Sandra Jones - Conway Elementary School
Subject Matter -Weather Prediction
Externship - Joe Cupo, Weatherman - WCSH

Key Questions to be explored

  • How is weather data collected and recorded?
  • How do you read a weather map?
  • How do meteorologists put a show together?

    Outcomes:

  • Students will be able to record temperature, wind direction & precipitation.
  • Students will read a simple weather map
  • Students will be able to put together a simple weather report.

    Activity:

  • Students will observe and record the temperature, wind direction and precipitation daily.
  • Students will learn weather map symbols and meaning. Students will practice reading various weather maps.
  • Studens will put together our own weather report show

    Other Comments:
    Students could also be active in creating graphics, charts etc on the computer.

    Being a Weather Forcaster:
    Weather Unit - Observation & Recording

    Lesson 1 - Brainstorming

  • What do you already know about weather?
  • The four weather makers, Air, Water, Sun and Earth. Catagorize all the things brainstormed into these categories.
  • Read "Weather Maker Master Myth" naturescope

    Lesson 2a - Set up a weather station

  • Divide into 4 groups - each group makes 1 or 2 instruments depending on the size of the group.

    Teacher Created Materials #273

  • Barometer
  • Wind Sock
  • Anemometers
  • Rain Guage

    Lesson 2b - Setting up the weather station
    Observe and record first observation in our weather notebook.

    Lesson 2c
    Using the statistics from our weather staion, fill in the following to read over the PA in the AM.

    Lesson 3 - Weather Experiments

  • Divide into 4 groups. Give each group the materials as they are needed.
  • Experiment #1 - Making Clouds
  • Experiment #2 - Making Rain
  • Experiment #3 - Making Frost

    Lesson 4a - Forcasting

  • Have students watch a TV weather forcaster for several days. Students should record what the forcaster says.
  • Make a chart each morning of what each forcaster predicted, then check at end of day who was accurate.

    Lesson 4b - Reading weather maps

  • Learning about the highs, lows, warm and cold fronts.
  • Discuss materials

    Lesson 4c - The Symbols and the Map

  • Reproduce a map
  • Discuss what the symbols mean
  • Find them on the map
  • As a group, try to figure out the weather in several different states.

    Lesson 5a - Checking the National Weather

  • Have students bring in the weather maps from newspapers daily.
  • Check the weather in several previously agreed upon states
  • Record these onto a chart

    Lesson 5b - Our Readings in Comparison

  • Add our own area to the chart
  • After our daily check with our instruments, check the weather map, how close are we?


    Mt. Washington Valley School-to-Career Coordinator
    PO Box 1066 Conway, NH 03818   Phone/Fax: 603-447-2350