for grades 3-8. It is written and produced by Alan
Sealls, an award-winning meteorologist who has worked
for WGN-TV, and CNN. Each program is supported by
exercises, quizzes, Internet references, and hands-on
experiments to make the weather come alive to students.
The series is an entire "course" in the wonders of weather while each program stands alone in approaching the
various facets of meteorology. These delightful and entertaining programs are geared toward kids' fascination with
weather. Each program may be used as an introduction,
supplement, or follow-up to weather studies.
Heat, Wind and Pressure explores the fundamentals of
weather. It highlights the sun as the source of energy for
Earth and our atmosphere. Students gain knowledge of
the inseparable link between heat, wind and pressure,
and how they keep weather balanced. While not typically
a hazard or even a noticeable concern, heat, wind, and
pressure can go to extremes to become powerful and
dangerous.
CURRICULUM STANDARDS
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure correlates to
the following science standards:
National Science Education Standards, grades K-4
Science as Inquiry
CONTENT STANDARD A:
• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
• Understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science
CONTENT STANDARD B:
• Properties of objects and materials
• Position and motion of objects
• Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism
1
Life Science
CONTENT STANDARD C:
• The characteristics of organisms
Earth and Space Science
CONTENT STANDARD D:
• Properties of Earth materials
• Objects in the sky
• Changes in Earth and sky
Science and Technology
CONTENT STANDARD E:
• Abilities of technological design
• Understanding about science and technology
Science in Personal & Social Perspectives
CONTENT STANDARD F:
• Personal health
• Types of resources
• Changes in environments
• Science and technology in local challenges
History and Nature of Science
CONTENT STANDARD G:
• Science as a human endeavor
National Science Education Standards, grades 5-8
Science as Inquiry
CONTENT STANDARD A:
• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
• Understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science
CONTENT STANDARD B:
• Properties and changes of properties in matter
• Motions and forces
• Transfer of energy
Earth and Space Science
CONTENT STANDARD D:
• Structure of the earth system
• Earth in the solar system
2
Science and Technology
CONTENT STANDARD E:
• Abilities of technological design
• Understanding about science and technology
Science in Personal & Social Perspectives
CONTENT STANDARD F:
• Personal health
• Natural hazards
• Risks and benefits
• Science and technology in society
History and Nature of Science
CONTENT STANDARD G:
• Science as a human endeavor
• Nature of science
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Animations and video examples show the uniqueness of
air in Earth's atmosphere and how air is set into motion as
wind when it is heated. Air with different temperature is
related to differences in weight or pressure, which is what
causes wind and circulations. The properties of hot and
cold air are contrasted.
Students learn to associate high or low pressure with
calm or stormy weather, respectively. While storms generate wind, students see that wind pushes storms and
weather systems around the globe. We see that air in
motion is constantly trying to balance heat so that no part
of our planet gets too hot or too cold. All of this is reinforced in the concluding video quiz.
SERIES GOALS
The Weather Smart series will give students the entire
scope of meteorology, fostering an appreciation for
weather as a universal, ever-present aspect of life on
Earth.
• Varying combinations of heat, air, and water generate
weather.
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• The sun is the driving force behind weather.
• Air and water have unique properties.
• Neither Earth nor life would exist as we know them,
without weather.
• Humans can affect weather or climate.
• Weather forecasts make our lives easier and safer.
• Tools and instruments help us to understand and predict
weather.
• Mathematics is needed to assess and forecast weather
and climate.
• Scientists do not fully know what makes weather and climate change.
• Weather and climate are cyclical.
• There is beauty in the sky.
• Meteorology is a wide-reaching profession.
TEACHER PREPARATION
Duplicate a sufficient quantity of the Blackline Masters for
your students. In order to undertake all of the exercises in
this program the following items are needed in appropriate amounts and quantities:
computer with Internet connection
hammer
nails
string
metal lid from jar or can
construction paper
drinking glass or glass jar
water
cooking pan
plastic bottle
plastic bag
scissors
small rubber eraser
balloon
measuring tape
table lamp
sheet of foam-core board
assorted textbooks
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INSTRUCTIONAL NOTES
Before presenting this Weather Smart lesson to your
students, we suggest you preview the program and
review this guide and accompanying Blackline Master
activities in order to familiarize yourself with their content.
As you review the materials presented in this guide, you
may find it necessary to make changes, additions, or
deletions to meet the specific needs of your class. We
encourage you to do so, for only by tailoring this program
to your students will they obtain the maximum instructional benefits afforded by the materials.
We also suggest that the program viewing take place
before the entire group under your supervision. The lesson activities grow out of the context of the program;
therefore, the presentation should be a common experience for all students.
PRE-TEST
To gauge student level of understanding of heat, wind,
and pressure, you may use any of several of the Blackline
Masters as both pre-test and post-test. Those most
appropriate would be Blackline Master 1 Video Quiz,
and Blackline Master 3, Discussion Questions.
STUDENT PREPARATION
Pass a thermometer around class and have the students
attempt to read it. Ask them what the thermometer measures. The answers should be heat or temperature.
Prompt a discussion of what causes temperature to be
higher and lower on different days, and in different locations. Have them watch a weather forecast on TV and ask
them to determine what causes the temperature changes
from day to day. Have them also make note of references
to wind and pressure. Ask them if they can figure out what
role the wind and pressure play in the forecast.
5
STUDENT OBJECTIVES
After viewing the program and participating in the followup activities, students will be able to:
• Illustrate the relationship between heat, wind, and pressure.
• Describe the unique properties of air.
• Define air pressure and discuss its role in daily weather.
• List the instruments used to measure heat, wind, and
pressure.
• Demonstrate the response of air when heated.
• Demonstrate how pressure creates force and motion.
• Identify the sun as the source of energy for Earth.
• Read basic weather instruments.
INTRODUCING THE PROGRAM
Any of the Blackline Master experiments (numbers 8
through 13) may be used to introduce the topic. Perform
one experiment in front of the class to pique curiosity and
bring about discussion of how it relates to heat, wind, or
pressure. You may also choose to have any one of these
experiments undertaken by the class, in small groups.
Present the program. Weather Smart: Heat, Wind &
Pressure runs 15 minutes. A video quiz corresponding to
Blackline Master 1 is at the conclusion of the program.
You may choose to pause the program for a longer period between questions to allow more time for answers or
for discussion.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
As printed on Blackline Master 3, the answers are found
in the Answer Key on page 9.
1. How does wind start?
2. What parts of Earth are always cold?
3. What keeps the temperature from getting too high in
hot places?
4. What time of the day is usually the windiest?
5. How would Earth be different if we didn't have air?
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6. What kind of weather do you find around low pressure?
7. Why does a strong wind make you feel colder in winter?
8. Where on Earth do we usually find the warmest temperatures?
9. What makes weather move around the world?
10. What does pressure have to do with air?
BLACKLINE MASTER ACTIVITIES
1. Video Quiz may be used as a pre-test and post-test.
The actual quiz is in the conclusion of the program.
2. Heat, Wind and Pressure Vocabulary Word Search
is a fun way to familiarize students with the words and
phrases presented in this program. You might have students work in groups to find some of the hidden words.
3. Discussion Questions may be administered at any
time or given as a take home assignment.
4. Read a Thermometer gives practice in reading a thermometer. It requires that you either shade in various values for the mercury before duplication or write a value in
the box and then have students color in the height of the
mercury.
5. Read a Compass gives practice in reading a compass.
It requires that you either draw in arrows (pointers) for
wind direction before duplication or write a direction in the
box and then have students draw in the arrow.
6. Read a Barometer gives practice in reading a barometer. It requires that you either draw in arrows (pointers)
for pressure before duplication or write a direction in the
box and then have students draw in the arrow.
7. Wind Chime allows students to create a wind chime
instrument to give an audible measure of wind.
8. Paper Fan is a simple tool that has a practical purpose
of creating air motion (wind) for personal comfort.
9. Warming Water demonstrates that water expands
when heated. This principle is extended to air in the
atmosphere.
10. Pressure uses water to show that weight causes
pressure and pressure creates a force that can move
objects.
11. Parachute shows the power of air in retarding the
motion of objects.
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12. Heated Balloon illustrates that air expands when
heated.
13. Balloon Table will amaze students as they find that
air, even in a balloon, is strong enough to suspend heavy
objects.
14. Heat, Wind and Pressure Fun Facts provides trivia
and items to surprise the kids.
15. Internet Sites leads students on a fun journey
beyond this program into more studies of heat, wind and
pressure.
EXTENDED LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Contact local businesses and agencies that are very
dependent on changes in heat or wind. Your class may be
allowed to visit them to gain a local perspective. You
might also assign students to contact and arrange for a
visit or interview.
• Meteorologists who work at a nearby office of the
National Weather Service or on TV or at a university can
discuss the roles of heat, wind and pressure.
• Pilots of airplanes, and especially pilots of helicopters
and hot air balloons, can discuss the importance of heat
and wind in flight planning. You might be lucky enough to
get a helicopter or balloon pilot to land their aircraft at
your school.
• City planners can describe the ways cities, roads, and
neighborhoods are laid out to account for heat and wind.
• Managers of amusement parks, golf courses, beaches,
and other outdoor venues can describe how their attendance revolves around the heat. They can also discuss
their emergency plans when a person is overcome by
heat.
• Architects and construction companies can talk about
how buildings are designed for wind.
• Doctors or nurses can describe the symptoms of heat illnesses and what people can do to avoid them.
• Farmers can discuss the role that heat and wind play in
planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops. This extends
to aerial spraying of chemicals, and evaporation rates of
water.
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ANSWER KEY
Video Quiz
1. true
2. true
3. false
4. true
5. false
6. true
7. true
8. true
9. true
10. false
Heat, Wind & Pressure Vocabulary Word Search
Discussion Questions
1. Wind starts when air is heated and then rises. When it
rises, the pressure gets lower and other air slides into the
spot it left to create wind. Wind may also occur when
gravity pulls air down a slope, like a mountain.
2. The Earth is always cold at the North Pole and the
South Pole.
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3. The temperature, even in hot places, reaches a limit
because wind brings in cooler air to mix the hot air with
somewhat cooler air.
4. The windiest time of day is middle afternoon. This is
when the local environment is hottest and the rising hot
air generates stronger wind. There are regions where the
geography may produce strong winds at other times.
5. If we didn't have air, the sky would be black, there
would be no life as we know it, and there would be no
clouds. The side of the Earth facing the sun would be
extremely hot, while the dark side of the planet would be
bitterly cold.
6. Around low pressure we commonly find weather that is
unsettled. There is more wind, more cloud cover, and a
greater chance of precipitation and storms.
7. In the winter, a strong wind carries heat away from you
that your body generates.
8. The warmest temperatures on Earth are found in
deserts close to the Equator where the days are long and
the sun stays high in the sky.
9. Weather moves around the world because of the
steady winds a few miles above the ground that push it.
These winds include the jetstream, and they are caused
by the attempt of the atmosphere to reduce the temperature difference between the Poles and the Equator.
10. Pressure is the way we measure the weight (mass) of
air, or how much force the weight of air creates. High
pressure tells us there is a lot of air sinking and crammed
into one spot that creates relatively calm weather with
light wind. Low pressure has the opposite properties of
high pressure.
Read a Thermometer
Answers will depend upon how high you shade the thermometers. Use different ranges of temperature to arouse
discussion of what time of day, or what seasons they are
more likely. Note that the thermometers are in Fahrenheit
increments of two degrees. This means that students
must interpolate (estimate) between the lines. You might
modify the exercise to where you give the students temperatures and have them shade the thermometer.
10
Read a Compass
Answers will depend upon where you draw your arrows or
pointers. In this exercise, students are merely identifying
the wind direction. In the case of wind, the direction would
tell you where the wind is coming from. You might modify
the exercise to where you give the students a wind direction and you have them draw the arrow or pointer.
Read a Barometer
Answers will depend upon where you draw your arrows or
pointers. Note that the units are millibars and they are in
increments of two. You might modify the exercise to
where you give the students a pressure reading and you
have them draw the arrow or pointer. In most places, the
pressure does not get much higher than 1030 millibars, or
much lower than 990 millibars. The exceptions are high
pressure centers from the Poles that can be over 1040
millibars, and major winter storms and hurricanes that can
have pressure far below 980 millibars.
Wind Chime
The wind chime tells us if the wind is light, moderate, or
strong. The measurements of the nails and strings do not
have to be exact. Longer strings are more likely to
become entangled on windy days. Students may experiment with different nail lengths to hear different pitches.
Paper Fan
The paper fan will move air and create wind.
Warming Water
This experiment illustrates that water, like most materials,
expands when heated. The water will overflow before it
starts to boil if it is filled to the top of the glass. The molecules of the water become more active as they are heated, and they vibrate more, requiring more space.
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Pressure
The water in the lower hole will be pushed further out
because there is more water above it than there is above
the upper hole. Students feel the force of water pressure
when they go deeper in a swimming pool. This tells us
that air pressure is always lower as you get higher in the
sky because there would be less air above you.
Parachute
The parachute is slowed by air.
Heated Balloon
The balloon expands because the air inside expands.
Warm air expands because the molecules vibrate faster
and take up more space. Because the air is constrained
in the balloon, the pressure increases. You may also
notice that the heat from the lamp creates a rising air current that moves the balloon. This relates to convection,
which is the process that develops thunderstorms.
Balloon Table
This shows a principle that we often overlook but it is all
around us. Air holds the books because it is extremely
strong. You may end up replacing the foam-core board
with a thin piece of plywood, as the foam-core is more
likely to fail before the balloons do!
Internet Sites
As listed on Blackline Master 15.
National Weather Service Central Region Headquarters
resource links
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gid/edu/educate.htm
You will find a large number of weather links along with
information on heat waves, droughts, and the sun.
Environmental Protection Agency Sunwise Program
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/
Sun, ozone, and ultraviolet radiation protection information, exercises, and games are all found here.
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NASA for kids only
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/
Click on "Air Pressure" for fun experiments with air. Learn
more about how air behaves.
American Red Cross summer safety
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/r
eadyheat.html
Gather good heat wave safety information to use at
school, at camp or at home.
Pennsylvania State University Meteorology kids page
http://eyewall.met.psu.edu/kidswx/kids.html
This page has weather activities and information and a
wealth of files to download.
As Internet addresses can change, you may have to use
a search engine to find the title of the page or website that
you are seeking. You may also have luck by going to the
host website URL. For example, if you are looking for
http://www.alan.edu/weather/cloud.html and you get a
message that the page is no longer available, then try
http://www.alan.edu/ and look or search for weather, and
then cloud, or something that sounds similar.
REFERENCE MATERIAL
Interactive Weather Information Network from the
National Weather Service
http://weather.gov
Find current temperature, wind and pressure for thousands of cities, along with forecasts.
National Weather Service heatwave safety
http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/hwave.html
Gather useful information for other teachers to help in
planning summer activities.
National Weather Service teacher resource page
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/abr/teacher
Peruse this compendium of teacher activities for the
classroom, including information on Project DataStreme,
and other resource links.
13
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Project
Skymath
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/blynds/skymath.html
Middle school teachers can continue their weather lessons with this comprehensive set of 16 weather-math
activities.
NASA Central Operations of Resources for Educators
http://core.nasa.gov/
This is an excellent multimedia resource area for your
weather lessons.
Find many more heat, wind, and pressure experiments
along with designs for weather instruments in the "Hands
on Weather," programs also distributed by United
Learning.
Comments, suggestions, or questions regarding this
Weather Smart program should be addressed to the producer, Alan Sealls ([email protected]).
SCRIPT OF NARRATION
Earth is a special place. It's the only planet with air that we
know of. Without air, we wouldn't be able to live. Air is all
around us but you can't see it, and you can't taste it.
Sometimes when air moves, we do feel it, and when it
moves very fast, we can hear it.
Air is actually pretty strong. If you take a cup and put it
upside down in water, the water does not go inside of the
cup. That tells you that air in the cup is strong enough to
keep the water from going in. Air takes up space. We see
that because the water in the tank rises when you put the
cup in it.
Clouds float because air is strong enough to hold them
up. If we didn't have air on Earth, you wouldn't be able to
fly a kite, and you wouldn't be able to bounce a ball.
Guess what's inside of a basketball? Air.
To show you just how strong air is, fill up a balloon and tie
it closed. Then sit on it. Look what happens here. The air
14
inside the balloon gets squeezed and the balloon does
not even pop. Air is really strong if it can hold up a person.
This is important to know when we study weather.
When air moves, it can make other things move. Blow on
a pinwheel to make it spin. Whenever air moves, it's wind.
Wind is always happening around the Earth. If you blow
up another balloon and then let go of it, the balloon flies
away. The air that you squeezed into the balloon tries to
get out all at once. As it comes out, the air pushes the balloon away.
When a lot of air gets squeezed into one space, it gets
stronger and a little heavier. If you fill your bicycle tire with
air, the air holds you up and you can ride your bike for a
long time. Think of all the air that gets squeezed into a car
or truck tire. That's a lot to hold up something so heavy.
We measure how strong the air is with a weather instrument called a barometer.
A barometer tells us if the air is heavy or light. If air is
heavy, the barometer shows us high pressure. High pressure usually means dry, sunny weather. If air is light, the
barometer shows low pressure. We find low pressure with
cloudy or wet weather. When you look at a weather map
and see the letter H for high pressure and the letter L for
low pressure, you know that there's a lot more air
squeezed around the high pressure than there is around
the low pressure. The H is like a mountain of air and the
L is like a valley.
Just like when we squeezed air into the balloon, and let it
go, and the air came out, the air leaves the H where it is
squeezed and crowded together, and it moves toward the
L. This is wind because the air is moving.
Always remember that air goes from high pressure to low
pressure. When the wind is light, we call it a breeze, if it
moves very fast, it's a gust, and if it moves fast for a long
time, it's a gale. There would be no wind if we didn't have
air.
15
Another special thing about air is that when it gets warm,
it grows and spreads out. When air gets cold, it shrinks
and takes up less space. You can set up a simple experiment to show this. Take a small bottle with a balloon on
top of it and place it inside of a container of ice water.
Watch the balloon. Now take the small bottle out and put
it inside a container of warm water. What happens to the
balloon? Watch it again. When we put the bottle and balloon in the cold water, the air inside of it gets colder and
shrinks so the balloon gets smaller. Cold air takes up less
space so we say it is heavy and dense. When the bottle
is in the warm water, the balloon gets bigger because the
warm air inside the bottle grows and takes up more
space.
Now when we think of air and pressure, you can say that
cold air is more squeezed together. It takes up less space
than warm air, so it is heavy and has higher pressure.
Warm air grows and takes up more space than cold air,
so it is lighter and has lower pressure.
In a hot air balloon, we can see how the warm air is light
enough for the balloon to float in the sky. You can show
how cold air sinks by putting blue ice cubes in water.
Watch how the cold blue color falls to the bottom of the
water. Cold air sinks, and warm air rises.
All of this makes wind blow from cold, high pressure
toward warm, low pressure.
This is happening right now all over Earth. Wind never
stops everywhere because the sun heats our planet and
makes the air move. Sunlight travels through space to
bring us heat. You can call it radiation if you want.
Radiation from the sun is light and heat, and it is also
energy. It is energy because it can make things move.
Radiation from the sun gives heat to the Earth to make
the air move as wind. It's just what we looked at a minute
ago. Some parts of the Earth get warmer than others and
the warm air grows and spreads out. It gets lighter and
rises to make low pressure. Places on Earth that are cold
have air that is squeezed together. The cold air is heavy
and sinks so it makes high pressure.
16
This happens everyday because the equator is warmer
than the North or South Pole. Air is always warm and rising at the equator and cold and sinking over the North and
South Poles. In between we have wind. The job of the
wind is to carry colder air to the warmer air so that parts
of the Earth don't get too hot and parts don't get too cold.
The wind does an important job because it helps to make
our planet comfortable. There is a special wind that stays
way above the ground. It is always strong and it pushes
weather systems around the Earth. That wind is called the
jetstream.
The jetstream is about six miles, or ten kilometers, above
the ground. The jetstream wind can blow between 100
and 200 mph, that's 160 and 320 kilometers per hour.
Now you can see how heat, wind and pressure are all tied
together. The heat makes air warmer and lighter. When
air gets lighter, the pressure gets lower and air spreads
out and rises. Where air is cold, it is heavier and has higher pressure. Cold air sinks. The air moves as wind from
the high pressure to the low pressure. It rises with the
warm air and then spreads out. After it spreads out above
the ground, it goes back to where the cold air was and
sinks. Then it starts all over again. When air moves in a
circle, we call it circulation.
People who live near oceans and lakes see circulations
when the land is hot and the water is not. In the afternoon
when the sun heats the land, the air gets warmer and
lighter and it rises. The pressure gets lower. At the same
time over the water the air stays cooler. So it is heavier
and it sinks to make high pressure. The wind blows from
the water to the land and helps to make a circulation. This
is why you feel a cool breeze near lakes or the ocean in
the summer.
A cool breeze is nice when the air is hot. It helps to make
you more comfortable. Without the breeze, you might get
too hot to stay outside. You can always know how hot it is
by reading the temperature from a thermometer.
17
In the summer when the sun is high in the sky, you do
have to be careful of a few things. The radiation from the
sun that gives us light and heat also gives people sun
tans. Make sure that you don't stay in the sun too long.
When your shadow is shorter than you are, be especially
careful. A short shadow means the sun is high in the sky
and it's radiation is strong.
When you play outside on bright summer days, use a
special lotion to protect your skin. Some lotions have a
sun block to help keep you from getting a sunburn.
It's a good idea when it is sunny and hot to drink plenty of
water. Wear a cap to protect your head from the sun, and
also wear light-colored clothes. Sunglasses help to protect your eyes. If you play outside too long and your body
gets too hot, you can get sick. People who work or play
outside for a long time might get heat stroke or heat
exhaustion if they are not careful. Always slow down
when it gets very hot.
When you get too hot, your body tells you because you
start to perspire or sweat. That's your body's way of cooling you down, the same way a thunderstorm cools down
a city on a hot day. If you perspire a lot, then slow down
and drink more water.
When you go swimming on a hot day, the water will cool
you down. Once you get out of the water, you might actually get cold. The wind helps to dry you off as the water
disappears from you into the air. That's called evaporation. Evaporation makes things cooler.
We feel heat and cold with our bodies. We see wind when
it moves things. We can't see air pressure, but all three of
these are connected like a family. You can't have one
without the others. All three of them are important
because they keep our planet comfortable, as they move
clouds and rain around the world.
The sun sends heat to Earth to warm the air. The warm
air grows, rises, and makes the pressure go lower. Cold
air takes up less space, sinks because it is heavier, and
18
makes the air pressure go higher. In between the cold air
and warm air is wind. The wind moves from the high pressure to low pressure and tries to even out the temperature. When this happens over and over, it's called a circulation.
Always remember heat, wind and pressure are never
apart, they are like a family, and you are weather smart
Lets take a quiz about heat, wind and pressure. Answer
these questions true or false.
Number one- When air is moving, it is wind.
Number two- Air pressure tells you how heavy the air is.
Number three- Warm air sinks to the ground.
Number four- The Earth gets its heat from the sun.
Number five- A barometer tells you the wind direction.
Number six- The jetstream moves weather around the
Earth.
Number seven- Cold air is heavier than warm air.
Number eight- Thermometers tell you how warm air is.
Number nine- Somewhere on Earth, air is always moving.
Number ten- We could live without air.
19
1
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Video Quiz
Directions: Answer each question either true or false.
1. ________ When air is moving, we call it wind.
2. ________ Air pressure tells you how heavy the air is.
3. ________ Warm air sinks to the ground.
4. ________ The Earth gets its heat from the sun.
5. ________ A barometer tells you the wind direction.
6. ________ The jetstream moves weather around the Earth.
7. ________ Cold air is heavier than warm air.
8. ________ Thermometers tell you how warm the air is.
9. ________ Somewhere on Earth, air is always moving.
10. ________ We could live without air.
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
2
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Heat, Wind & Pressure Vocabulary Word Search
Directions: Draw a line through each word that you find.
Y
T
E
F
A
S
R
E
M
M
U
S
T
O
H
C
I
R
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A
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I
O
N
W
A
R
M
R
N
E
H
E
A
T
S
T
R
O
K
E
E
Z
G
D
T
E
X
H
A
U
S
T
I
O
N
S
U
Y
E
S
T
E
M
P
E
R
A
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E
F
T
X
I
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E
T
E
M
O
R
A
B
E
S
U
W
K
L
A
N
D
L
I
M
C
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N
T
S
L
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B
M
H
A
I
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F
L
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W
A
A
N
N
N
N
O
I
T
O
L
P
I
P
O
W
L
A
D
E
N
S
I
T
Y
I
T
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A
T
L
G
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L
R
A
Y
A
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A
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X
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N
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N
L
O
G
T
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I
P
S
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U
A
C
Y
Q
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D
K
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B
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Q
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A
A
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Z
J
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M
D
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P
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U
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B
Words are forward, backward, or diagonal.
airflow
barometer
blister
breeze
burn
circulation
cold
cool
density
©2001 Alan Sealls
energy
equator
evaporation
exhaustion
gale
gust
heat stroke
hot
index
land
lotion
mild
perspire
poles
pressure
radiation
summer safety
sun
sun block
sunglasses
tan
temperature
warm
water
wind
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
3
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Discussion Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions as directed by your teacher.
1. How does wind start?
2. What parts of Earth are always cold?
3. What keeps the temperature from getting too high in hot places?
4. What time of the day is usually the windiest?
5. How would Earth be different if we didn't have air?
6. What kind of weather do you find around low pressure?
7. Why does a strong wind make you feel colder in winter?
8. Where on Earth do we usually find the warmest temperatures?
9. What makes weather move around the world?
10. What does pressure have to do with air?
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
4
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Read a Thermometer
Directions: Write the temperature in the box below each thermometer.
#1
©2001 Alan Sealls
#2
#3
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
5
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Read a Compass
Directions: Write the direction that the compass is showing.
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
6
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Read a Barometer
Directions: Write the air pressure that the barometer is showing.
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
7
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Wind Chime
You need:
a hammer
string
a few 2" or 3" nails
a metal lid from a container
a marker
Mark five holes about ½" apart along one edge of the metal lid. Then mark two holes about 2" apart
on the opposite edge of the lid. Use a hammer and nail to punch a small hole in each of the marks.
Tie a piece of 5" string to each nail. Tie the ends of a 12" piece of string to the two holes that are 2"
apart to make a loop. Then tie each of the nails to each of the five holes along the bottom of the lid.
When you are done, hang up your instrument in a windy spot and listen. What does your instrument
tell us?
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
8
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Paper Fan
You need:
a piece of construction paper
Fold the paper forwards and then backwards about every inch to make it into a fan. Wave it and see
what happens. What do you feel?
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
9
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Warming Water
You need:
cooking pot
drinking glass
water
hot plate or stove
Place the glass in the center of the pan on the hot plate. Get an adult to help you. Fill the glass to
the top with water. Turn on the heat to the pan and watch what happens to the water in the glass.
What do you see? Why does it happen?
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
10
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Pressure
You need:
a two-liter plastic bottle
a nail or screwdriver
scissors
water
You may cut the top off of the plastic bottle.
On the edge of a sink, fill the bottle
with water. Use the nail or screwdriver to punch a hole in the middle
of the bottle and then quickly punch
another hole near the bottom of the
bottle. How does the water drain
from the holes?
Why does it drain differently from
the two holes? Fill the container
again with water and watch as it
drains. What does this tell us about
air pressure near the ground and air
pressure high in the sky?
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
11
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Parachute
You need:
medium plastic bag
string
scissors
small rubber eraser
Cut the bag so that you have a piece of plastic that is about 1' by 1'. Cut the string into four 1'
pieces and tie each piece to each of the corners of the bag. Take all four strings and tie them
together at the other end and then around the eraser. Outside, throw the plastic and eraser up into
the air and see how it falls. What slows down the parachute?
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
12
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Heated Balloon
You need:
string
balloon
measuring tape
desk lamp without a shade
Blow up the balloon and tie it closed. Take a
lamp without a shade and set it on a table. Tie
the string to the balloon so that you can hang it
about 6" over the lamp. Use the measuring
tape to measure the circumference of the balloon. Turn on the lamp and leave it for a few
minutes. Turn off the lamp, move it out of your
way and quickly measure the balloon again.
What happened? How does the balloon
change? What causes it to change? What does
this tell us about air and heat?
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
13
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Balloon Table
You need:
balloons
books
a sheet of foam-core board
Blow up four balloons and tie a knot in them so that they are all about the same size. Place them on
the floor together in a small square so that you can put the piece of foam-core board on top of them.
Slowly stack books on the center of the board, one by one. See how many you can put on before
the balloons burst. What is holding up the books? How many books can your table hold?
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
14
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Heat, Wind and Pressure Fun Facts
Heat from the sun travels more than 90 million miles, or 146 million kilometers, through space
before reaching Earth.
Mt. Washington in New Hampshire is more than 6,000 feet tall. A wind of 231 mph, or 374 kilometers per hour, was recorded there - that's the strongest wind ever recorded on Earth.
When you fly in airplanes, your ears pop because of the low pressure in the sky.
Wind can carry sound farther and it can sometimes keep you from hearing sounds that are close.
The lowest recorded pressures on Earth are in hurricanes.
When cold air flows down a mountain or hill, we call it a katabatic wind.
Many insects, like crickets, become more active when the air is warmer.
Wind can carry dust from Africa all the way to the United States.
The highest air pressures on Earth are found where the air is coldest, at the North and South Poles.
Some of the heat from the sun that reaches Earth goes back into space.
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
15
Name ___________________
Weather Smart: Heat, Wind and Pressure
Internet Sites for Heat, Wind and Pressure
National Weather Service Central Region Headquarters resource links
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gid/edu/educate.htm
You will find a large number of weather links and information on heat waves, droughts, and the sun.
Environmental Protection Agency Sunwise Program
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/
Locate sun, ozone, and ultraviolet radiation protection information, exercises, and games from the
EPA.
NASA for kids only
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/
Click on "Air Pressure" for fun experiments with air. Learn more about how air behaves.
American Red Cross summer safety
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/readyheat.html
Find good heat wave safety information to use at school, at camp, or at home.
Pennsylvania State University Meteorology kids page
http://eyewall.met.psu.edu/kidswx/kids.html
This page has weather activities and information and a wealth of files to download.
Sometimes the address for a website changes. When that happens, you can usually find it again by
doing an Internet search for the title of the page.
©2001 Alan Sealls
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.