Weather Lessons: Explore the Possibilities

The weather is one thing people desperately try to predict, control, and understand. A meteorologist has often had to face slight ridicule after predicting there would be a sunny day with a cloudless sky, only to be met with pouring rain. People have come a long way in understanding the principles of weather. You don't have to depend on the forecast from Uncle Ed's rickety leg anymore to determine whether to carry an umbrella or not.

Learning about the basics can be exciting. There are lots of great websites that define common weather terms and concepts. Weather Wiz Kids was established by Crystal Wicker, a television meteorologist from Indianapolis, Indiana. Her site has links to weather games and puzzles. There are also experiments. These experiments are a great way to create a little mother nature inside. It also helps to explain the principles of weather easily.

Lightning is one of those things that is both beautiful and scary. The streaks across the dark sky illicit wonder and fear. A little bit of history can be incorporated into a science lesson about lightning by discussing Benjamin Franklin's invention of the lightning rod. There is a short movie by Walt Disney about Benjamin Franklin's life. "Ben and Me" is told from the perspective of a mouse. There are also lessons that focus on lightning experiments.  Stormy Weather has several experiments which demonstrate how static electricity causes the streaks of light across the sky.

Weather forecasts are made using instruments used to interpret, and hopefully make accurate predictions. Meteorologists are people who use these devices. Children can watch televised reports from local newscasts and see if the weather report and the weather outside match. Another way to delve into weather prediction is to look at The National Weather Service website which has local forecasts. You can also organize a field trip to a TV station. It is a great way to see how weather men and women make the magic happen for viewers at home.

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Weather Lesson Plans:

Weather describes the variable seasons of France. It incorporates map skills. This lesson can be made applicable to the user's own region.

Teaching Our Many Grandchildren has great lessons and information about Native American life. Literature is used as well, including the book "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs" by Ron Barrett. The crux of the lesson is about clouds and what they mean.

Benjamin Franklin highlights the historical figure's scientific achievements, specifically the ones concerning electricity. Children can go fly a kite, which is a perfect windy day in autumn activity.

Weather Forecasting has children learn what a forecast is and how to make predictions using weather maps. Planning and executing a weather program is part of the activity lesson.