2. Goal

Students will use knowledge of weather elements and tools to observe and compare local weather patterns.

3. Objective(s)

• Students will identify the elements that make up the earth's weather.
• Students will construct and use weather instruments.
• Students will identify cloud type and cloud cover and describe the kind of weather associated with it.
• Students will report local weather data via the Internet.

4. New York State Learning Standards

• MST 1: Scientific Inquiry--explore phenomena through direct observation and through use of simple tools.
• MST 2: Information Systems--retrieve, process and communicate information to enhance learning.
• MST 4: Science (The Physical Setting)--describe the relationship among air, water, and land on Earth.

• Computer with World Wide Web access to the Internet.
• Specific materials are identified in each activity.

Students, as weather watchers participating in an online collaborative weather project called National Sky Awareness Week, observe, measure, record and send information about the local weather to a central Web site via the Internet. Data from participating schools throughout the United States is posted on the site, therefore, providing opportunities to compare local weather patterns.

Participation in the online project requires daily observations/measurements of clouds, temperature, precipitation, and wind. The following activities prepare students to observe, measure, and record sky/cloud conditions.

7. Presentation

Begin a discussion about clouds and their relationship to different kinds of weather by creating a scenario about a class field trip to the Sterling Nature Center. "Imagine hiking along the Lake Ontario bluffs watching the hawks glide from thermal to thermal as they migrate East around Lake Ontario to Canada. The sun is shining and it is warm enough to wear shorts and T-shirts. Some of you notice large, dark clouds moving in from the West."

Ask students if they think there will be any changes in the weather for the day, and if so, what those changes might be. Record students' ideas on a KWLH chart.

8. Student Activities

• Cloud watch to become familiar with descriptions of the various types of clouds.
• Construct sky and cloud watcher windows.
• Simulate cloud cover to estimate the percentage of cloud cover.
• Demonstrate cloud formation through the process of condensation; a stage of the water cycle.
• Observe, photograph sky conditions, and record weather data in a science notebook. Establish an observation schedule so weather trends can be identified. Design a chart for recording observations and gradually add new components for a complete weather station report.
• Cross-reference locally-recorded measurements with Internet weather data sources.
• Share local weather data with other schools across the country by joining an online collaborative project and creating a class Web page.

9. Assessment

• Monitor daily data collection and recording of information in science notebooks.
• Review students' descriptions of daily weather conditions for reference to clouds, temperature, precipitation, wind and a related outdoor activity.
• Check for accurate graphing and interpretation of weather data.
• Revisit the KWL chart and have students complete the "Learned" column.

10. Resources

• A listing of links to cloud web sites from About.com.
• The GLOBE Program is a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment.
• NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's education site has been designed to help students, teachers, librarians and the general public access the many educational activities, publications, and booklets that have been produced. Check out their awesome Photo Library.
• Scholastic provides Weather Reporters with Weather Central.
• UM Weather provides access to thousands of forecasts, images, and a large collection of weather links.
• Find the weather for any City, State or Zipcode, or Country at the Weather Underground.