Laboratory Title: Weather Prediction Lesson Plan

Laboratory Title: Weather Prediction Lesson Plan

Your Name: Max Oxman

Concepts Addressed: Predicting Weather, Meteorology

Lab Goals:

The purpose of this lab is to act as a meteorologist. The meteorological tools discussed output data represented by these symbols and someone has to interpret what it means. Students simulate filling this gap by making their own weather report from forecaster code.

Lab Objectives:

Students will:

§ label the next 5 days in the top column of a chart with the title "5-Day Forecast."

§ abbreviate the days or to customize them if they like

§ read a meteorological symbol that corresponds to the chart at the front of class.

§ draw a picture of the weather represented by that symbol

§ add (creatively, but appropriate) high and low temps in the bottom 2 rows

Benchmarks Addressed:

Fifth Grade

5.1 Structure and Function: Living and non-living things are composed of related parts that function together to form systems.

5.1E.1 Describe the Sun-Earth-Moon system.

5.2 Interaction and Change: Force, energy, matter, and organisms interact within living and non-living systems.

5.2E.1 Explain how the energy from the sun affects Earth’s weather and climate.

5.3 Scientific Inquiry: Scientific inquiry is a process of investigation based on science principles and questioning, collecting, describing, and examining evidence to explain natural phenomena and artifacts.

5.3S.1 Based on observations and science principles, identify questions that can be tested, design an experiment or investigation, and identify appropriate tools. Collect and record multiple observations while conducting investigations or experiments to test a scientific question or hypothesis.

5.3S.2 Identify patterns in data that support a reasonable explanation for the results of an investigation or experiment and communicate findings using graphs, charts, maps, models, and oral and written reports.

5.3S.3 Explain the reasons why similar investigations may have different results.

5.4 Engineering Design: Engineering design is a process of using science principles to make modifications in the world to meet human needs and aspirations.

Materials and Costs:

List the equipment and non-consumable material and estimated cost of each

Item $

Projector available at school

Computer available at school

PowerPoint (encea2z.com/z_etomite/index.php?id=100) $0

Cost of non-consumables:………………………………………………………… $0

List the consumable supplies and estimated cost for presenting to a class of 30 students

Item $

Color Markers $5.00/30 pack * 2 10.00

5 Day Forecast handout color ink 79￠/sheet 23.70

Estimated total cost: $33.70

Time:

§ Preparation time: 25 minutes - Once the lesson plan and activity is created, you only need to print off the activity, and review the lesson.

§ Lesson Length: 40 minutes

§ Clean-up time: 5 minutes

Assessment:

The 5 Day Weather Forecast provides feedback about how well students are following along during the lesson.

Also, a short quiz can be given at the end of the class period or at the beginning of class the next day. Here are a couple suggested questions:

1. What does NOAA stand for?

2. List 3 specific examples how weather prediction is helpful.

Background:

This is a solid introduction to weather prediction. First, the teacher and class discuss how weather prediction is already part of their daily lives, its importance and how it actually done. The science behind it is inherently interesting, and the students can't help but want more. If this intrigue leads them to consider a career in the field, our job is done.

Students see their parents watching weather reports, and think nothing of it. Once they see the amazing science behind weather prediction, my hope is that they will have something to say next time they see a meteorologist on TV. For them to start a conversation about it and begin thinking about weather patterns themselves is a wonderful step. Weather balloons, radar and satellites are sure to get them interested.

This science lesson plan is intended to be preceded with a couple related lessons. In order to teach about weather prediction, its important to introduce what weather is and how it works. Here is some brush-up background info:

· Weather – A is a set of all the phenomena occurring in a given atmosphere at a given time. Weather phenomena lie in the troposphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate is the term for the average atmospheric conditions over longer periods of time. When used without qualification, "weather" is understood to be the weather of Earth. Weather occurs due to density (temperature and moisture) differences between one place and another.

· Weather Forecasting - The application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since at least the nineteenth century. Weather forecasts are made by collecting quantitative data about the current state of the atmosphere and using scientific understanding of atmospheric processes to project how the atmosphere will evolve. Source: wikipedia.org

Procedure:

Here is a rundown and background info for each slide:

· Slide 1 – Title: Introduce yourself and today’s subject: “Weather prediction”

· Slide 2 – “How do you forecast weather?” We forecast weather everyday. Have the class share ways we do this, then show them the ways listed on the slide to see if they missed any.

· Slide 3 – “Why is weather forecasting important?” Present this question and let them answer. Wait for really creative answers on this one, then show the PowerPoint list.

· Slide 5 – “Ways of Forecasting.” This slide talks about the “persistence method” and “trends method.” Background info can be found he r e.

· Slide 6 – “Meteorologist.” Talk about what they do and what tools are available to them. Info here.

· Slide 9 – Ask the class “How do you get a forecast?” You might want to give an example such as the newspaper, but let them name the rest.

· Slide 10 – “NOAA” Introduce what it is and what the acronym stands for. More info here.

· Slide 11 – “Weather Balloons.” Introduce what weather balloons are and what they do. Info on the slide. More info found here.

· Slide 12 – “Weather Satellites.” Introduce what they are and what they do. Info on the slide. More info found here.

· Slide 13 - “Global Circulation.” Introduce what it is and how studying it helps us predict weather. Info on the slide. More info found here.

· Slide 14 - Weather Radar is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type (rain, snow, hail, etc.), and forecast its future position and intensity. Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to intensity of the precipitation. Both types of data can be analyzed to determine the structure of storms and their potential to cause severe weather.

· Slide 15 -“Weather Satellites.” Introduce what they are and what they do. Info on the slide. More info found here.

· Slide 16 - “Weather Symbols.” Introduce what they are and what they do. Info on the slide. More info found here.

Activity:

· Have each student fill out the included “5 Day Weather Forecast” using the key chart (slide 16) projected at the front of the class. Make sure to have them use markers/colored pencils to make the finished product look just like a professional meteorologists’.

· After students have gained familiarity with the weather symbols, have each student collect the weather for the next 5 days and record what the weather was for that week.