Pictures from Springfield, Illinois' tornado March 2006

Weather unites us all. Its impacts affect our daily choices and conversations. The uncertainty of weather and its reputation of unpredictability often haunt it with a mysterious overcast. But in reality, several variables in weather can be tracked in a scientific manner and interpreted to forecast the weather. With the advent of the Internet, new resources are available for all to decipher the “mystery” of weather so that when contemplating the heavens we may all have insight rather than confusion and awe in place of fear.

By the completion of this lesson, eighth grade students will familiarize themselves with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s national weather service website in order to: (1) compare three types of weather maps, (2) analyze data from current maps, (3) identify variables that affect weather, (4) predict atmospheric conditions in four cities in the United States, and (5) explain conclusions to an objective audience. And therefore students will complete Goal 12.E.3a of the Illinois Learning Standards in Science states that middles school students will be able to “analyze and explain large-scale dynamic forces, events and processes that affect the Earth’s land, water and atmospheric systems”.

Click on the Introduction link to begin.

Designed by Josh Jett                                        jettj@district87.org