Download Weather on the Move Guide

Weather
on the Move
Teacher's Guide
Editors:
Brian A. Jerome Ph.D.
Stephanie Zak Jerome
Assistant Editors:
Louise Marrier
Hannah Fjeld
Graphics:
Fred Thodal
Dean Ladago
Lyndsey Canfield
Heather Fjeld
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Use and Copyright:
The purchase of this video program entitles the user the right to reproduce or
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for the purpose of teaching in conjunction with this video, Weather on the Move. The
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Copyright © 2007
ISBN 978-1-59234-176-4
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Weather on the Move
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Table of Contents
Visual Learning Company 1-800-453-8481
A Message from our Company
2
Viewing Clearances
2
Use and Copyright
2
National Standards Correlations
4
Student Learning Objectives
5
Assessment
6
Introducing the Program
7
Program Viewing Suggestions
7
Video Script
8
Answer Key to Student Assessments
12
Answer Key to Student Activities
13
Pre-Test
14
Post-Test
16
Video Review
18
Vocabulary
19
Writing Activity
20
Model of a Front
21
Name That Hurricane
23
Thunderstorm Safety Tips
25
Weather on the Move
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National Standards Correlations
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
(Project 2061 - AAAS)
Grades 3-5
The Physical Setting - The Earth (4B)
By the end of the fifth grade, students should know that:
• Air is a substance that surrounds us, takes up space, and whose movement we
feel as wind.
• When liquid water disappears, it turns into a gas (vapor) in the air
and can reappear as a liquid when cooled, or as a solid if cooled below the
freezing point of water. Clouds and fog are made up of tiny droplets of water.
National Science Education Standards
(Content Standards: K-4, National Academy of Sciences)
Earth and Space Science - Content Standard D
As a result of their activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an
understanding of:
Changes in Earth and Sky
• Weather changes from day to day and over the seasons. Weather can be
described by measurable quantities, such as temperature, wind direction and
speed, and precipitation.
Science and Technology - Content Standard E
As a result of their activities in grades K-4, all students should develop:
Understanding about Science and Technology
• People have always had questions about their world. Science is one way of
answering questions and exploring the natural world.
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Student Learning Objectives
Upon viewing the video and completing the enclosed student activities,
students will be able to do the following:
• Describe an air mass as a large region of the atmosphere
throughout which the air has the same general properties.
• Explain that the characteristics of an air mass are associated with
the location in which it was formed.
• Differentiate between warm fronts and cold fronts, and contrast the
types of weather they often create.
• Explain the general characteristics of a hurricane, and describe how
a tropical storm becomes a hurricane.
• Summarize some of the effects a hurricane can have when it hits
land, including wind damage, storm surges, and high waves.
• Using a diagram, explain how a thunderstorm forms.
• Explain the causes of both lightning and thunder.
• Describe a few of the key safety procedures to follow in a
thunderstorm.
• Identify a tornado as a spinning, funnel-shaped cloud with very low
pressure at the bottom.
• Contrast two different low pressure systems – hurricanes and
tornadoes. Describe what makes these storms similar and different
from each other.
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Assessment
Preliminary Test (p. 14-15):
The Preliminary Test is an assessment tool designed to gain an
understanding of students’ preexisting knowledge. It can also be used as a
benchmark upon which to assess student progress based on the objectives
stated on the previous pages.
Post-Test (p. 16-17):
The Post-Test can be utilized as an assessment tool following student
completion of the program and student activities. The results of the
Post-Test can be compared against the results of the Preliminary Test to
assess student progress.
Video Review (p. 18):
The Video Review can be used as an assessment tool or as a student
activity. There are two sections. The first part contains questions displayed
during the program. The second part consists of a five-question video quiz
to be answered at the end of the video.
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Weather on the Move
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Introducing the Program
Before showing the video program, ask students to describe some of the
different types of weather they experience during the course of a year. For
example, they might describe winter weather as cold and wet. Summer
weather might be described as hot and dry. Write their descriptions of
weather along with the corresponding time of year on the board. Explain to
students that much of the weather they experience is influenced by large air
masses which either originate where they live, or move from another location.
Tell students to pay close attention to the program to learn more about air
masses.
Next, ask the class the types of extreme weather events they have experienced
or heard about. Have several volunteers describe their experiences with
different types of storms, such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, or hurricanes.
Make a list on the blackboard of the weather events the class describes. Tell
students to pay close attention to the video to learn more about severe weather.
Program Viewing Suggestions
The student master “Video Review” (p.18) is provided for distribution to
students. You may choose to have your students complete this Master while
viewing the program or do so upon its conclusion.
The program is approximately 14-minutes in length and includes a
five-question video assessment. Answers are not provided to the video
assessment in the video, but are included in this guide on page 12.
You may choose to grade student quizzes as an assessment tool or to
review the answers in class.
The video is content-rich with numerous vocabulary words. For this reason
you may want to periodically stop the video to review and discuss new
terminology and concepts.
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Weather on the Move
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Video Script
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Have you ever been out in a strong wind,
...or experienced a blizzard?
Or have you been startled by the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder?
All these are examples of the powerful forces of weather.
From the torrential downpour of rain. . .
. . . and the hard hitting pellets of a hail storm. . .
. . .to the awesome wind and rain of a hurricane, weather is continually unleashing
its energy throughout the world.
What causes different types of weather?
How are storms created?
And what are some of the various kinds of weather systems?
During the next few minutes we are going to explore these questions. . .
. . . and others as we investigate weather on the move.
Graphic Transition – Air Masses
Maybe you have been outside on a hot, humid day. . .
. . . when all you wanted to do was go swimming.
And then the next day, amazingly, the weather was cool and clear with low
humidity.
How could the weather be so different on these two days?
The answer to this question has to do with something called air masses.
An air mass is a large region of the atmosphere in which the air throughout it has
the same general properties.
An air mass gets its characteristics from the area over which it is formed.
For example, an air mass formed over the warm, dry desert of the Southwest has
the characteristics of being dry and warm.
You Decide! What are the general characteristics of an air mass formed over the
Gulf of Mexico?
An air mass formed over the Gulf of Mexico tends to be warm and moist.
While air masses formed over the North Atlantic tend to be cool and moist. . .
. . . as are those formed off the coast of Canada and Alaska.
Cold, dry air masses in the northern hemisphere, originate in higher latitudes.
These types of air masses are responsible for much of the bitter cold weather
southern Canada and the northern United States experience in winter months.
So as you can see, there are different types of air masses possessing
characteristics of the areas over which they form.
As air masses move, they bring the characteristics of the air from which they form
with them.
Air masses play a big role in creating the weather we experience.
Graphic Transition - Fronts
Perhaps you have been outside on a pleasant summer day when. . .
Weather on the Move
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Video Script
33. . . . all of a sudden the sky darkens, the air cools, and the wind picks up. And then it
starts to pour. What causes this sudden change?
34. This sort of weather may be caused by a passing front.
35. What are fronts?
36. When two air masses meet they usually do not mix too well.
37. Instead, a boundary between the two air masses forms. This boundary is called a front.
38. There are several different types of fronts. Let’s discuss two of them – cold fronts and
warm fronts.
39. A warm front is formed when a moving warm air mass meets a cold air mass.
40. You Predict! What will happen when warm, less dense air meets a cooler air mass?
41. In a warm front, a moving warm air mass meets and overrides a cooler air mass.
42. The less dense warm air moves over the denser, cooler air.
43. Warm fronts generally bring steady, light precipitation. . .
44. . . . followed by warm weather.
45. In a cold front, a cooler, denser air mass moves into and under a warmer, less dense air
mass.
46. Cold fronts can move quickly. They may cause heavy rain, snow, and even violent
thunderstorms.
47. Graphic Transition - Hurricanes
48. The damage to these houses is the result of a powerful hurricane named Charley. In
August of 2004, hurricane Charley. . .
49. . . . tore roofs off buildings, . . .
50. . . . leveled trees, . . .
51. . . . and caused tremendous property damage, forcing people to lose their homes,
businesses, and possessions.
52. A year later in August of 2005, one of the most devastating hurricanes to ravage North
America struck the city of New Orleans and the neighboring Mississippi coast.
53. A massive hurricane called Katrina turned out to be the costliest U.S. hurricane on
record and the deadliest U.S. hurricane since 1928.
54. In all, Hurricane Katrina took the lives of at least 1,300 people, . . .
55. . . . and caused at least $80 billion in damage.
56. Hurricanes are large, swirling storms centered around very low pressure.
57. They form over warm tropical waters near the equator typically from June through
November.
58. This is a satellite image of a hurricane.
59. You Observe! Is the hurricane rotating in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction?
60. This hurricane, like other hurricanes in the northern hemisphere, is rotating in a
counterclockwise direction.
61. A hurricane gets its energy from moisture evaporated off warm ocean waters.
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Video Script
62. As this air rises, clouds form, and more and more air is drawn into the system.
63. As the storm system builds, winds begin to spin in toward the areas of low
pressure.
64. At first, a tropical depression forms with winds from 37 to 63 kilometers per hour, or
23 to 39 miles per hour.
65. Then a tropical storm forms with winds up to 119 kilometers per hour, or about 70
miles per hour.
66. When the winds get stronger, the tropical storm grows into a hurricane.
67. Winds may reach speeds of 300 kilometers, or 180 miles per hour.
68. Winds this strong can blow out windows, and drive debris through buildings and
trees.
69. When a hurricane comes ashore it often brings high waves and severe flooding.
70. In many cases a wall of water called a storm surge accompanies a hurricane near
the coast.
71. In the case of hurricane Katrina the storm surge was up to 9 meters, or 30 feet high
in some places, smashing coastal properties with a wall of water.
72. For these reasons people living in the path of a strong hurricane are instructed to
evacuate to a safe place before a hurricane reaches landfall.
73. Graphic Transition – Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
74. Perhaps you have been outside on a warm summer afternoon. . .
75. . . . and noticed the sky darken with gray clouds.
76. In the distance maybe you heard the low rumble of thunder.
77. As the dark clouds approached, you suddenly saw a flash of lightning, . . .
78. . . . and a couple of seconds later you heard the loud clap of thunder and suddenly
rain poured down. You experienced a thunderstorm.
79. What factors are responsible for the creation of thunderstorms?
80. Thunderstorms are large violent clouds which produce heavy rain, strong winds,
lightning, and thunder.
81. Thunderstorms begin to form when warm, moist air rises rapidly in an unstable
atmosphere.
82. When this happens, large moisture-rich cumulus clouds form.
83. As warm, moist air continues to rise, these clouds grow and darken to form
cumulonimbus clouds.
84. Within these clouds, in processes not completely understood, swirling winds create
a build-up of static electricity which is suddenly released as a bolt of lightning.
Lightning bolts can leave the cloud and hit objects on the ground.
85. A single lightning bolt may contain millions of volts of electricity.
86. The loud bang you hear as thunder is the result of air being superheated to a
temperature as high as 30,000 degrees Celsius. This causes the air to expand
rapidly, creating an explosive roar.
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Weather on the Move
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Video Script
87.
88.
89.
90.
Hundreds of people are hit by lightning each year, with many losing their lives.
Do not go outside in a thunderstorm.
If you are outside, seek safe shelter immediately.
Conditions which lead to the development of thunderstorms may also create very
powerful localized storms called tornadoes.
91. A tornado is a spinning funnel-shaped cloud containing very low pressure at its center.
92. When tornadoes touch the ground they act like a giant vacuum cleaner, sucking up
large objects.
93. The length of a tornado’s path of destruction varies, but it averages about 8
kilometers in length, and about 10 to 60 meters wide, lasting only a few minutes.
94. The winds of a tornado range from 120 kilometers per hour to as high as 500
kilometers per hour!
95. About 75% of the world’s reported tornadoes occur in the United States with the
majority occurring in the shaded area seen here, referred to as Tornado Alley.
96. The safest place to be during a tornado is in the basement of a strong building.
97. Graphic Transition – Summing Up
98. During the past few minutes we have explored some of the fascinating features of
weather on the move.
99. We discussed the nature of different kinds of air masses, and some ways they
influence our weather.
100. And we investigated how warm fronts and cold fronts form when air masses meet.
101. The awesome power of hurricanes, their formation, and movement was highlighted.
102. High intensity weather phenomena including thunderstorms and tornadoes were also
investigated.
103. So the next time you notice the weather changing. . .
104. . . . see a flash of lightning, . . .
105. . . . or read about a tornado, think about some of the things we have discussed during
the past few minutes.
106. You just might think about weather on the move a little differently.
107. Graphic Transition – Video Assessment
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence. Good luck, and let’s get started.
1. An air __________ is a large region of air having the same general properties.
2. A __________ is the boundary between two air masses.
3. The passing of a __________ front often produces thunderstorms in the summer.
4. This is a satellite image of a __________.
5. A tornado consists of a funnel cloud containing very __________ pressure.
Answers can be found on page 12
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Answer Key to Student Assessments
Pre-Test (p. 14-15)
1. b - warm and moist
2. d - a front
3. a - precipitation
4. c - low pressure
5. d - counterclockwise
6. a - a storm surge
7. b - lightning
8. b - indoors
9. c - a few minutes
10. a - Tornado Alley
11. false
12. true
13. false
14. true
15. true
16. An air mass is a large region of the
atmosphere throughout which the air
has the same general properties.
17. A front is the boundary between two
air masses.
18. Hurricanes form over warm ocean
waters when winds begin to spin around
an area of low pressure.
19. When a thunderstorm approaches,
winds increase, the sky darkens, and
rain may begin to fall.
20. A tornado is a funnel-shaped cloud
spinning around an area of extreme low
pressure.
Post-Test (p. 16-17)
1. a - Tornado Alley
2. d - counterclockwise
3. c - a few minutes
4. b - lightning
5. d - a front
6. b - indoors
7. c - low pressure
8. b - warm and moist
9. a - a storm surge
10. a - precipitation
11. true
12. true
13. false
14. false
15. true
16. Hurricanes form over warm ocean
waters when winds begin to spin around
an area of low pressure
17. A tornado is a funnel-shaped cloud
spinning around an area of extreme low
pressure.
18. A front is the boundary between two
air masses.
19. An air mass is a large region of the
atmosphere throughout which the air
has the same general properties.
20. When a thunderstorm approaches,
winds increase, the sky darkens, and
rain may begin to fall.
Video Review (p. 18)
1. An air mass formed over the Gulf of Mexico
tends to be warm and moist.
2. This is called a warm front and generally warm
fronts bring steady, light precipitation followed by
warm weather.
3. The hurricane is rotating in a counterclockwise
direction as do all hurricanes in the northern
hemisphere.
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Weather on the Move
1. An air mass is a large region
of air having the same general
properties.
2. A front is the boundary
between two air masses.
3. The passing of a cold front
often produces stormy weather.
4. This is a satellite image of a
hurricane.
5. A tornado consists of a funnel
cloud containing very low
pressure.
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Answer Key to Student Activities
Vocabulary (p. 19 )
1. air mass
2. front
3. hurricane
4. tropical storm
5. storm surge
6. thunderstorm
7. lightning
8. thunder
9. tornado
10. cumulonimbus
Writing Activity (p. 20)
An air mass is a large region of air with uniform
characteristics. Air masses possess the same
general temperature and moisture content of the
area where they form. The border between two air
masses is called a front. Hurricanes are large low
pressure storms with high winds formed over warm
ocean waters. At the center of a hurricane is an area
of intense low pressure. Tornadoes, consist of fast
spinning, funnel-shaped clouds, containing very low
pressure. The most common type of extreme storms
are thunderstorms. When static electricity inside
thunder clouds is suddenly released, lightning forms.
The bang of thunder afterward is caused by the rapid
heating of air.
In Your Own Words (p. 20)
1. An air mass is a large region of air with the same
general characteristics throughout.
2. A hurricane is a large low pressure storm that
possesses high winds and rain.
3. Thunder is caused by air particles rapidly
expanding after being superheated by a bolt of
lightning.
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Model of a Front (p. 21-22)
1. The blue cold water represents a cold air mass.
The surrounding warm water represents a warm air
mass.
2. The blue, cold water moved into and under the
warm water.
3. The blue water moved this way because it is
denser than the warm water.
4. This activity is a model of a cold front where a
cooler, denser air mass moves into and under a
warmer, less dense air mass.
5. This type of front can move quickly and may
cause precipitation or even violent thunderstorms.
Naming Hurricanes (p. 23-24)
1. Tropical storms and hurricanes are given names
because names help people differentiate between the
unique characteristics of each storm.
2. Storms that occur in the northern Atlantic Ocean
are named by the United States National Hurricane
Center.
3. Storms are named when they become tropical
storms, that is, when wind speeds reach 64 to 119
kilometers per hour, (about 40 to 70 miles per hour).
4. Some storm names are not reused when a storm
causes a particularly large amount of damage.
5. The sixth storm in 2009 will be named Fred.
6. Answers will vary depending on student names.
Additional lists of hurricane names are available
through the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Thunderstorm Safety Tips (p. 25)
1. When a thunderstorm approaches, the first thing
you should do is find shelter inside a sturdy building.
If a sturdy building is not available, seek shelter in a
car.
2. You should avoid being in or on the water during
a thunderstorm because water readily conducts
electricity. This means you could be shocked if you
are in or around water when lightning strikes.
3. It is a good idea to turn off or unplug electrical
appliances during a thunderstorm because there is
a possibility of a power surge or outage occurring.
Such surges or outages have the potential to
destroy the circuitry in electrical appliances.
Weather on the Move
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Pre-Test
Name
Circle the best answer for each of the following questions.
1. An air mass formed in the Caribbean would have the following characteristics:
a. cold and dry
b. warm and moist
c. cold and moist
d. warm and dry
2. The boundary between two air masses is called:
a. cold
b. warm
c. a storm
d. a front
3. A warm front often brings steady, light:
a. precipitation
b. earthquakes
c. waves
d. condensation
4. What is found at the center of both a hurricane and a tornado?
a. sleet
b. high pressure
c. low pressure
d. cold weather
5. In the northern hemisphere, in what direction do hurricanes rotate?
a. left
b. clockwise
c. right
d. counterclockwise
6. The wall of water that sometimes accompanies a hurricane near the coast is called:
a. a storm surge
b. a ripple
c. rain
d. lightning
b. lightning
c. a hurricane
d. rain
7. Thunder follows:
a. a storm
8. Where is the safest place to be during a thunderstorm?
a. in the water
b. indoors
c. outside
d. under a tree
9. In a specific location a tornado generally lasts:
a. many hours
b. two seconds
c. a few minutes
d. several days
10. In North America, the majority of tornadoes occur in an area referred to as:
a. Tornado Alley
b. Sonoran Desert c. California
d. Canada
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Pre-Test
Name
Write true or false next to each statement.
11.
An air mass always gets its characteristics from the ocean.
12.
Cold fronts tend to cause more extreme weather than warm fronts.
13.
Hurricanes are usually formed over land.
14.
Cumulonimbus clouds indicate a thunderstorm may be possible.
15.
A tornado acts like a vacuum cleaner, sucking up objects and
tearing up debris in its path.
Write a short answer for each of the following.
16. What is an air mass?
17. What is a front?
18. How and where do hurricanes form?
19. Describe how the weather changes as a thunderstorm approaches.
20. What is a tornado?
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Post-Test
Name
Circle the best answer for each of the following questions.
1. In North America, the majority of tornadoes occur in an area referred to as:
a. Tornado Alley
b. Sonoran Desert
c. California
d. Canada
2. In the northern hemisphere, in what direction do hurricanes rotate?
a. left
b. clockwise
c. right
d. counterclockwise
3. In a specific location a tornado generally lasts:
a. many hours
b. two seconds
c. a few minutes
d. several days
b. lightning
c. a hurricane
d. rain
4. Thunder follows:
a. a storm
5. The boundary between two air masses is called:
a. cold
b. warm
c. a storm
6. Where is the safest place to be during a thunderstorm?
a. in the water
b. indoors
c. outside
d. a front
d. under a tree
7. What is found at the center of both a hurricane and a tornado?
a. sleet
b. high pressure
c. low pressure
d. cold weather
8. An air mass formed in the Caribbean would have the following characteristics:
a. cold and dry
b. warm and moist c. cold and moist
d. warm and dry
9. The wall of water that sometimes accompanies a hurricane near the coast is called:
a. a storm surge
b. a ripple
c. rain
d. lightning
c. waves
d. condensation
10. A warm front often brings steady, light:
a. precipitation
b. earthquakes
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Post-Test
Name
Write true or false next to each statement.
11.
Cold fronts tend to cause more extreme weather than warm fronts.
12.
A tornado acts like a vacuum cleaner, sucking up objects and
tearing up debris in its path.
13.
Hurricanes are usually formed over land.
14.
An air mass always gets its characteristics from the ocean.
15.
Cumulonimbus clouds indicate a thunderstorm may be possible.
Write a short answer for each of the following.
16. How and where do hurricanes form?
17. What is a tornado?
18. What is a front?
19. What is an air mass?
20. Describe how the weather changes as a thunderstorm approaches.
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Video Review
Name
While you watch the video, answer these questions:
You Decide!
1. What are the general characteristics of an air mass formed over the Gulf
of Mexico?
You Predict!
2. What will happen when warm, less dense air meets a cooler air mass?
You Observe!
3. Is the hurricane rotating in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction?
After you watch the video, test your knowledge with these
questions.
1. An air ___________ is a large region of air having the same general
properties.
2. A ______________ is the boundary between two air masses.
3. The passing of a ___________ front often produces stormy weather.
4. This is a satellite image of a ______________________ .
5. A tornado consists of a funnel cloud containing very ______ pressure.
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Vocabulary
Name
Use these words to fill in the blanks next to the sentences below.
Words
thunder
hurricane
tornado
lightning
air mass storm surge thunderstorm front
tropical storm
cumulonimbus
1.
A large region of air possessing the same general
properties.
2.
The boundary between two air masses.
3.
A large, swirling storm centered around very low
pressure.
4.
A smaller low pressure system that may develop into a
hurricane.
5.
A wall of ocean water created by a hurricane near
the coast.
6.
Small, intense weather system that produces
heavy rain, strong winds, lightning, and thunder.
7.
The release of built-up static electricity during a thunderstorm.
8.
The loud bang caused by superheated air
expanding rapidly from a lightning bolt.
9.
A spinning, funnel-shaped cloud containing very low
pressure at its bottom.
10.
Large, moisture rich, dark clouds formed by warm,
moist air rising rapidly which have the potential to
produce lightning.
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Writing Activity
Words
tornadoes
front
thunder
Name
air mass
hurricanes
lightning
thunderstorms
Use the correct word from above to complete the sentences in the following
paragraph.
An _________ ___________ is a large region of air with uniform characteristics.
Air masses possess the same general temperature and moisture content of the
area where they form. The border between two air masses is called a
_____________ . _____________________ are large low pressure storms with
high winds formed over warm ocean waters. At the center of a hurricane is an
area of intense low pressure. _________________, consist of fast spinning,
funnel-shaped clouds, also containing very low pressure. The most common type
of extreme storms are _____________________ . When static electricity inside
thunder clouds is suddenly released, ____________________ forms. The bang
of __________________ afterward is caused by the rapid heating of the air.
In Your Own Words
1. What is an air mass?
2. What is a hurricane?
3. What causes thunder?
Weather on the Move
Visual Learning Company
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Model of a Front
Name
Background: If you live in a place that has different kinds of weather throughout the
course of the year, maybe you have wondered what causes the weather to change. One
of the factors responsible for changing weather is the arrival of different air masses. An
air mass is a large region of the atmosphere in which the air throughout it has the same
general properties. An air mass gets its characteristics from the area over which it is
formed. For example, an air mass formed over the warm, dry desert of the Southwest has
the characteristics of being dry and warm. An air mass formed over the Gulf of Mexico
tends to be warm and moist. Air masses formed over the North Atlantic tend to be cool
and moist like those formed off the coast of Canada and Alaska. Cold, dry air masses in
the northern hemisphere originate in higher latitudes. As air masses move, they bring the
characteristics of the air from which they form with them.
Perhaps you have been outside on a pleasant summer day when all of a sudden the sky
darkens, the air cools, and the wind picks up. And, then it starts to pour. What causes this
sudden change? This sort of weather may be caused by a passing front. What are fronts?
When two air masses meet they usually do not mix well. Instead, a boundary between the
two air masses forms. This boundary is called a front. There are several different types
of fronts. A warm front is formed when a moving warm air mass meets a cold air mass. In
a warm front, a moving warm air mass meets and overrides a cooler air mass. The less
dense warm air moves over the denser, cooler air. Warm fronts generally bring steady, light
precipitation followed by warm weather. In a cold front, a cooler, denser air mass moves
into and under a warmer, less dense air mass. Cold fronts can move quickly and may
cause heavy rain, snow, and even violent thunderstorms. In this activity you will create a
model of a cold front.
Materials: a small aquarium or a water-tight see-through container, six ice cubes, ziploc
bag, blue food coloring, thumbtack, hot water
Activity:
1. Carefully drop five drops of blue food coloring in the ziploc bag. Seal the bag and then
gently shake it. Allow the bag to sit for a few minutes.
2. Working in groups of two to three students, obtain the materials listed above.
3. Fill the container with about 20 centimeters of hot water.
4. Place the six ice cubes in the ziploc bag.
5. Insert about 5 - 8 holes in the bottom of the ziploc bag using the thumbtack. Be careful
not to injure yourself when doing this.
6. Gently immerse the bag in one end of the container full of water until it touches the
bottom.
7. Hold the bag down for several minutes and observe the pattern of the blue-colored
water as it seeps out of the bag.
8. Answer the questions on the next page.
Weather on the Move
Visual Learning Company
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Model of a Front
Cont.
Name
Questions:
1. Describe the two different air masses modeled in this activity.
2. Describe how the blue, cold water moved.
3. Why did the blue water move the way it did?
4. What type of front did this activity model?
5. In real-life, what types of weather is common along this type of front?
Weather on the Move
Visual Learning Company
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22
Name That
Hurricane
Name
Directions: Read the following information and then answer the questions on the next page.
Background: The names Katrina, Rita, and Charley might
be familiar to you, and not because they are the names
of your friends or family. You probably have heard these
terms because they are the names of recent hurricanes that
devastated parts of the Caribbean and North America.
Why do storms have names? A name is a useful tool
for remembering a specific person or thing. Because
each tropical storm and hurricane has its own unique
characteristics, giving each storm a name helps people
differentiate between storms. It also makes the storms
sound important. This is a good practice because
hurricanes are very dangerous, and should not be ignored.
Storms that form in the northern Atlantic Ocean are named by the United States National
Hurricane Center. Storms are not named until they have reached tropical storm status.
A tropical storm has winds of 64 to 119 kilometers per hour, (about 40 to 70 miles per
hour). Hurricane season in the Atlantic lasts from June 1st through November 30th.
During this time, there are usually six to fourteen named storms. The U.S. National
Hurricane Center names storms using first names. There are six lists that are recycled
every six years. In each list, the names are arranged alphabetically. After each male
name there is a female name, and vice versa. When a storm causes a large amount of
damage, its name is not reused. For example, the name “Katrina” will not be recycled
because of the tragedy Hurricane Katrina caused in 2005 along the coast of the Gulf of
Mexico. As of 2005, there have been 68 names that have been retired from use. More
names were retired in 2005 than ever before, five, including: Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan,
and Wilma.
Because tropical storms and hurricanes occur in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans,
different countries have different naming schemes for storms that occur in their waters.
However, the use of rotating alphabetical lists of human first names is the most common
basis for the systems.
To find more information about the six lists of names used by the U.S. National
Hurricane Center, as well as lists of storm names used by other countries, you can look
up the information at the library, or on the internet.
Weather on the Move
Visual Learning Company
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Name That
Hurricane
Name
Questions:
1. Why are tropical storms and hurricanes given
names?
2. Who names storms in the northern Atlantic
Ocean?
3. When are storms named?
4. When are some storm names not reused?
Hurricane Names
2007
Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dean
Erin
Felix
Gabrielle
2008
Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gustav
2009
Ana
Bill
Claudette
Danny
Erika
Fred
Grace
Humberto
Ingrid
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Noel
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastian
Tanya
Van
Wendy
Hanna
Ike
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paloma
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred
Henri
Ida
Joaquin
Kate
Larry
Mindy
Nicholas
Odette
Peter
Rose
Sam
Teresa
Victor
Wanda
5. What will the sixth storm in 2009 be named?
6. Has there ever been, or will there be, a storm with your name?
Weather on the Move
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Thunderstorm
Safety Tips
Name
Directions: Read the following information and then answer the questions.
Background: Thunderstorms are the most common form of extreme weather.
You are probably familiar with the characteristics of a thunderstorm. Lightning,
high winds and hail associated with thunderstorms can be very dangerous. In
this activity you will learn some important safety precautions to take during a
thunderstorm.
• If a thunderstorm is approaching, go inside a sturdy building. A house is
much safer than a lean-to or a tree house. It is safer to seek shelter inside a
car than to stay outside.
• If you cannot find shelter, move to lower ground. Stay away from tall,
isolated objects like trees or poles. Remember that lightning is more likely
to strike taller objects.
• Do not swim, be in a boat, or take shelter on the water during a thunderstorm. Water is a
good conductor of electricity. Therefore, you are more likely to receive a shock if you are
touching water when lightning strikes. If you are in a boat, seek landfall immediately.
• Try not to use the telephone or other electrical devices. If lightning were to strike your
house, these items could conduct electricity and give you an electric shock.
• Turn off, or better yet unplug any computers or other electrical appliances in the event
of power surges or outages. Such surges or outages have the potential to destroy the
circuitry in electrical appliances.
• If power lines have fallen, do not touch them. Have an adult call the power company so
they can promptly come to fix the lines.
Questions:
1. If the sky darkens and you hear thunder in the distance, what is the first thing you should
do?
2. Why should you avoid being in or on the water during a thunderstorm?
3. Why is it a good idea to turn off or unplug electrical appliances during a thunderstorm?
Weather on the Move
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