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Weather is something that everyone talks about. Its patterns affect our daily lives in small ways. Its patterns can also affect humans positively or negatively in large scale, catastrophic or economic ways.
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about weather patterns.
Places To Go
People To See Things To Do Teacher Resources Bibliography
Places To GoThe following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find out about weather patterns.
Atacama
Desert
Travel to one of the driest places on earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile. Because of weather patterns from the nearby Pacific Ocean, there are portions of this desert where rain has virtually never been recorded.
Travel to one of the driest places on earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile. Because of weather patterns from the nearby Pacific Ocean, there are portions of this desert where rain has virtually never been recorded.
Franklin
Institute: Like the Moon
Visit a weather satellite in cyberspace and learn how satellites have changed weather observation and forecasting.
Visit a weather satellite in cyberspace and learn how satellites have changed weather observation and forecasting.
Fog
Travel to Cape Disappointment in Washington state. With more than 2,500 hours of fog each year, it is one of the foggiest places in the United States. Fog and mist are simply clouds that are close to the ground. They consist of small water droplets that float in the air.
Travel to Cape Disappointment in Washington state. With more than 2,500 hours of fog each year, it is one of the foggiest places in the United States. Fog and mist are simply clouds that are close to the ground. They consist of small water droplets that float in the air.
How Lightning Works
If you are afraid of lightning, think twice about visiting Zimbabwe. It is one of the countries that is most frequently struck by lightning.
If you are afraid of lightning, think twice about visiting Zimbabwe. It is one of the countries that is most frequently struck by lightning.
Lightning
Strikes
Virtually visit the locations in the United States where lightning strikes have occurred in the past two hours.
Virtually visit the locations in the United States where lightning strikes have occurred in the past two hours.
NASA: Goddard DAAC
Travel to Hawaii and learn how weather patterns pick up dust from China and carry it across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii.
Travel to Hawaii and learn how weather patterns pick up dust from China and carry it across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii.
National Climatic
Data Center
Visit the National Climatic Data Center. It's the world's largest archive of weather data.
Visit the National Climatic Data Center. It's the world's largest archive of weather data.
National Hurricane
Center
Float over to the National Hurricane Center and see the latest satellite imagery and read the aircraft reconnaissance reports for up-to-date hurricane information.
Float over to the National Hurricane Center and see the latest satellite imagery and read the aircraft reconnaissance reports for up-to-date hurricane information.
Virtual
Tour - South Pole
Spend time at a location with unique weather patterns. The highest ever recorded temperature at the south pole was 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spend time at a location with unique weather patterns. The highest ever recorded temperature at the south pole was 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
People To SeeBeaufort Wind Scale
Meet Francis Beaufort. He developed a scale to measure wind intensity. The Beaufort Scale has 13 points. Force 0 is no wind, and Force 12 is a hurricane.
Meet Francis Beaufort. He developed a scale to measure wind intensity. The Beaufort Scale has 13 points. Force 0 is no wind, and Force 12 is a hurricane.
Climate Kids
Talk with climatologists who like to study the weather patterns of the past. They call this study of past weather “hindcasting” instead of forecasting.
Talk with climatologists who like to study the weather patterns of the past. They call this study of past weather “hindcasting” instead of forecasting.
Dan's Wild Wild Cloud Gallery
Meet meteorologists who study clouds. Clouds form in the layer of the atmosphere called the troposphere.
Meet meteorologists who study clouds. Clouds form in the layer of the atmosphere called the troposphere.
Mirage - What is it?
See people who live in dry, hot places and learn about an unusual pattern that occurs in their locale because of intense heat. When heat rises up from the ground, it can make light shimmer and sway so that it looks like water. This is called a mirage.
See people who live in dry, hot places and learn about an unusual pattern that occurs in their locale because of intense heat. When heat rises up from the ground, it can make light shimmer and sway so that it looks like water. This is called a mirage.
Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names
Meet the people who name hurricanes. Since 1979, the World Meteorological Organization has been in charge of naming hurricanes. Each year, they develop an alphabetical list of male and female names in English, Spanish, and French. At first, the assigned names were only female names; but now, male names are used as well. Whenever a hurricane forms, it is given a name from the official list beginning with the A names, moving to the B names, and so forth. When years have hurricane names that begin with X, Y, or Z, it is an indication that it has been a very stormy year!
Meet the people who name hurricanes. Since 1979, the World Meteorological Organization has been in charge of naming hurricanes. Each year, they develop an alphabetical list of male and female names in English, Spanish, and French. At first, the assigned names were only female names; but now, male names are used as well. Whenever a hurricane forms, it is given a name from the official list beginning with the A names, moving to the B names, and so forth. When years have hurricane names that begin with X, Y, or Z, it is an indication that it has been a very stormy year!
Typhoon MAWAR
Talk with worldwide meteorologists. Each part of the globe has its own cycle of when hurricanes form. In most of the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and around most of Mexico and Central America, the term for these storms is hurricane and the pattern for when they form is In the Indian Ocean, these storms are called cyclones. In the western tropical Pacific, the term is typhoon. In the Philippines, the storms are called baquio. In Australia, this kind of an enormous storm is called a willy-willy.
Talk with worldwide meteorologists. Each part of the globe has its own cycle of when hurricanes form. In most of the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and around most of Mexico and Central America, the term for these storms is hurricane and the pattern for when they form is In the Indian Ocean, these storms are called cyclones. In the western tropical Pacific, the term is typhoon. In the Philippines, the storms are called baquio. In Australia, this kind of an enormous storm is called a willy-willy.
Weather Wiz Kids
Meet Meteorologist, Crystal Wicker. She has designed a weather website just for kids.
Meet Meteorologist, Crystal Wicker. She has designed a weather website just for kids.
Wind
A chinook is an American weather anomaly. It is a warm, dry, wind that blows down from the Rocky Mountains toward the plains below. Chinook winds cause sudden and extreme rises in temperature. Did you know that there are other types of winds with specific names? A Barber wind is a wet wind that blows in the American northeast and freezes everything including hair and beards which is why it’s called “barber”. A chocolatero wind blows chocolate-covered sand around the Gulf of Mexico.
A chinook is an American weather anomaly. It is a warm, dry, wind that blows down from the Rocky Mountains toward the plains below. Chinook winds cause sudden and extreme rises in temperature. Did you know that there are other types of winds with specific names? A Barber wind is a wet wind that blows in the American northeast and freezes everything including hair and beards which is why it’s called “barber”. A chocolatero wind blows chocolate-covered sand around the Gulf of Mexico.
Things To DoCoriolis
Effect
Find out about the Coriolis effect which causes tornadoes in the northern hemisphere to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and tornadoes in the southern hemisphere to rotate in a clockwise direction.
Find out about the Coriolis effect which causes tornadoes in the northern hemisphere to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and tornadoes in the southern hemisphere to rotate in a clockwise direction.
Deciphering
Mysteries of Past Climate From Antarctic Ice Cores
Discover how scientists are studying ancient weather patterns by examining layers of sediment that accumulated over thousands of years in ice and rock.
Discover how scientists are studying ancient weather patterns by examining layers of sediment that accumulated over thousands of years in ice and rock.
El
Niño Theme Page
Figure out the difference between El Niño and La Niña. How can these two weather patterns affect worldwide economy?
Figure out the difference between El Niño and La Niña. How can these two weather patterns affect worldwide economy?
Farmers Almanac
Thumb through the old Farmer's Almanac. It has been around since 1793 and is still going strong! Use the "Today in Weather History" to try and spot global weather trends.
Thumb through the old Farmer's Almanac. It has been around since 1793 and is still going strong! Use the "Today in Weather History" to try and spot global weather trends.
Rice
Rice is a major, staple food item for 60% of the world's population. Over 90% of the world's production of rice is occurs in east Asia. Have students predict the worldwide consequences of rice crop failure due to unfavorable weather conditions in Asia. Identify other food crops whose failure could affect worldwide populations.
Rice is a major, staple food item for 60% of the world's population. Over 90% of the world's production of rice is occurs in east Asia. Have students predict the worldwide consequences of rice crop failure due to unfavorable weather conditions in Asia. Identify other food crops whose failure could affect worldwide populations.
UEN: Weather Resources
In addition to accessing a wide variety of weather related Internet resources and online games, students can visit the Online Cloud Guide to access a collection of images which illustrate the different cloud types.
In addition to accessing a wide variety of weather related Internet resources and online games, students can visit the Online Cloud Guide to access a collection of images which illustrate the different cloud types.
USA
Today: Understanding Lightning
Learn about the weather patterns that create lightning. Find out how lightning reaches the ground, how it creates thunder, what happens when lightning hits a person, how to use thunder to estimate lightning distance, what safety precautions to take in a lightning storm, and more.
Learn about the weather patterns that create lightning. Find out how lightning reaches the ground, how it creates thunder, what happens when lightning hits a person, how to use thunder to estimate lightning distance, what safety precautions to take in a lightning storm, and more.
World
Weather Watch
Register your class to particpate in this great weather project. Exchange weather information across climate zones in this collaboration. Predict, track and research global weather by asking questions.
Register your class to particpate in this great weather project. Exchange weather information across climate zones in this collaboration. Predict, track and research global weather by asking questions.
Teacher Resources Online Activities/Hotlists are a listing of internet
sites with fun, interesting, and educational tasks attached to each one.
(You can learn how to use this WWW
Activities tool created by UEN for Utah educators).
Lesson Plans/Webquests
- Air Pressure Lesson Plan
BBC Worldwide Weather- Energy and Science Projects - Greenhouse Effect
- Jet Stream
- Project Global Weather Webquest
- Sun's Impact on Earth's Temperature
- UEN - Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
- UEN - Gathering Weather Information
- UEN - Temperature Graphing
- UEN - What's the Weather?
- Weekly Weather Charts
Bibliography- Bramwell, Martyn. Weather. New York: Franklin Watts, c1994.
- Bundey, Nikki. Ice and the Earth. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2000.
- Casey, Denise. Weather Everywhere. New York: Macmillan Books for Young Readers, c1995.
- Cosgrove, Brian. Weather. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2000.
- Cosgrove, Brian. The World of Weather. Shrewsbury, England: Swan Hill Press; Stillwater, MN: Distributed in the U.S. by Voyageur Press, c1997.
- Craig, M. Jean. Questions and Answers About Weather. New York: Scholastic, 1996.
- Eden, Philip. Weather Facts. London; New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- Goldstein, Mel. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Weather. New York: Alpha Books, c1999.
- Humphrey, Paul. Weather. London; New York: Children's Press, 1997.
- Kahl, Jonathan D. Weather Watch: Forecasting the Weather. Minneapolis : Lerner Publications, c1996.
- Kerrod, Robin. Weather. New York: Lorenz Books, 1997.
- Morgan, Sally. Changing Climate. New York: Franklin Watts, 1999.
- Owen, Andy. Watching the Weather. Des Plaines, Ill.: Heinemann Library, 1999.
- Reynolds, Ross. Cambridge Guide to Weather. Cambridge, U.K.; New York: Cambridge University Press, c2000.
- Silverstein, Alvin. Weather and Climate. Brookfield, Conn.: Twenty-First Century Books, c1998.
- Stevens, William K. The Change in the Weather: People, Weather, and the Science of Climate. New York: Delacorte Press, c1999.
- Taylor, Barbara. Weather and Climate. New York: Kingfisher Books, 1993.
- Watts, Alan. The Weather Handbook. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Sheridan House, 1999.