Title:  It's Elemental

Grade Level(s): Fourth/ Fifth/Sixth

Subject(s):  Science/Math

Learner Outcomes:

• The student will identify weather elements.
• The student will describe how weather elements are measured.
• The student will collect data about weather conditions.
• The student will use data collected to predict the weather.
• The student will use data to show relationships between and among weather elements.

Duration of Lesson:  50 minutes

Materials:  AWS WeatherNet Classroom Digital Display, daily
                   newspapers, resource texts,

Technology Tools/Courseware:

• AWS WeatherNet Classroom software
• Internet accessible computer
• CD-ROM
• Excel

Teacher Notes:

• This activity can be adjusted to meet your classroom needs and available technology.
• Students can work individually or in groups.
• Students need to have a signed AUP on file.

1. Define weather and list the weather elements. (See chart)
2. Discuss why so many weather data are needed (to provide accurate information about the weather).
3. Introduce the scientific instruments that measure weather conditions.
4. Discuss what they measure and how they measure.
5. Discuss the units used for each measurement. (See chart provided.)
6. Assign the students to begin gathering data to be included in a chart to be kept on the computer using the Excel 2000 program.  Data can be collected daily (at the same time each day) by using the AWS WeatherNet Classroom on the computer, an AWS Digital Display, or accessing The Weather Channel on the computer or using the newspaper. Students collect data for 10 days.
7. Discuss the chart daily and have students begin to look for patterns to help predict the weather and to look for relationships between and among weather elements.
8. At the end of 10 days of data gathering, conduct a lesson that stresses these relationships.

Enrichment Activities:

• Students deliver daily weather updates over the intercom each morning after morning announcements.
• Students make homemade weather instruments. ( Lesson 2)
• Students convert Fahrenheit measurement to Celsius measurement.
• Students role play being meteorologists by presenting weather reports in front of the class using a pointer and a U.S. map.
• Play "weather music" using CD-ROM.

Evaluation/Assessment:

• Completion of charts
• Discussion of patterns and relationships between/among elements

• Science 4.7; 4.24; 4.25; 4.72; 4.79; 4.80; 5.4; 5.13; 5.16; 5.17; 5.18; 5.19; 6.15; 6.16; 6.70; 6.71; 6.80
• Math 4.28; 5.23; 6.24

Job Career Clusters:
        Science and Natural Resources

References:

• Air, Weather, and Climate; Macmillan/McGraw Hill, Chicago, 1993
• Science, Harcourt School Publishers, Chicago, 2000
• AWS WeatherNet Classroom
• The Weather Channel