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Weather Tools

Weather Tools

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, pan balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, spring scales, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, sound recorders, and Sun, Earth, and Moon system models; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.


Essential Understanding

The student knows how to use a variety of tools and methods to conduct science inquiry.

Science Background

What are Weather Observations? American Geological Institute (website) - Students learn about different elements of weather, how and why we observe and measure weather conditions, and how this information is used to predict the weather. (Click the arrows to navigate from page to page.)

What are Weather Observations?
American Geological Institute, www.k5geosource.org

Temperature: Environmental Literacy Council (website) - Extensive background information on temperature and how it relates to weather.

Temperature
Environmental Literacy Council, www.enviroliteracy.org

Signature Lesson

Weather Experiments: Weather WizKids (website) - Students build and use simple weather tools (see links for making a thermometer, anemometer, windsock, etc.) to collect, measure, record and analyze local weather information.

Weather Experiments
Weather WizKids, www.weatherwizkids.com

Supporting Lessons

How to Make an Anemometer: Southeast Regional Climate Center (website) - Easy, clear instructions for making an anemometer.

How to Make an Anemometer
Southeast Regional Climate Center, www.sercc.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Make a Rain Gauge: Weather Wizkids (website) - Simple directions for creating a rain gauge.

Make a Rain Guage
Weather WizKids, www.weatherwizkids.com

Assessment Ideas

Instruments That Measure Weather: National Geographic (PDF) - Students match descriptions of weather instruments to images of those instruments or of weather conditions that the instruments measure.

Instruments That Measure Weather
National Geographic, education.nationalgeographic.com

Literature Connections

Weather Forecasting. Sievert, Terri (ISBN-13: 978-0736837392)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Barrett, Judi (ISBN-13: 978-0689707490)

Weather Words and What They Mean. Gibbons, Gail (ISBN-13: 978-0823409525)

Who Cares About the Weather? Berger, Melvin (ISBN-13: 978-1567840049)

Related Science TEKS

(3.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including observing a schoolyard habitat.

(3.1B) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to make informed choices in the use and conservation of natural resources by recycling or reusing materials such as paper, aluminum cans, and plastics.

(3.2A) Plan and Implement Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking and answering questions, making inferences, and selecting and using equipment or technology needed, to solve a specific problem in the natural world.

(3.2B) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data by observing and measuring using the metric system and recognize differences between observed and measured data.

(3.2C) Graphs, Tables, Charts
The student is expected to construct maps, graphic organizers, simple tables, charts, and bar graphs using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate measured data.

(3.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain
The student is expected to analyze and interpret patterns in data to construct reasonable explanations based on evidence from investigations.

(3.2E) Value of Repeated Experiments
The student is expected to demonstrate that repeated investigations may increase the reliability of results.

(3.2F) Communicate Conclusions
The student is expected to communicate valid conclusions supported by data in writing, by drawing pictures, and through verbal discussion.

(3.4A) Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Information
The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, pan balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, spring scales, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, sound recorders, and Sun, Earth, and Moon system models; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(3.4B) Safety Equipment
The student is expected to use safety equipment as appropriate, including safety goggles and gloves.

Related Math TEKS

3.13A    The student is expected to collect, organize, record, and display data in pictographs and bar graphs where each picture or cell might represent more than one piece of data.

3.13B    The student is expected to interpret information from pictographs and bar graphs.
 

Additional Resources

Extreme Weather 101: Will Stager Foundation (website) - Wide collection of lesson plans, videos, podcasts, inter-actives and supporting materials focused on extreme weather conditions.

Extreme Weather 101
Will Stager Foundation, www.willstagerfoundation.org

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