Download ES17-Meteorology and Weather Mapping

Classroom Teacher Preparation
Earth Science 17: Meteorology and Weather Mapping
Please use the following to prepare for the next SfS lesson.
Description:
In this lesson, students will learn about weather patterns, weather symbols, and how to interpret a weather map. They will
then use the skills they have learned to highlight the weather on a national weather map and identify pressure systems
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and weather fronts. This lesson is geared towards older (6 -8 grade) students.
Lesson Objectives – SWBAT (“Students Will Be Able To…”):
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6 -8
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Understand basic weather information and identify the components making up weather
Describe different types of weather maps
Translate weather conditions into meteorological terms
Create a national weather map showing regional conditions and identify pressure systems and fronts
Preparation:
Students should have seen the module ES16 Weather, or have a strong background in weather basics, including air
pressure and weather fronts. The introduction for this lesson should serve as a brief review of air masses, pressure
systems, and weather fronts so that the weather mapping activity can be the main focus of this lesson.
You may also ask students to watch a local weather forecast on the nightly or morning news before arriving for this
module so that they can become familiar with weather symbols and terms, and begin thinking about the data
meteorologists use to forecast the weather. You may also wish to visit the Weather Channel (http://www.weather.com)
with your students to browse the national forecast, current weather maps, and your local forecast. Examine maps for
temperatures, winds, dew point pressure, and Doppler radar.
Vocabulary:
Review these terms before lesson:
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Weather - the state of the atmosphere at a given time in a particular place; the three main factors of weather are
humidity, air pressure, and temperature.
Precipitation - moisture that falls from clouds in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail
Humidity - a measure of the amount of moisture in the air in the form of invisible water vapor
Temperature - the measure of the heat energy of the gases in the air
These terms will be defined in lesson:
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Meteorologist - a scientist who studies the weather
Front - a narrow zone of transition between air masses that differ in temperature or humidity
Wind - the movement of air, which tends to move from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area
Air pressure - the weight per unit of area of a column of air that reaches to the top of the atmosphere
Dew point - the dew point temperature is the temperature to which the air would have to cool to become
saturated, reaching a relative humidity of 100%
High pressure system - a moving mass of cool, dry air that generally brings fair weather and light winds
Low pressure system - a moving mass of warm, moist air that generally brings stormy weather with strong winds
Science from Scientists
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Copyright © 2016 Science from Scientists
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Room Set Up for Activities:
Students will be working with a partner. If a projector and whiteboard are not available, wall space will be necessary to
hang a large map. Please have students bring colored pencils to class with them.
Safety:
There are no safety concerns for this lesson.
Related Modules:
This lesson may be taught as part of a sequence or group of related modules on Weather. Other modules in this
sequence include:
Earth Science 12: Water Cycle - This module presents a game that explains how water cycles through different forms and
storage types on Earth and in Earth’s atmosphere. Students act as water molecules and move around the room to the
different places water is found on Earth.
Earth Science 16: Weather - This lesson provides an introduction to weather and the key components that influence it
(including temperature, humidity, pressure, ocean currents, and air currents). The four main types of precipitation are also
included in this lesson.
Earth Science 1: Wondrous Water - In this station-based lesson, students discover water’s properties as they relate to its
importance in environmental processes, including: heat capacity, solvation, and density.
For other module sequences and groups, look here: www.sciencefromscientists.org/sequences
Standards Covered:
Please click the following link to our website to review the standards covered by this lesson, listed by state:
http://www.sciencefromscientists.org/standards/
Lessons are matched to both national NGSS and local state standards.
Classroom Post and Activities:
A link to the Follow Up Student activity can be found in the Classroom Post on our website at
sciencefromscientists.org/cohorts. Use the name of your school/cohort and password to log in. Students will make and
test different types of homemade barometers, which can measure atmospheric pressure and predict weather.
Additional Resources:
WGBH Videos and Activities: The PBS educational site is a great, free resource for educators but you must create an
account to use the materials. The first time you log in to the PBS Learning Media website you will be asked to create an
account and provide an email and password. Once you have logged in, select “keep me logged in” to avoid having to
repeat the process.
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Kid Meteorologist: http://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.watcyc.kidmeteor/kid-meteorologist/
Additional Links:
 Meteorology - A General Overview (video, 7:10):
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=19627&CategoryID=162
 Scholastic Study Jams – Air Masses and Fronts:
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/weather-and-climate/air-masses-and-fronts.htm
 Edheads Weather game: http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/frame_loader.htm
 Weather Forecasting: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/?page_id=80
 Meteorologist Ryan Davidson Explains Weather Maps (3:49): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZz-EeveJ8
Science from Scientists
617-314-7773 • [email protected] • www.sciencefromscientists.org
Copyright © 2016 Science from Scientists
Page 2