Think like a Meteorologist!

Course Content

Lesson 1 of 4
02h : 0m
2nd - 3rd
Scientist
Core Knowledge
Activity
Wrap-Up

**Note about Time**

Consider breaking the lesson into multiple days OR allow students to pick 1-2 tools to create and share with the class.

Ingenia Context [5 mins] 

Script: Welcome to the Ingenia Meteorology Department. Today you will be Meteorology apprentices. What is Meteorology? Turn to the person next to you and discuss what you know about meteorology. (Give students a couple minutes to discuss, listen to them and then call out for a few answers. You are looking for weather science, the study of the weather, observing the weather and words related to weather like wind, temperature, rain, snow, storm, tornado, hurricane, etc.) 

Background Knowledge [5 mins]

Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere. The atmosphere is the layer of gasses surrounding Earth. Meteorologists study the changes in the atmosphere and how these changes affect the weather. They look for patterns and learn how to predict the weather using those patterns. Let’s watch a video to learn more about how meteorologists study weather. 

Measuring Weather with Weather Tools (www.youtube.com/@growinglearners8913) 

As a meteorologist, you will need some tools to observe the weather. You will be building some tools and then trying them out. You will also be responsible for creating a weather report based on your observations. 

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EXPLORE

Making a Thermometer [20 mins] 

Meteorologists measure the temperature of the air as they study weather and look for patterns. They use thermometers to measure the temperature. Today, you will build your own thermometer. 

Note to teacher: Here is a video for reference on how to build the thermometer: Make a Thermometer - STEM ActivityHow to Make a Bottle Thermometer | (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/)

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Materials Instructions
- Small Plastic Bottle
- Food Coloring
- Straw
- Pipette
- Modeling Clay
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Ruler
- Marker
- Water		 1. Use your ruler to draw some lines on the straw. The lines should be drawn at 1cm or ½ inch increments
2. Pour some alcohol into the plastic bottle, ⅓ to ½ full.
3. Add some food coloring to the alcohol.
4. Fill the pipette with some of the alcohol and set it apart.
5. Place your straw in the bottle, being careful that it reaches the alcohol but it doesn’t touch the bottom.
6. Add some clay around the rim of the bottle to keep the straw in place.
7. Add the alcohol from the pipette to the straw. Observe the level of the alcohol in the straw.
8. Rub your hands to create some heat on them. Then place them around the bottle and observe changes in the level of the alcohol in the straw.
9. Place the bottle part of your thermometer in some cold water. Observe what happens.
10. Place your thermometer in the sun outside and check the changes on it.

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Discuss:

  • What happens to the alcohol when you place your warm hand on the bottle? 
  • What happens to the alcohol when you place the bottle in cold water? 
  • Possible answers: The alcohol expands when heated and it contracts when cooled 
  • Why is it important to know the temperature outside? Possible answers: to know what to wear, to make plans for activities outside, to know the best times to plant things. 

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Making an Anemometer [20 mins] 

Meteorologists study the wind. They observe the direction of the wind and they also observe the speed of the wind. A wind vane, or weather vane, can show the direction of the wind. An anemometer shows the speed at which the wind is moving. You are going to build an anemometer 

Note to teacher: This video shows the directions to build the anemometer. Consider showing it to students in addition to the written directions. How to make an anemometer (wind speed meter) (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/)

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Materials Instructions
- 5 Mini Paper Cups
- 2 Straws
- 1 Number 2 Pencil
- Hole Puncher
- Push Pin		 1. Use the hole punch to punch four equally spaced holes about ¼ inch below the rim of a paper cup.
2. Insert the straws through the holes on the paper cup. Each straw should go through two holes, opposite each other.
3. Use the hole to punch two holes on the other four cups. These holes should be side by side, about 1 inch below the rim, in the middle of the cup.
4. Slide the ends of the straws through the holes of the cups.
5. Align the cups so that they all face the same direction.
6. Use the tip of the sharpened pencil to poke a hole on the bottom of the center paper cup, the one with two straws going through it.
7. Press the pencil through the hole, eraser first. Wiggle the pencil and make sure it can rotate easily.
8. Attach a push pin through the straws and into the pencil eraser. Don’t press too hard or the anemometer won’t be able to rotate.
9. Hold your anemometer using the pencil, with the pushpin facing up. Give your anemometer a spin. If it doesn’t spin, try loosening the push pin.
10. Test your anemometer outside to see how fast the wind is moving.

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Discuss: 

  • What happened when you tested the anemometer?
  • Why is it important to measure and observe the wind? 
  • How does the wind affect the weather? Possible answers: a sailor needs to understand the wind in order to sail, the wind can change the weather by moving clouds, the wind can change the temperature of the air. 

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Making a Hygrometer [20 mins] 

A hygrometer is a tool that measures the amount of water in the air. This is called humidity. Water can be a liquid, a solid, like ice, or a gas. There is water in the form of a gas in the air. Let’s watch a video about it: 

Weather: Measuring Water in the Air - Humidity (www.youtube.com/@funsciencedemos)

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Materials Instructions
- 9oz Cup
- Toothpick
- Foil Wrapper
- Tape
- Push Pin		 1. Fold the foil wrapper in half and cut it. Cut the corners on one end to give it a pointy end, like an arrow.
2. Use the push pin to poke a hole on the bottom of the cup. Insert the toothpick in that hole. It should stay tight in the hole. If the hole is too big, add some tape around the toothpick to make it thicker.
3. Use some tape to attach the foil wrapper to the toothpick and wrap it around the toothpick.
4. Bend the tip of the foil wrapper so that it sticks out.
5. Make a marking on the surface of the cup to show where the tip points to when the wrapper is pointing now.‍
6. The humidity in the air will make the foil wrapper open up or unravel and move the pointer. Draw a line where the foil would point when it unravels and write the letter H for High Humidity.
7. Where the air is dry it will make the foil wrapper tighten up and move the pointer. Draw a line where the foil would point when it tightens up and write the letter L for Low Humidity.
8. Test your hygrometer by breathing some air next to it and watch to see if the foil wrapper unravels and the pointer moves.
9. Test your hygrometer outside to see if there is high or low humidity in the air.‍

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Discuss: 

  • How did the hygrometer work? 
  • Did you observe high or low humidity outside? 
  • How does the humidity affect the weather? 
  • How do you think humidity can help make a weather prediction? Possible answers: High humidity means that it is more likely for there to be rain or other types of precipitation. High humidity can cause storms and hurricanes. 

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Making a Barometer [20 mins] 

A barometer is a tool that measures air pressure in the atmosphere. Atmospheric pressure is also known as barometric pressure. Measuring air pressure can help a meteorologist make predictions about the weather. When the air pressure is high, the weather is likely to be sunny and nice. When the air pressure is low, the weather is more likely to be stormy. Let’s watch a video to learn how to make and use a barometer: 

How To Make a Barometer (www.youtube.com/@HowToMakeIt156)

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Materials Instructions
- Straw
- Balloon
- Tape
- Cardstock
- Scissors
- Rubberband
- 9oz Cup		 1. Cut the neck off of the balloon.
2. Stretch the balloon around the time of the cup.
3. Secure the balloon to the cup with a rubber band.
4. Cut one end of the straw into a point.
5. Attach the other end of the straw to the balloon using some tape.
6. Make a triangular prism with the cardstock and place it in front of the pointy end of the straw.
7. Make a mark on cardstock where the point of the straw touches it.
8. Make markings above that line for high barometric pressure.
9. Make marking below that line for low barometric pressure.
10. Take your barometer outside to test it. Does the barometric pressure match the weather you are observing?

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Discuss:

  • How did the barometer work? 
  • Did you observe high or low air pressure outside? 
  • How does barometric pressure affect the weather? 
  • Why is barometric pressure important to meteorologists? Possible answers: Meteorologists have learned the patterns between weather and the atmospheric or barometric pressure and it helps them make predictions about the weather.

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INTERACT

Weather Report [20 mins] 

Have students work in groups and create a weather report based on their observations. Their report should include the temperature, the speed of wind, the humidity and the barometric pressure. Each group can present their report to the class. 

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REFLECT

Vocab Review [5 mins] 

You can play a game with students by attaching a card with one of the following words on their back and having them walk around and others can help them guess their words by giving definitions or clues . 

Atmosphere: the layer of gasses around the planet 

Meteorology: the study of the atmosphere and how changes in it affect the weather. 

Meteorologist: a scientist that studies and predicts the weather. 

Anemometer: a tool used by meteorologists to measure the speed of the wind. 

Thermometer: a tool used by meteorologists to measure the temperature of the air 

Barometer: a tool used by meteorologists to measure the pressure of the air in the atmosphere Hygrometer: a tool used by meteorologists to measure the amount of water in the air or the humidity. 

Weather: the conditions of the atmosphere at a specific time and place including heat, sunshine, rain, wind, dryness or humidity. 

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Homework [5 mins] 

Students can take their tools home and continue to observe and record patterns of weather at home. They can also explain how the tools work to their family. 

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