Understanding Weather

Earth and Space Science, Grades 3-5

Science and Technology/Engineering
Curriculum Framework

Standard 6: Explain how air temperature, moisture, wind speed and direction, and precipitation make up the weather in a particular place and time.

http://schoolscience.rice.edu/duker/winstruments.html

http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/weatherstation.html

Explore both sites - Sketch each tool used to measure weather and explain how the instrument is used. Be sure to include the following instruments: thermometer, barometer, rain gauge, hygrometer, and anemometer in your notebook.

Standard 7: Distinguish among the various forms of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, and hail), making the connections to the weather in a particular place and time.

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Atmosphere/precipitation.html

Sketch each form of precipitation and, in your own words, explain how each is formed. Also, explain how precipitation maintains the atmospheric balance.

Standard 8: Describe how global patterns, such as the jet stream and water currents influence local weather in measurable terms, such as temperature, wind direction and speed, and precipitation.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wjet.htm

http://www.weatherimages.org/data/imag192.html

What is the jet stream? How does it influence our weather?

Standard 9: Differentiate between weather and climate.

http://nsidc.org/arcticmet/basics/weather_vs_climate.html

Explain the difference between climate and weather.

Standard 10: Describe how water on earth cycles in different forms and in different locations, including underground and in the atmosphere.

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/water.html

http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/WEATHER/watercycle.html

http://www.kidzone.ws/water/

• Draw a diagram of the water cycle or print one from http://www.kidzone.ws/water/. Label evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
• Pretend you are a drop of water. Explain what would happen to you during each process. Use your science book to help you with activity.
• Design and build a terrarium to demonstrate the water cycle.

Standard 11: Give examples of how the cycling of water, both in and out of the atmosphere has an effect on climate.

http://www.kidzone.ws/water/