Wild Weather
Thundersnow in December? Snow in May? Do strange weather phenomena ever leave you wondering about the weather? We do too! Let’s explore weather this week!
Start by having students share what they know about weather. Make a list or chart to track what students already know. Lead into a discussion about what students want to know about weather. Make another list or chart. The previous discussions can be as a class or in small groups with the small groups reporting back to the big group.
Guide students as they design an experiment(s) (either in small groups or as a large class group) to learn more about weather, observe weather, record weather data (depending on what direction students want to go). Relate the study of weather back to the effects of weather on wildlife habitat, water quality, human impacts, and other natural resources impacts. Have small groups report back to large group by creating a multimedia presentation.
Book List
Berger, M., R. Sullivan, and G. Berger. 1999. Can It Rain Cats and Dogs?: Questions & Answers about Weather. Scholastic, Inc.
Carson, M.K. 2011. Inside Weather. Sterling Children’s Books.
Cosgrove, B. 2004. Weather (DK Eyewitness Book Series). DK Publishing, Inc.
Dussling, J., and H. Petach. 1998. Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather. Penguin Books, Limited.
Furgang, K. 2012. National Geographic Kids: Everything Weather – Facts, Photos, and Fun that Will Blow You Away. National Geographic Society.
Ganeri, A. 2012. Wild Weather. Heinemann-Raintree.
Koehler, S. 2009. Let’s Explore Science: Weather. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Miller, D., Rivera, J. 2008. Hurricane Katrina and the Redefinition of a Landscape. Lexington Books
Parker, S., and D. West. 2011. Violent Weather. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Regan, L. 2012. Weather Lab. Silver Dolphin Books.
Links
How common is snow in May?
http://www.kcci.com/weather/how-common-is-snow-in-may/-/9358602/19968560/-/format/rsss_2.0/-/qbtsk0z/-/index.html
“Thundersnow” Facts: Mysterious Storms Explained
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090303-thunder-snow-storm.html
The Weather Channel for Kids
http://www.theweatherchannelkids.com/
Weather Web for Kids
http://www.eo.ucar.edu/webweather/
