Download Thematic Unit on the Weather

Homeschool Learning Network
Daily Thematic Unit
Exploring Weather
Look through your window right now. What's the weather like outside?
Learn about weather with ten lessons and activities, plus a bonus lesson
that's out of this world!
Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time. Weather is
different from climate in that weather is limited to conditions that occur over short
periods of time. Climate refers to conditions experienced by a region over a
number of years, usually 30 to 50 years.
Almost all weather occurs in the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere.
The troposphere extends from the surface of the Earth to about 11 miles (17 kilometers) at the Equator and 4 to 5
miles (6 to 8 kilometers) at the poles.
Weather is caused by heat from the sun. When the Earth's axis is tilted toward the sun, the days are long, the sun
rises high in the sky, and the weather becomes warm. When the Earth's axis is tilted away from the sun, the days are
short, the sun is low in the sky, and the weather turns cold. Geographic features, such as mountains and large bodies
of water, also affect the weather.
Weather consists of a number of elements, including:
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Temperature-the degree of heat in the air
Precipitation-crystals or drops that fall from clouds to the ground in forms such as rain and snow
Wind-air that moves across or horizontally
Clouds-particles of water or ice suspended in air
Humidity-the amount of water vapor in the air
Air Pressure-the amount of force of air over an area
Studying Weather
Interest in meteorology, the science of weather and weather forecasting, dates back thousands of years. In the 4th
century B.C., Aristotle wrote what is believed to be the first study on weather forecasting. In 1820, Henrich Wilhelm
Brandes, a German astronomer and physicist, made the first attempt to chart weather in Europe using data gathered
from historical reports over a wide area. The invention of the telegraph later enabled the rapid collection and
transmittal of weather information from weather stations.
Today, meteorologists use a host of devices to study and forecast weather, including weather satellites, rockets,
computers, and radar.
Learn More!
General resources about weather
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The Weather Channel
Great source for everything about weather.
The National Weather Service
This division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Web site provides the official U.S.
weather forecast plus detailed information about weather.
Wild Weather
Provides the latest information about severe weather around the world.
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BrainPOP: Weather
Information and activities about weather from an educational science site for young people.
CNN.com/Weather
Find up-to-the minute weather information.
SkyDiary KIDSTORM
Find information and pictures of various kinds of storms.
USA Today Weather
Provides current weather forecasts plus links to a host of other weather information.
Interactive Weather Information Network
Get current information, graphics and links for weather around the world.
The Weather Resource
Find maps, information, and images about weather across the globe.
Intellicast Weather
Search for up-to-the minute weather images and data.
Weather and Climate
Get a daily weather fact plus numerous links to weather information.
Reading Recommended
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A list of books about weather for children, parents and teachers from Nick Walker, a meteorologist on The
Weather Channel.
The Tornado Project Online
Everything you want to know about tornadoes.
LESSON 1:
Track the Weather
Concepts:
You will learn about weather changes over a period of time.
Lesson:
Use your local newspaper, television weather reports, or online sources to track the weather in your area each day for
one week. Record the results on the chart [below].
Extension for grades 3 and up: Track the weather conditions in two cities in different states or countries for one week.
Record the results on on the chart [below]
Additional Resources
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The Weather Channel
LESSON 2:
Weather Words
Concepts:
You will learn weather-related vocabulary words.
Lesson:
Do you know what a gully washer is? Learn the meaning of this term and other weather-related words. Create your
own weather glossary by researching and writing the definitions of the words on a worksheet [below]. When you have
finished, check your answers [answersheet below].
Check your knowledge of weather terms with an online weather vocabulary quiz.
Additional Resources
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Weather Glossary
(Click on the letter that matches the first letter of word you are researching.)
Dictionary.com
Weather Terms and Definitions
LESSON 3:
Weather Safety
Concepts:
You will learn about safety information for dangerous weather conditions.
Lesson:
What should you do when you see lightning? When there is a tornado warning? Study precautions for various weather
conditions from online sources. Create a booklet of safety tips for your family about the following weather conditions:
hurricanes, floods, lightning, tornadoes, winter storms, heat.
Additional Resources
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Weather Safety
Natural Disaster Safety Tips
Owlie SkyWarn Homepage NOAA
LESSON 4:
Weather Symbols
Concepts:
You will learn about symbols for weather conditions.
Lesson:
Study weather symbols. Create a weather report using weather symbols for the words that describe various weather
conditions. Have a friend or another homeschooler figure out the weather conditions by interpreting the symbols on
your report.
When you have finished your report, check your knowledge of weather symbols with this game!
Additional Resources
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Observed Weather
Guide to Weather Symbols
Weather Map Symbols
Match-Ups: International Weather Symbols
LESSON 5:
Tornado In a Jar and Other Fun Weather Experiments
Concepts:
You will learn about the science of weather.
Lesson:
Show what a tornado looks like in an activity that uses a quart jar with a lid, liquid dishwashing soap and food coloring!
Complete other hands-on fun experiments and learning activities about weather using common household materials.
Discuss and record your results.
Resources
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Tornado In a Jar
The Big Page of Weather Experiments
London Fog-Anywhere You Want It!
Make a Rainbow
Make Your Own Weather Station
Make Your Own Lightning
Make a Thermometer
Web Weather For Kids
Weather Experiments
Make Your Own Barometer
Make a (Virtual) Snowflake
LESSON 6:
Weather Scavenger Hunts
Concepts:
You will learn information about weather.
Lesson:
Complete printable and online Internet scavenger hunts to learn many fascinating facts about weather around the
world!
Additional Resources
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Weather Scavenger Hunt
(Grade 3)
Weather Scavenger Hunt
(Grades 3 and up)
Weather and Climate Scavenger Hunt
(Grade 4)
Clouds and Severe Weather Scavenger Hunt
(Grades 4 and up)
Weather Internet Scavenger Hunt
(Grades 6 and up)
LESSON 7:
Fahrenheit and Celsius
Concepts:
You will learn about temperature conversion formulas.
Lesson:
On a worksheet, use the math formulas [worksheet below] to convert Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature readings.
Check your answers with the answer key [below].
Additional Resources
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Converting Temperatures
Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius
LESSON 8:
Wild Weather WebQuests
Concepts:
You will learn about different types of severe weather conditions.
Lesson:
Complete WebQuests about dangerous storms. Activities involved in the WebQuests include researching information
from online sources and books and developing reports using multimedia materials. The WebQuests may be completed
individually or in small groups.
Additional Resources
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Twisted Tornadoes and Horrid Hurricanes
(Grades 3 and up)
The Natural Disasters WebQuest
(Grades 3 and up)
Storms WebQuest
(Grades 3 and up)
Discovering Thunder and Lightning WebQuest (6th grade)
(Grade 6)
The Severe Weather WebQuest
(Grades 9-12)
LESSON 9:
Weather Stories
Concepts:
You will learn about weather experiences.
Lesson:
Read stories written by people across the United States and in other countries about their experiences with weather
conditions. The stories were collected as part of a weather thinkquest created by sixth-grade students.
After reading some of the stories, write a story, essay or poem about a dramatic, unusual or funny weather experience
faced by you and/or your family.
Additional Resources
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Bay Kids Weather Page
I Survived a Tornado
(Another interesting personal weather story not connected to the project noted above.)
LESSON 10:
Weather Stories
Concepts:
You will learn about weather experiences.
Lesson:
Learn about a career in weather! Visit a meteorologist who works for a local television station, radio station, or
newspaper. Use information you have learned in this unit to prepare questions you might ask the meteorologist. After
the visit, write a thank-you letter to the meteorologist. Include in your letter information that describes what you learned
and what you enjoyed most about the visit. You may want to plan the trip with other homeschoolers.
Additional Resources
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Becoming a Meteorologist
Careers in Meteorology
Bonus Lesson!:
Martian Weather Report
Concepts:
You will learn about weather on another planet.
Lesson:
What is the weather like on the planet Mars? Learn the answer to that question and more information about Mars!
Complete several printable online activities that study the weather and climate conditions on Mars.
Additional Resources
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The Martian Sun-Times
Article by Louis Lewis, HLN Curriculum Development
© 2001 The Homeschool Learning Network, all rights reserved. The Homeschool Learning Network permits teachers and parents to
reproduce this page for non-profit and educational purposes only. http://www.homeschoollearning.com
Homeschool Learning Network
Local Weather
Name ___________________________
Date ___________________________
Directions: Track your local weather for one week. Use weather information from your local
newspaper, television weather reports, or from http://www.weather.com to complete the chart
below.
City or Town: __________________________________________
Week of: ___________________________
Date
Temperature
Precipitation
General
Weather
Report
Write a summary of the weather in your city or town for the week covered on your chart.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
© 2001 The Homeschool Learning Network, all rights reserved. The Homeschool Learning Network permits teachers
and parents to reproduce this page for non-profit and educational purposes only.
http://www.homeschoollearning.com
Homeschool Learning Network
National and International Weather
Name ___________________________
Date ___________________________
Directions: Track the weather in two different cities in different states or countries. Use weather
information from your local newspaper, television weather reports, or from http://www.weather.com
to complete the charts below.
Week of: ___________________________
City or Town: _________________________
State or Country: _____________________
Date
Temperature
Precipitation
General
Weather
Report
City or Town: _________________________
State or Country: _____________________
Date
Temperature
Precipitation
General
Weather
Report
On a sheet of paper, list the similarities and differences between the weather conditions for the two
cities described on your completed charts.
© 2001 The Homeschool Learning Network, all rights reserved. The Homeschool Learning Network permits teachers
and parents to reproduce this page for non-profit and educational purposes only.
http://www.homeschoollearning.com
Homeschool Learning Network
Weather Glossary
Name ___________________________
Date ___________________________
Directions: Look up the meanings of the words below. Write the definitions on the lines.
Flood Plain
________________________________________________________
Anemometer
________________________________________________________
Shear
________________________________________________________
Cirriform
________________________________________________________
Ball Lightning
________________________________________________________
Downdraft
________________________________________________________
Whirlwind
________________________________________________________
Virga
________________________________________________________
Katabatic Wind
________________________________________________________
Gully Washer
________________________________________________________
Occluded Front
________________________________________________________
Psychrometer
________________________________________________________
Microburst
________________________________________________________
Thermograph
________________________________________________________
Isotherm
________________________________________________________
© 2001 The Homeschool Learning Network, all rights reserved. The Homeschool Learning Network permits teachers
and parents to reproduce this page for non-profit and educational purposes only.
http://www.homeschoollearning.com
Homeschool Learning Network
Weather Glossary Answer Key
Name ___________________________
Date ___________________________
Flood Plain
Flat area of land covered by flood waters.
Anemometer
An instrument that measures wind speed or force.
Shear
Rate of change over a short period of time.
Cirriform
Clouds made of mostly ice crystals.
Ball Lightning
A rare form of lightning made up of a bright, often reddish ball that moves
quickly among solid objects or floats in air.
Downdraft
Sudden drop of cold or cool air to the ground, usually occurring with
precipitation, such as rain or thunderstorm.
Whirlwind
A small column of wind that rotates rapidly.
Virga
Streaks or drops of water or ice falling from clouds that evaporate before they
reach the ground.
Katabatic Wind
Wind created by air flowing downhill.
Gully Washer
A sudden rain shower that can cause a flash flood.
Occluded Front
A front that forms when a cold air mass takes over a warm air mass.
Microburst
A severe wind that blasts down from a thunderstorm.
Psychrometer
An instrument that measures water vapor content in the atmosphere.
Thermograph
A thermometer that constantly records temperatures.
Isotherm
Line of equal or unchanging air temperature.
© 2001 The Homeschool Learning Network, all rights reserved. The Homeschool Learning Network permits teachers
and parents to reproduce this page for non-profit and educational purposes only.
http://www.homeschoollearning.com
Homeschool Learning Network
Fahrenheit and Celsius
Name ___________________________
Date ___________________________
Directions: Use the formulas on this page to calculate the conversions for Fahrenheit and Celsius
temperatures. Round off to the nearest whole number when needed.
Note: Tc = temperature in degrees Celsius; Tf = temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
Convert the temperatures below from Celsius to Fahrenheit using this formula:
(9/5) X Tc + 32
a. 30
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b. 21
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c. 2
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d. 40
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e. 15
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Convert the temperatures below from Fahrenheit to Celsius using this formula:
5/9 X (Tf - 32)
f. 101
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g. 75
_______________
h. 80
_______________
i. 42
_______________
j. 65
_______________
© 2001 The Homeschool Learning Network, all rights reserved. The Homeschool Learning Network permits teachers
and parents to reproduce this page for non-profit and educational purposes only.
http://www.homeschoollearning.com
Homeschool Learning Network
Fahrenheit and Celsius Answers
Name ___________________________
Date ___________________________
Celsius to Fahrenheit
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
86
70
36
104
59
Fahrenheit to Celsius
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
38
24
27
6
18
© 2001 The Homeschool Learning Network, all rights reserved. The Homeschool Learning Network permits teachers
and parents to reproduce this page for non-profit and educational purposes only.
http://www.homeschoollearning.com