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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
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
2006, PBS LearningMedia
Weather is a part of everyday life and can affect little things such as your choice of clothes or activities. Weather can also be severe and affect...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2
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
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
2014, Windyty
Windyty gives wind, temperature, rain and cloud, wave, snow, and pressure data for locaitons all over the world. Browse a global view or focus on...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Weather Wiz Kids
Weather Wiz Kids is designed especially for children to allow them to learn more about the fascinating world of weather. It's also a wonderful...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
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, Maps and Visualizations, Presentations, Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Illustrative Mathematics
The purpose of this task is for students to represent and interpret weather data, as well as answer questions about the data they have recorded....
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
WebWeather for Kids provides information on many different weather-related topics, such as clouds, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and more.
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
American Geosciences Institute (AGI)
"Even the youngest learners are aware of weather. It's easy to understand why they are interested in this topic. Weather directly affects...
Resource Type: Classroom Activities, Curricula and Instruction
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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Teaching Media Resources
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
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
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
2013, 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...
Resource Type: Teaching Media, Videos or Animations
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
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, 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
2016, 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
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
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
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
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
University of Oklahoma (OU)
Precollegiate Programs is committed to enhancing the academic lives of individuals K-12 through offering programs on a collegiate campus. The...
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: Outreach Programs, School-based Outreach Programs
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
United Nations (UN)
The objective of the observance is to raise awareness of how people are taking action to reduce their risk to disasters.
Resource Type: Commemorative Days and Events, 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
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