Sixth Grade Science Classrooms – Florida Weather Student Manual

Sixth Grade Science Classrooms – FloridaWeather Student Manual EME 6613:Instructional Systems Design Prepared by: Science to the 4th Power Fall 2009

Syllabus – Table of Contentshttp://sixthgradescienceweather.wikispaces.com/ • Unit Overview • Lesson 1- Weather Instruments …… • Lesson 2 – Weather Reports and Maps…… • Lesson 3 – Weather Predictions……… • Lesson 4 – Differences of hurricanes, thunderstorms, fires, floods, and tornadoes ……. • Lesson 5 –Safety Procedures and emergency precautions • Lesson 6 – Design a weather Preparedness Plan …....

Sixth Grade Science Weather Student Manual - Overview • Objectives • Terminal Objectives: • Given the Sixth Grade Science State Standards, students will be able to identify major weather patterns, discriminate between different types of natural disasters, describe factors that influence weather and temperature, and synthesize a weather preparedness plan. • Enabling Objectives – Using past/present weather patterns learners should also be able to: • 1.0 Read information and know how to properly use of a thermometer, barometer, hygrometer/ psychrometer, and anemometer, students will be able to measure temperature, air pressure, wind direction, speed, and humidity by recording the information on a weather chart.

Sixth Grade Science Weather Student Manual - Overview • 2.0 Watch a weather report and be able to read a weather map by identifying the air masses and pressure systems. • 3.0 Use scientific models and data to predict weather. • 4.0 Classify differences of hurricanes, thunderstorms, fires, floods, and tornadoes. • 5.0 List safety procedures and emergency precautions for hurricanes, thunderstorms, fires, floods, and tornadoes. • 6.0 Design a natural preparedness plan for you and your family using safety strategies learned.

Launch Weather Unit • Essential Questions • What causes our weather? • How have natural disasters affected human lives in Florida? • How can people protect themselves from hazardous weather?

Launch Weather Unit • Engage: Hurricane video clip – discuss natural disasters and global movements of air • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9VpwmtnOZc • Record your observations in Science Log on the Wiki.

Weather KWL Chart • Go to the Weather Dude http://www.wxdude.com/page1.htmlHow are air and water are in constant motion, sun produces energy the flow of energy causes interactions between the atmosphere.? • Review terms: hurricane, thunderstorm, flood, and tornado.

Weather KWL Chart • Share or recall times when either you or someone they know have been in a natural disaster. • Review newscast clips of interviews with people involved in a natural disaster. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLZ7lK7-G_A • Discuss how you feel as well as how hearing the clips made the students feel.

Weather KWL Chart • Complete a KWL chart about what they already know and want to learn about weather and natural disasters. • Click on the link and open up the KWL chart. • Complete the chart and share on the Wiki.

Weather Unit Pre-Test • Take your weather Pre-test and post on the Wiki. • Weather Pre-Test

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • 1.0 - Objective Read information and know how to properly use of a thermometer, barometer, hygrometer/ psychrometer, and anemometer. Students will be able to measure temperature, air pressure, wind direction, speed, and humidity by recording the information on a weather chart. • Check out the Weather Wiz Kids Weather Instruments

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • Weather affects how you dress and how you plan your day, so it is important to get accurate weather forecasts. But where do weather reporters get their information? And how do they predict the weather? • A weather forecast is a prediction of weather conditions over the next 3 to 5 days. • A meteorologist is a person who observes and collects data on atmospheric conditions to make weather predictions. In this section, you will learn how weather data are collected and shown. Weather-Forecasting Technology • To accurately forecast the weather, meteorologists need to measure various atmospheric conditions, such as air pressure, humidity, precipitation, temperature, wind speed, and wind direction. • Meteorologists use special instruments to collect data on weather conditions both near and far above Earth’s surface. • Check out A Kid Meteorologist

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • Measuring Temperature • A tool used to measure air temperature is called a thermometer. Most thermometers use a liquid sealed in a narrow glass tube, as shown in. When air temperature increases, the liquid expands and moves up the glass tube. As air temperature decreases, the liquid shrinks and moves down the tube. Thermometer

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • Measuring Air Pressure • A barometer is an instrument used to measure air pressure. A mercurial barometer consists of a glass tube that is sealed at one end and placed in a container full of mercury.As the air pressure pushes on the mercury inside the container, the mercury moves up the glass tube. The greater the air pressure is, the higher the mercury will rise. Barometer

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • Measuring Relative Humidity • A psychrometer (sie KRAHM uht uhr) is an instrument that is • used to measure relative humidity. A psychrometer consists of • two thermometers, one of which is a wet-bulb thermometer. • The bulb of a wet-bulb thermometer is covered with a damp • cloth. The other thermometer is a dry-bulb thermometer. • The difference in temperature readings between the thermometers • indicates the amount of water vapor in the air. The • larger the difference between the two readings is, the less water • vapor the air contains and thus the lower the humidity is. Psychrometer

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • Measuring Wind Direction Wind direction can be measured by using a windsock or a wind vane. A windsock, is a cone-shaped cloth bag open at both ends. The wind enters through the wide end and leaves through the narrow end. Therefore, the wide end points into the wind. A wind vane is shaped like an arrow with a large tail and is attached to a pole. As the wind pushes the tail of the wind vane, the wind vane spins on the pole until the arrow points into the wind. WindSock

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • Measuring Wind Speed • An instrument used to measure wind speed is called ananemometer. • An anemometer, • consists of three or four cups connected by spokes to a pole. • The wind pushes on the hollow sides of the cups and causes the cups to rotate on the pole. • The motion sends a weak electric current that is measured and displayed on a dial. Anemometer

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • You will build and learn how to use weather instruments.After completing this lesson, students will be able to: Construct instruments for measuring weather. • Explain how each instrument is used to measure weather. • Demonstrate how each instrument is used to measure weather.

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… Go to each website and choose one of these activities to complete and share with your class. Building and Using Weather Instruments Weather Watch Make an Anemometer http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/anemometer.html Make a Rain Gauge Franklin's Forecast - Rain Gauge Make a Wind Vane http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/weatherproj/Introductory_Activity_Lessons/making_a_wind_vane.html

Lesson 1- Weather Instruments… • Let’s play weather concentrationWeather Instruments Game

Lesson 2 – Weather Reports and Maps… • 2.0 Objective – Watch a weather report and be able to read a weather map by identifying the air masses and pressure systems. • Read the a weather map of Florida on Weather.com • Weather Wiz Kids Weather Links - Complete the activities on this Web page. • 7-day Forecast • Satellite Images • Radar Images • Forecast Model

Lesson 3 – Weather Predictions… • 3.0 Objective – Use scientific models and data to predict weather. • Ed Heads Weather Activities– This site is a great way to learn about the weather. You can choose to report the weather using common map symbols or you can predict the weather that will be coming to a nearby city. There are resources like a live weather map and a weather glossary to help you • Weather ChartingPredict and chart weather patterns in your city that you live.

Lesson 4 – Differences of hurricanes, thunderstorms, fires, floods, and tornadoes … • 4.0 Objective – Classify differences between hurricanes, thunderstorms, fires, floods, and tornadoes. • Research and describe the characteristics of hurricanes, thunderstorms, floods, and tornadoes, by using a graphic organizer. • Inspiration

Lesson 4 – Differences of hurricanes, thunderstorms, fires, floods, and tornadoes … • Go to the Websites Listed and then complete a graphic organizer in Inspiration. • Hurricanes • Tornadoes • Rain and Floods • Thunderstorms • Fires

Lesson 5 –Safety Procedures and Emergency Precautions • 5.0 Objective – List safety procedures and emergency precautions for hurricanes, thunderstorms, fires, floods, and tornadoes. • Go to these websites to complete and share on the Class wiki. • Weather Wiz Kids – Weather Safety • FEMA for Kids • NOAA Weather Safety

Lesson 6 – Design a Weather Preparedness Plan ….... • 6.0 Objective – Design a natural disaster preparedness plan for you and your family using safety strategies learned. • 1. As a team, prepare a newscast that would help students at • your school prepare for a real natural disaster or severe • weather emergency. Determine what information will be important to include in your newscast by considering the following questions: • • Why is it a good idea to think about and develop a plan of • action for emergencies? • • What severe weather emergencies or natural disasters are • most likely to occur in your region?

Lesson 6 – Design a Weather Preparedness Plan ….... • What can be done in advance to prepare for an emergency situation? • MATERIALS • In the event of an emergency, what steps should be taken to protect yourself and others? • In the event of an emergency, what can be done to protect personal property? • What additional information will make your newscast more interesting? Think about adding props, pictures, statistics, interviews, and stories of past events.

Lesson 6 – Design a Weather Preparedness Plan ….... • 2. Research a natural disaster or severe weather emergency. • Make sure that your teacher approves your chosen project. • Use a variety of sources to find the information you need. • You may consult books and periodicals from your local or • school libraries, the Internet, and the National Weather • Service. • 3. Discuss your research as a group. • Evaluate which information is most important and in what order you think the information should be presented.

Lesson 6 – Design a Weather Preparedness Plan ….... • 4. Determine the best way to present your information. • Will your newscast be given by an anchor person or a reporter in the field? • Will your newscast be given before, during, or after a disaster or severe weather emergency has occurred? • 5. Write your newscast. • Write a full script for your newscast. • Organize the information so that it is clear, coherent, interesting, and to the point.

Lesson 6 – Design a Weather Preparedness Plan ….... • 6. Prepare visual aids and props for your newscast. • Gather together any pictures or graphs you have found, or make your own. Organize your props so that they will be ready and in the correct sequence when needed. • 7. Rehearse your newscast. • Practice your newscast several times so that it is smooth and well organized. Let each person • in your group try all the parts in the newscast, then assign roles.

Lesson 6 – Design a Weather Preparedness Plan ….... • 8. Deliver your newscast. • Present your newscast to the class. • Take notes in your Science Log as other groups present their newscasts.

Post-test on Weather • Complete the Post Test

Sixth Grade Science Classrooms – Florida Weather Student Manual