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Planets & Storms: Weather on Jupiter: Teacher’s Guide
Grade Level: 6-8
Curriculum Focus: Earth Science
Lesson Duration: Two class periods
Program Description
It is the largest planet in our solar system—a vibrant gaseous ball, one thousand times the size of
Earth, raging with storms that last for centuries. Watch as scientists once again turn to Earth to
simulate alien weather to help them calculate the ferocity of Jupiter’s monstrous thunderstorms.
Onscreen Questions
Before watching the video
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What do you know about weather conditions on Jupiter? How do storms on Jupiter, such as the
Great Red Spot, compare with storms on Earth?
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As you watch the program, consider the essential elements needed to create weather on any
planet.
After watching the video
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Jupiter’s Great Red Spot has existed for centuries. How do scientists on Earth simulate Jupiter’s
super storms? What have they discovered about the storms’ longevity?
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Why are storms on Earth more limited in size, power, and duration?
Lesson Plan
Student Objectives
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Observe video, and describe and discuss weather conditions on planets in our solar system.
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Develop explanations and models for weather conditions on the planets.
Materials
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Internet access
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Print resources
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Poster board
Planets & Storms: Weather on Jupiter: Teacher’s Guide
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Art supplies: markers, colored pencils, stickers, and scissors
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Optional: string, hole puncher, and hangers for a mobile
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Procedures
1. Ask students what they know about weather. To spark conversation, ask the following
questions:
What is weather?
What are some examples of weather conditions or patterns?
Where does weather take place?
How does weather occur on Earth?
What are at least two elements of weather?
2. After the preliminary discussion, tell students that they may be surprised to learn that weather
doesn’t just occur on Earth. They’ll find different types of weather on every planet in our solar
system. Explain that in this lesson they will research planetary weather. To help them
understand the basics of weather, share this background with the class:
Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given time in a particular place. It is a mix of
heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness.
•
The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. It is made of nitrogen (about
78 percent), oxygen (about 21 percent), and miscellaneous gases (about 1 percent).
Technically speaking, weather takes place in the troposphere, or the lower portion of
the atmosphere.
•
Air temperature, air pressure, and humidity are the three key factors that determine
our weather.
Air temperature is the measure of the amount of heat in the atmosphere.
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Radiation from the sun is responsible for the constant heating and cooling of Earth.
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The variation of temperature in the troposphere creates movement in the air,
resulting in wind.
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Air temperature also fluctuates from day to night and from season to season because
the amount of radiation reaching Earth varies.
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Altitude, or elevation, affects the amount of heat energy reaching Earth; the
temperature drops about three degrees Fahrenheit for every thousand feet of
elevation.
Air pressure refers to the pressure resulting from the weight of the atmosphere.
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Air pressure decreases with increasing altitude because the higher you go, the less
air is above you.
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Temperature variations also change air pressure. Cold air is dense, so it exerts
relatively high pressure. Warm air exerts relatively low pressure.
Published by Discovery Education. © 2005. All rights reserved.
Planets & Storms: Weather on Jupiter: Teacher’s Guide
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Usually high pressure brings fair weather, while low pressure brings cloudy, stormy
weather.
Humidity is the amount of water vapor or moisture in the air.
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Air that contains the maximum amount of water vapor is referred to as saturated.
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When meteorologists, or scientists who study the weather, refer to relative humidity,
they are comparing the amount of water vapor in the air with the amount of water
present at saturation. In other words, relative humidity is the amount of water vapor
present in the air compared to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature.
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When the air is at saturation, clouds form and rain is likely.
3. After students have grasped the key concepts, tell them they will conduct research about
weather on the other planets in our solar system. Divide students into these four groups:
Mercury and Venus
Earth and Mars
Jupiter and Saturn
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
4. Have students use the Web sites below to complete their research:
All Planets
http://www.wilders.force9.co.uk/BeyondEarth/planets.htm
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/solar_system_weather_010306-1.html
Mercury and Venus
http://sci.esa.int/content/doc/a0/2208_.htm
http://www.rog.nmm.ac.uk/leaflets/solar_system/section3.5.html
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/solar_system_weather_010306-2.html
Earth and Mars
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planetstorm/report/report.html
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/solar_system_weather_010306-3.html
http://explorezone.com/weather/pressure.htm
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html
Jupiter and Saturn
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/jupiter_weather_000209.html
http://www.wilders.force9.co.uk/BeyondEarth/planets.htm
http://www.hawastsoc.org/solar/eng/jupiter.htm
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
http://www.wilders.force9.co.uk/BeyondEarth/planets.htm
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/solar_system_weather_010306-5.html
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Planets & Storms: Weather on Jupiter: Teacher’s Guide
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5. Next, challenge each group to develop a model showing the weather on the planets. Students
can draw the planets on a single piece of poster board or on separate pieces. (Or they can create
a mobile using string and coat hangers.) Students should write a brief caption for each planet
that highlights the following features:
Atmosphere, temperature, air pressure, and humidity (If information for any of these
elements is not available, students should record as much as possible.)
Any unusual weather that occurs on that planet
Any explanations scientists have for unusual weather
6. Have each group present its display. Encourage students to ask questions that require the
presenting group to explain or defend their model.
7. Display the models as a gallery of planetary weather. Review the key weather features of each
planet.
8. Conclude the lesson by asking students why they think weather is so much more extreme on
other planets than it is on Earth. Help students understand that the lack of water, varying
geological features such as mountains, proximity to the sun, and the lack of a protective
atmosphere result in extreme weather systems.
Assessment
Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students’ work during this lesson.
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3 points: Students showed strong research skills; developed a creative and innovative way
to present information; and participated actively in class discussions.
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2 points: Students showed on-grade research skills; developed competent ways to present
information; and participated somewhat in class discussions.
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1 point: Students showed weak research skills; did not complete the display; did not
participate in class discussions.
Vocabulary
air pressure
Definition: The weight per unit of area of a column of air that reaches to the top of the
atmosphere
Context: Fluctuations in air temperature result in changes in air pressure, which in turn bring
different kinds of weather.
air temperature
Definition: The measure of the heat energy of the gases in the air
Context: We use a thermometer to measure air temperature.
Published by Discovery Education. © 2005. All rights reserved.
Planets & Storms: Weather on Jupiter: Teacher’s Guide
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atmosphere
Definition: The layer of air that surrounds Earth; made of nitrogen (about 78 percent), oxygen
(about 21 percent), and miscellaneous gases (about 1 percent)
Context: Earth’s weather takes place in the lower atmosphere, known as the troposphere.
humidity
Definition: A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air
Context: Some areas in the southern United States have summers with high humidity.
meteorologist
Definition: A scientist who studies the weather
Context: A meteorologist tries to forecast the weather.
Academic Standards
National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences provides guidelines for teaching science in grades K–12 to
promote scientific literacy. To view the standards, visit this Web site:
http://books.nap.edu/html/nses/html/overview.html#content.
This lesson plan addresses the following science standards:
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Earth and Space Science: Earth in the solar system
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Science as Inquiry: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)
McREL's Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education
addresses 14 content areas. To view the standards and benchmarks, visit link:
http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/browse.asp
This lesson plan addresses the following national standards:
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Science—Earth and Space Sciences: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle,
Understands the composition and structure of the universe and the Earth’s place in it
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Language Arts—Reading: Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a
variety of informational texts
Published by Discovery Education. © 2005. All rights reserved.
Planets & Storms: Weather on Jupiter: Teacher’s Guide
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Support Materials
Develop custom worksheets, educational puzzles, online quizzes, and more with the free teaching tools
offered on the Discoveryschool.com Web site. Create and print support materials, or save them to a
Custom Classroom account for future use. To learn more, visit
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http://school.discovery.com/teachingtools/teachingtools.html
Published by Discovery Education. © 2005. All rights reserved.