Overview of Section Resources

Section 1: What Is the Weather?: Students learn that the Sun's uneven heating of Earth's surface causes changes in the weather. They observe a model of the water cycle, use a thermometer to measure air temperature, and learn weather symbols. Then they begin collecting daily weather data and recording it on a chart.
Section 2: Humidity, Dew, and Frost: Students use both a wet-bulb thermometer and a dry-bulb thermometer to measure relative humidity. They learn how dew forms and how to ﬁnd the dew point. They also observe frost forming. Students begin recording humidity on their weather charts.
Section 3: Clouds, Fog, and Rain: Students observe how clouds and fog form. They learn about types of clouds and the weather each brings. They begin recording clouds on their weather charts. Students discuss precipitation and use a rain gauge.
Section 4: Earth's Water Resources: Students graph the ratio of fresh vs. salty water on Earth. They research the source of their water and how much they use daily. Students learn about desalination, and how ﬁltration cleans wastewater.
Section 5: Wind Direction and Speed: Students learn that changes in the wind signal changes in the weather. They determine wind direction with a wind vane, estimate wind speed using the Beaufort scale, and measure wind speed with an anemometer. Students begin recording wind data on their weather charts.
Section 6: Weather Maps: Students learn that weather maps are compiled from weather stations across the country. They learn how to decode a station model and how to read weather data on a map.
Section 7: Air Pressure: Students discover that air has weight and exerts pressure in all directions, and that air pressure decreases as temperature or altitude increases. Students use a barometer and record air pressure data. They predict weather based on changes in air pressure.
Section 8: Air Masses and Fronts: Students discuss what happens when warm and cold air masses meet. They model the formation of fronts. They analyze a weather map and predict weather based on the location and movement of fronts.
Section 9: Convection Currents Cause Wind: Students model a convection current and learn that wind is the horizontal movement of air in the current. Then students distinguish between global and local winds.
Section 10: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Hurricanes: Students learn that all storms begin with rapidly rising, unstable air. Students model how tornadoes form. Then they research tornado and hurricane facts and report their ﬁndings.