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Making Weather Predictions Based on Data

Lesson Plan

Making Weather Predictions Based on Data

Objectives

Around 1675, scientists began using barometers to predict weather domestically. At that time, scientists made a connection between local weather conditions and the air pressure. Today barometers are used to measure air pressure of the atmosphere at a particular location. To understand the concept students will:

  • construct and use a barometer to understand atmospheric pressure.

  • investigate air pressure.

  • construct and use a barometer.

  • investigate changes in barometric pressure over a period of 1–2 weeks.

  • predict upcoming weather from barometric pressure data.

Essential Questions

  • What are tools used by scientists to predict weather?

  • What predictable patterns of change can be observed on and from earth?

Vocabulary

  • Wind: Moving air, especially a natural and perceptible movement of air parallel to or along the ground.

  • Precipitation: Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the earth’s surface.

  • Barometer: An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting.

Duration

60 minutes/1–2 class periods

Prerequisite Skills

Prerequisite Skills haven't been entered into the lesson plan.

Materials

  • glass jar or small aluminum can (similar to a coffee jar or can)

  • plastic wrap or large balloon

  • rubber band

  • scissors

  • drinking straw

  • card stock or cardboard strip

  • glue

  • tape

  • ruler

  • pen or pencil

  • small piece of modeling clay

  • shoebox-sized cardboard box

  • Homemade Barometer Instructions (S-4-1-3_Homemade Barometer Instructions.doc)

Related Unit and Lesson Plans

Related Materials & Resources

The possible inclusion of commercial websites below is not an implied endorsement of their products, which are not free, and are not required for this lesson plan.

Formative Assessment

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    • Students will be provided feedback and guided questions throughout the initial discussion on the role air pressure plays in weather forecasting.

    • Assess student participation while making the barometer.

    • Assess student mastery of the barometer by testing its accuracy and listening for application of the barometer in weather forecasting when speaking with students.

Suggested Instructional Supports

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    Scaffolding, Explicit Instruction
    W:

    The purpose of this lesson is to take students from an abstract concept to a concrete understanding about air pressure. Students need to understand that matter is all around them and become familiar with its use and affect on the human body as well as the environment.

    H:

    To hook students, you will ask a series of engaging questions that will prompt students to participate in a discussion about air pressure. The questions are personal in nature and lead directly into the lesson of the day.

    E:

    Each student will perform a task that will allow students to record information in a science journal. Inform them that they should record concepts, questions, further explorations, etc.

    R:

    The lesson will be extended by having students work in groups to compare information about constructing the tools and determine how accurately the tools worked.

    E:

    The self reflection activity, as well as the construction of the weather tools, allows students to evaluate the product they’ve constructed. They will be able to use other models, written responses, and communication to develop an action plan that will guide them towards mastery.

    T:

    This lesson can be tailored by having students create a newsletter for a lower grade level. The news article should help students in lower grades understand what a barometer is and the purpose for its use. The article will include drawings/pictures, at least two paragraphs, and a barometric reading from the Internet, newspaper, or magazine.

    O:

    The first lesson provides a basic foundation about air and how air applies pressure on objects. Next students will begin to use tools to measure the air pressure and begin to understand the connection and relevance for why such a tool exists and how it is used in a professional manner.

Instructional Procedures

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    Teacher Note: Prior to teaching this lesson, create a barometer using the student directions as a model.

    Demonstrate that air actually has pressure (or takes up space) by blowing up a plastic baggie and sealing it to the mouth of a jar with a rubber band.

    Hold the outside of the bag where it is attached to the jar and have a student try to push the baggie into the jar.

    Discuss with students that the air pressure inside the jar prevents them from being able to push the baggie in. Acknowledge that something is in there!

    Engage students in a discussion about pressure. Why do your ears hurt when you swim towards the bottom of a pool? Can you feel the air around you? Does air weigh anything? Why do your ears pop after an airplane ride?

     

    Assemble students into groups of three to four and hand out the instructions for making a barometer to each group (see S-4-1-3_ Homemade Barometer Instructions in the Resources folder). Hand out materials for each group as well.

    Model the building process along side of the student groups, moving to the next step once all groups are caught up.

    • First, as an experiment, blow up the balloon. Think about how the more air there is in the balloon, the more pressure it exerts outward. This is what makes the balloon bigger as you blow it up.

    • Cut the balloon large enough to stretch over the coffee can. Hold the balloon in place by stretching a rubber band around the can, over the balloon. Make sure the rubber band is very tight and seals the can air tight.

    • Be sure that there are no leaks because leaks will affect the performance of the barometer.

    l3-01jar.PNG

     

    • Use a drop of rubber cement glue or tape and attach the straw to the piece of balloon or plastic wrap over the can. Then use a little more glue and attach the pin to the other end of the straw (see diagram.)

    • Take a piece of paper and place some regularly spaced lines on it.

    • Set up the can and paper as shown in the diagram.

    • Look up the current pressure at http://www.wunderground.com/US/PA/ and write it next to the line that the barometer is pointing at. This will calibrate the instrument and provide a reference point for future readings.

    Students will complete barometric pressure readings for one week. Tables are located in the back of the barometer instructions. The readings will be taken inside and outside to demonstrate that temperature will affect the reading of a barometer. Students will mark whether the pressure is increasing or decreasing with an upward or downward facing arrow.

     

     

     

    Inside

    Outside

    Day 1

    Day 2

     

     

    Day 3

     

     

    Day 4

     

     

    Day 5

     

     

Related Instructional Videos

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Instructional videos haven't been assigned to the lesson plan.
DRAFT 11/16/2010
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