Utah Weather

Introduction

Introduction

Do you check the weather before a soccer game, a camp-out, or fieldtrip?  

December 1, 2011, there were 102 mph winds in Centerville, Utah.  That is hurricane strength. Surrounding areas including Salt Lake, Layton and Ogden also suffered from strong winds and the damage they cause.  Weather forecasters in Utah like Len Randolph and Kevin Eubank, predicted dangerous winds in time that people were able to tie down lawn furniture, etc.  Still, widespread expensive damage occurred.  

Weather can affect our lives!

12/1/2011 - Bountiful, Utah - Pick-up truck damaged by hurricane-force winds.



Salt Lake City Tornado, August 11, 1999. This tornado disproved several myths, including the idea that tornadoes cannot occur in areas like Utah

8/11/99 a tornado hit Salt Lake City proving that with the right weather anything is possible.




Task

Your task

  1. You will collect weather data for two weeks using weather instruments and your own observations about clouds and weather to understand weather forecasting.
  2. Using a line graph, you will graph the data you collect.  
  3. You will create a video forecast, reporting the weather using your data.
  4. You will complete a weather journal.

Vocabulary -

Meteorologist - Someone who reports and forecasts weather conditions.

Forecast - To predict weather conditions based on observable data and trends.

Trend - The general direction in which something tends to move, i.e., in Utah we often have a southerly wind before a storm which.  Meteorologists use that trend to predict that a storm is coming.  

Kestrel - A weather meter that measures temperature, wind speed, humidity, etc.  

Line Graph - A graph that shows change over time.

Weather instruments - barometer, thermometer, rain gauge, wind vane and anemometer.







Process

Process

  • You will be working in a collaborative group of 4 - 5 students.  Your weather team will be observing and recording weather phenomena daily for two weeks.   Groups will be chosen by the teacher.  
  • You will have your own journal in which to record your observations daily.  If you miss a day, you need to get the information from your team members.  
  • Each day you will be responsible for a different weather observation or measurement.  You will need to share your data with the other students in your group and they will need to share theirs.  Make sure everyone gets a turn with the Kestrel.  
  • Each day you will record all of the data, yours and that of your team in your weather journal.  You will record your data in a line graph using a different color for each data type.  
  • Sketch a cloud if seen.  Determine the type of cloud.
  • CREATE A GRAPH - 
  • Instructions
  • Videos about graphing
  • Math Made Easy - line graph
  • Kizmath -  plotting graphs
  • NCES - Learning Line Graphs
  1. Preview the Weather Webquest
  2. Learn how to use the measuring device, the Kestrel, to record temperature, wind speed, humidity and barometric pressure.  Check the rain gauge.  Make observations of weather phenomena outside.  (is it raining, cloudy, cold, etc)
  3. Share all of the collected data with your team.
  4. Check KSL.com Current Conditions - compare and contrast your measurements.
  5. Watch a video forecast - see how it is done.
  6. Brainstorm with your partners about what final product you may wish to create.
  7. Compare current conditions in your favorite Utah Cities at KSL.com.
  8. Review the Water Cycle.
  9. Take Thirstin's Question And Answer Game about the water cycle.
  10. Visit Tree House Weather Kids to learn about cloud types, barometric pressure, seasons, and extreme weather.
  11. Visit Weather Wiz Kids to expand your knowledge of weather. 
  12. View video - What Does A Barometer Measure?
  13. Brainstorm with your peers about your final product.  Make a decision with whom to work (if anyone) and what your product will be.  Make the decision no later than Friday, March 9, 2012.
  14. Videotaping can begin as early as Wednesday, March 7 and no later than Wednesday, March 14.  
  15. View video about why you see your breath when it is cold.  
  16. View video about why we get fog.
  17. View video Weather Lab with Highland Park Elementary Students.
  18. View video forecast by KSL.com.
  19. Create a line graph at NCES Kids Zone - Create a Graph - using your data and hand-made graph as reference.
  20. Consult Weather Dictionary for Kids if needed.

When you finish early -

Product - 

  • Write and record a weather forecast.
  • You may work alone, with a partner or with your team on this product.  
  • Use your Ipad to record your forcast.
  • On March 16, the last day of this unit, you will  present the project in our classroom.
  • Weather journals will be turned in for a grade.  

Ideas for a video product include but are not limited to;

  • Real weather forecast for the near future
  • What a forecast for a dangerous weather incident may have been
  • Instructional video about how to be safe in a lightning storm, how to prepare for a hurricane, use of measuring tools, what is barometric pressure?, how are clouds formed?

 




Evaluation

Evaluation

This is how your weather journal will be evaluated.

Weather Journal  Excellent 2 points Fair 1 point Needs Improvement 0 points
Illustrations More than one weather-related illustration One weather-related illustration No weather-related illustrations
Graphs Complete and readable Somewhat complete and readable Very incomplete
Rough Draft of Presentation Complete and readable Somewhat complete and readable Very incomplete 
5 Point Observation Complete and readable Somewhat complete and readable Very incomplete
Summary Complete and readable Somewhat complete and readable Very incomplete
Neat & Tidy Good handwriting, well-cared-for Fair handwriting, cared-for Poor handwriting, not cared-for
Data Chart -  10 Days of Measurements Complete records Somewhat complete records Very incomplete







Conclusion

Conclusion

Reflect about what you did and what you learned from this weather unit.  How did you learn about weather?  Discuss this with your classmates and write a 1 paragraph summary in the back of your weather journal.  

You have finished your weather unit.  There is still a lot to be learned about weather.  If you are interested, please feel free to check out the sites listed below.  There are lots of good books about weather as well.

Links - 









Credits

Credits

Thank you to Lesile Lewis a Ed. Tech. Specialist for the Salt Lake City School District.  The ideas and links for this site come from the Webquest called Whether It Will or Whether it Won't, Utah Weather is always Changing!  Changes were made by Jamie Pollei a 4th grade educator.

Permissions We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited. The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions. See the Creative Commons Attribution • Non-Commercial• Share-Alike license for details.