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Weather

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Weather is the state of the atmosphere from day to day. It includes temperature, atmospheric pressure, clouds, wind, and precipitation.

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3-D image of the Reno County intense thunder storm showing the intense part of the storm extending upward to over 40,000 feet. This image was derived from doppler radar observations of the storm. (Credit: NOAA/NWS)
What are weather observations?
An ice beacon monitoring air temperature and pressure and ice drift. April 1, 2007. (Credit: Collection of Dr. Pablo Clemente-Colon, Chief Scientist National Ice Center. NOAA/NWS)
How do we measure air temperature?
PIBALs are used by Incident Meteorologists to monitor local winds aloft around a fire. (Credit: Dan Borsum, NOAA/NWS/WR/WFO/Billings Montana)
How can we measure the wind?
Stratocumulus clouds over Monument Valley, Arizona
How are clouds formed?
Rain squall over Tahiti seen from NOAA Ship Kaimimoana
How is rain formed?
Weather forecast map
What are weather reports?
Army Air Force meteorologists prepare to launch hydrogen-filled balloon Balloon transported radiosonde that transmitted back to station Radiosonde measured temperature, humidity, and pressure. Iceland, Meeks Field. 1944 ca.
How has weather forecasting changed over the past two hundred years?
How temperature affects the height of pressure.
What is atmospheric pressure?
Weather forecast map. H represents the locations of the areas of highest pressure. L represents the positions of the lowest pressures.
Why is the weather different in high and low-pressure areas?
3-D views of warm and cold fronts.
What is the difference between a cold front and a warm front?
Sunset and Cumulus Clouds
What is the weather like at high altitudes?
National Weather Service IMET Brent Wachter aiming/positioning the Direcway satellite dish.
How do scientists use radar and satellites to observe and predict weather?
The Water Cycle: Graphic showing the movement of water through the water cycle. (Illustration by John Evans, Howard Perlman, USGS) http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html
What is the water cycle?
Pecos evaporation ponds in west Texas.
What is the difference between evaporation and condensation?

Teaching Resources from the Education GeoSource database

Curricula & Instruction Resources
Utah Education Network (UEN)
Students will learn about weather by taking walks in various types of conditions: sunny, rainy, windy, and snowy.
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) is truly the Nation's weather and climate observing network of, by and...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA's Climate Kids is a place where kids can learn about the Earth! Available are games, activities, news, and videos on a variety of subjects...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA Climate.gov provides science and information for a climate-smart nation. Americans' health, security, and economic well-being are closely...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Information on storm surges (what they are and how they are formed). Tips to be ready for storm surges. Videos. Downloadable PDF guides (English and...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE)
Weather Scope: An Investigative Study of Weather and Climate is an internet-based multidisciplinary project which will enrich a student's...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
The UCAR Center for Science Education has a collection of simulations and games for learning about Earth science that educators at the UCAR Center...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
This lesson is the first in a two-part series on the weather. The study of the weather in these early years is important because it can help students...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2
Geology.com
Geology.com features a collection of classroom activities and lesson plans. Browse through topics covering astronomy, earthquakes, erosion, maps,...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Library of Congress (LOC)
At the Library of Congress, science teachers can find a list of useful science resources for elementary, middle, high school, and college levels....
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
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Teaching Media Resources
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Gallery of videos exploring weather and weather-monitoring satellites.
Resource Type: Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Interactive games and simulations, all having to do with weather. 
Resource Type: Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Sea Grant
This education explorer provides a sortable list of external resources on the general topics of weather, climate, and climate change. Many of the...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction, Curriculum Materials, Data Sets, External Resource Collection, Maps and Visualizations, Presentations, Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
InMeteo
The Ventusky Web application has been developed to focus on weather prediction and meteorological data visualization. This application clearly...
Resource Type: Maps and Visualizations, Teaching Media
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
NASA's Climate Kids
Stills and text of changing climate and weather.
Resource Type: Teaching Media, Virtual Field Trips
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
This visualization, comprised of imagery from the geostationary satellites of EUMETSAT, NOAA, and the MA, shows an entire year of weather across the...
Resource Type: Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Discovery Education
Interactive video on weather patterns. Considers such features as air temperature, clouds, fronts, and thunderstorms.
Resource Type: Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
This visualization, comprised of imagery from the geostationary satellites of EUMETSAT, NOAA and the JMA, shows an entire year of weather across the...
Resource Type: Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Interactively zoom and animate weather satellite images from a variety of geostationary satellites. Features include user selectable point and click...
Resource Type: Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
American Geosciences Institute (AGI)
A curated collection of rock weathering images from the Earth Science World Image Bank to show students examples of Earth processes. You can also...
Resource Type: Image Collections, Teaching Media
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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Outreach Programs
National Weather Service (NWS)
The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA's National Weather Service (...
Resource Type: Location-based Outreach Programs, Outreach Programs
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Mangroves are rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea. They ensure food security for local communities. They...
Resource Type: Commemorative Days and Events, Outreach Programs
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center (BHO)
A variety of group programs held at the Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center: Weather Watching at Great Blue Hill, Kite-Making Workshop, Windy...
Resource Type: Location-based Outreach Programs, Outreach Programs
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
American Meteorological Society (AMS)
An opportunity to have a local atmospheric scientist visit classrooms in the greater Boston area. The American Meteorological Society (AMS), the...
Resource Type: Location-based Outreach Programs, Online Outreach Programs, Outreach Programs
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
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