Intro to Meteorology: A SECOND GRADE UNIT

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Intro to MeteorologyA SECOND GRADE UNIT

• By
• Monica Madine
• and
• Rory McCourt

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Introduction

• This unit will introduce elementary grade
  students to basic elements of meteorology.
• The length of the actual unit varies depending on
  the depth of the material covered.
• This review presentation and quiz can be given
  over a period of three days.
• This presentation would be used as a culminating
  activity to review the unit and assess the
  learning.

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Timeline
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Cirrus Clouds Stratus Clouds Mammatus Clouds Fog Cumulus Clouds Thunderstorms Lightning Hail Hurricanes Tornadoes Blizzards Quiz
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Purpose

• The purpose of this presentation is to review the
  main characteristics of weather elements covered
  in our unit.
• The students will then demonstrate an
  understanding of the material by completing a
  What Am I? weather quiz.

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Procedure

• Upon completion of our weather unit, this
  presentation will be given to the class whole
  group as review.
• The students will take their What Am I? quizzes
  individually.
• The students will be graded according to a
  traditional grading scale.

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Clouds

• Stratus
• Cirrus
• Mammatus
• Fog
• Cumulus

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Cirrus Clouds

• Thin
• Feathery
• High clouds
• Made of ice
• White
• Usually predict fair weather

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Stratus Clouds

• Low clouds
• Usually gray
• Cover almost the entire sky
• Causes light mist or drizzle

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Mammatus

• Orange clouds
• Seen after a severe storm
• Cold air sinks into the warm air
• Looks like they are hanging

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Fog

• Water is suspended in air near the earths
  surface
• Occurs when temperature and dew point are the
  same
• Reduces visibility
• Is like a cloud on the ground

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Cumulus Clouds

• Lumpy
• Puffy white or light gray
• Grow vertically
• Sharp outlines
• Flat bases

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Thunderstorms

• Warm moist air rises and forms a cloud
• Cold air high above pushes rain down
• Strong winds
• Heavy rains
• Possible hail
• Can create hurricanes
• Can create tornadoes

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Lightning

• Giant spark (static electricity)
• Heats the air around it
• Bolt splits the air
• Air joining back together makes thunder

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Hail

• Can happen only in thunderstorms
• Ice crystals collide in clouds
• Bigger crystals form
• Crystals become heavy and fall as hail
• Can be as large as grapefruit!

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Hurricanes

• Start out as thunderstorms
• Begin in tropics over water temperatures of 80oF
  or higher
• Wind speeds at 64 knots (74mph) or higher
• Wind spinning counter clockwise
• Damaging winds
• Cause sea surges
• Varying amounts of rain

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How a Hurricane Forms
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Tornadoes

• Form from severe thunderstorms or hurricanes
• Center is called the eye
• Fast-speed winds whipping around
• Funnel touches earth
• Suction vortex acts like big vacuum
• Skips and hops around

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Blizzard

• Heavy snow
• Falls 1 inch/hour or more
• Wind speeds of 35 mph or faster
• Temperature of 20o F or lower
• Visibility of ¼ mile

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Grading Scale
Number Incorrect Grade
1 95
2 90
3 85
4 80
5 75
6 70
7 65
8 60