Download Ohio`s Learning Standards Weather Objectives Description Weather

Weather
60 Minute Earth Science Lesson Science-to-Go! Program Grades: K-2 TEACHER GUIDE Weather: A “Predictable” Lesson Description Objectives Your classroom will be a flurry of activity while students study the science behind seasonal weather changes, experiment with miniature weather systems, and investigate simple weather instruments. Caution: The forecast includes possible small-­‐scale flooding in the classroom! •
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Learn the sequence of the seasons and
what causes seasonal weather changes
Demonstrate the concept of air pressure
and its role in weather systems
Explain the water cycle and how clouds
are formed
Observe the relationship between high
and low pressure systems and the
weather associated with them
Ohio’s Learning Standards Kindergarten: Earth and Space Science – Daily and Seasonal Changes • Weather changes are long-­‐term and short-­‐term.
Grade 1: Earth and Space Science – Sun, Energy and Weather • The sun is the principal source of energy.
• The physical properties of water can change.
Grade 2: Earth and Space Science – The Atmosphere • The atmosphere is made up of air.
• Water is present in the air.
• Long-­‐ and short-­‐term weather changes occur due to changes in energy.
How to Set Up Your Room • Please have student desks clear before the program begins.
Please provide an empty desk or small table for the museum educator to set up display
items.
• If booking multiple programs, transitions will be easier if museum staff sets up in only
one location.
• Additional set-­‐up requirements:
o Your museum educator will need access to water.
o Your museum educator will need an electrical outlet.
• Introduce the vocabulary and additional resources provided below.
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Vocabulary air pressure -­‐ the force exerted on you by the weight of tiny particles of air (air molecules). anemometer -­‐ an instrument for measuring wind force and velocity. barometer -­‐ an instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting. cold front -­‐ cold front is a warm-­‐cold air boundary with the colder air replacing the warmer. As a cold front moves into an area, the heavier cool air pushes under the lighter warm air that it is replacing; may result in precipitation. compass -­‐ a device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field. condensation -­‐ the process by which a gas or vapor changes to a liquid. convection current – circular patterns that cause the movement of the air in the atmosphere. Warm air rises, cools, forms clouds, then the cool air sinks and warms as it approaches the earth’s surfaces, and the pattern continues. evaporation -­‐ when the sun heats up water in rivers or lakes or the ocean and turns it into invisible water vapor. The water vapor leaves the river, lake or ocean and rises into the air. high air pressure – a high pressure system, or “high” is an area where the atmospheric pressure is greater than that of the surrounding area; usually associated with clear skies and calm weather. low air pressure -­‐-­‐ a low pressure system, or “low,” is an area where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of the area surrounding it; usually associated with high winds, warm air, and atmospheric lifting. Because of this, lows normally produce clouds, precipitation, and other bad weather such as tropical storms and cyclones. precipitation -­‐ any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the earth's surface. rain gauge – a device for measuring amounts of rainfall over time. season – one of the four natural divisions of the year, spring, summer, fall, and winter, in the North and South Temperate zones. Each season, beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, is characterized by specific meteorological or climatic conditions. stationary front -­‐ when two air masses come together, but neither displaces the other, the boundary between them is referred to as a stationary front. temperature -­‐ the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment. thermometer -­‐ an instrument for measuring temperature, especially one having a graduated glass tube with a bulb containing a liquid, typically mercury or colored alcohol, that expands and rises in the tube as the temperature increases. warm front -­‐ A warm front is the boundary between warm and cool (or cold) air when the warm air is replacing the cold air. Warm air at the surface pushes above the cool air mass, making clouds and storms. Warm fronts often bring stormy weather. wind vane – an instrument that shows the direction the wind is blowing. Extension Activities Homemade Barometer (From Showy Science by Hy Kim) Materials Needed: • Water • A wide-­‐mouthed jar • A bottle with a long, slender neck that will fit in the mouth of the jar. Glass ketchup bottles are often the right shape; the narrow neck lets you see the water level changing with atmospheric pressure. Procedure: • Place the bottle neck-­‐down into the jar. • Put enough water into the jar to cover the mouth and neck of the bottle about one inch high. • Use a permanent marker to make a line showing the starting water level. • Observe the water level over the next few days. Check the local weather station (or use one of the national online sources below) and note if the atmospheric pressure in your area is “High” or “Low”. If your water level rises or falls, use your permanent marker to note on the bottle how the water is reacting to the atmospheric pressure. You’ve built a barometer! Online Resources for Teachers and Students Click the link below to find additional online resources for teachers and students. These websites are recommended by our Museum Educators and provide additional content information and some fun, interactive activities to share with your class.
CMNH Educators regularly review these links for quality. Web addresses often change so please notify us if any links have issues.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History https://cmnh.org/edlinks Educator Resource Center (ERC) Materials for Loan The Educator Resource Center offers educator workshops, thematic teaching kits, animal dioramas, and more for loan to area teachers. Contact the ERC at 216-­‐231-­‐2075 for information on individual or school membership. Visit the Museum’s ERC website for more information on workshops https://www.cmnh.org/ERC Hours o Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 PM o Wednesday, 1 to 6 PM o Saturday, 9 AM to 2 PM If you’re interested in additional resources be sure to check out the following ERC materials or browse ERC materials online at http://cmnh.hosting.l4u.com Related ERC kits for this topic include: All About Weather: This kit forecasts a successful lesson about weather. Hands-­‐on instruments include an anemometer, barometer, hygrometer and thermometers. A fold-­‐out map to teach weather forecasting is also available.
The Water Cycle: Most of the Earth is covered by water, so why not learn more about it? This kit includes a model of the water cycle, thermometers, measuring spoons, graduated cylinders, and more.