Weather Facts

Dorothy Parker                  Beasley Academic Center
                                5255 S. State Street
                                Chicago, IL. 60609
                                312-536-8745

Objectives:

   (grades 3-9)
1)  To understand why certain phenomena occur in the atmosphere
2)  To learn how weather elements are measured
3)  To learn to make and/or use weather instruments
4)  To become familiar with weather terminology
5)  To distinguish between myths, superstitions, and scientific
    predictions

Materials needed:

(for groups of six-eight students)
large room thermometer, a weather vane, card-board, narrow jar or test tube, 
balloons, red narrow balloon, red and blue food coloring, two large jars, 
aluminum pan, ice cubes, plastic transparent container (shoe box, sweater box, 
etc.), hot and cold water, candle, plastic wrap, piece of wool, torn scraps of 
paper, comb, paper bags, tornado in a bottle, sponge, index cards
    
optional: patterns and materials to make weather vanes and/or pin-wheels 

Strategy: 

teacher preparation:

1. Make simple weather vane
2. Prepare activity sheets
3. Make tornado in a bottle
4. Make pattern worksheets for weather vane and pinwheel
5. Check books for myths, superstitions, and weather facts
6. Boil a quart of water
7. Have two trays of ice cubes available
8. Set up weather stations

Class activities:

1. Read and discuss myths, superstitions, truisms associated with weather 
2. Present vocabulary: air mass, front, high, low, humidity, wind, 
   precipitation, pressure, temperature, tornado 
3. Do demonstration with clear container, jar of hot water colored red, jar of 
   cold water colored blue (add salt to the water), divider.  With divider 
   separating container in half, pour hot water in one side and cold water in 
   the other side simultaneously. Remove divider and observe 
4. Students should report to a weather station

Weather stations

1. Wind-objective: to discover that wind is moving air.  Use sponge to wet 
   board.  Fan with cardboard.  Write north, south, east, west on index cards.  
   Have child hold weather vane with index cards around him.  Students will blow 
   and child with weather vane will point it in the direction from which the 
   wind is blowing. 
2. Temperature-Thermometer: to learn to read a thermometer.  To discover that 
   temperature changes cause fog and clouds.  Use room thermometer.  Place ice 
   cubes in aluminum pan and hold over jar of hot water.  Place long red balloon 
   in test tube.  Blow balloon up slightly. 
3. Thunderstorms/Static Electricity/Tornadoes: to understand weather phenomena.  
   Blow up paper bags.  Break two of them vigorously.  (thunder) Rub comb with 
   wool.  Hold over bits of paper.  Rub plastic, hold in palm of hand, turn hand 
   over.  Experiment making tornadoes using the tornado in a bottle.  (15-20 
   ball-bearings, 1 liter plastic bottle, 2-3 drops of detergent)   

Conclusions:

After completing activities, students should:
1. Understand why certain phenomena occur in the atmosphere
2. Know that weather elements are measured by instruments
3. Be familiar with weather terminology