How Do Weather And Climate Affect Our Lives?
How Do Weather And Climate Affect Our Lives?
This module is currently being field tested and is not available for purchase.
How Do Weather and Climate Affect Our Lives? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is designed to address a bundle of third grade earth and space science and engineering standards. In this module, students:
- Test two anemometers in order to identify failure points and determine which one would be best to measure wind speed.
- Analyze and interpret weather data to identify patterns to predict when the weather will be good to fly a kite.
- Use patterns in past weather data as well as information about the climate of an area to support an argument about whether a location could have snow on July 15.
- Design, build, and test a roof in order to recommend roof structures that will reduce the risk of damage from a hurricane.
- Analyze patterns in past weather data to support an argument about the best time and location to host a soccer tournament
Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.
Family Letter
Before starting How Do Weather and Climate Affect Our Lives?, share the Family Letter with students’ caregivers. Indicate how they should submit responses to the letter.
Day 1 Kite Flying (1:33 minutes)
This video shows students from Mr. Lee’s class flying their kite on the first day.
Day 2 Kite Flying (0:33 minutes)
This video shows students from Mr. Lee’s class flying their kite on the second day.
Anemometers (0:50 minutes)
This video shows four different anemometers.
Kite Template
This file is a template for making a kite. Print it on 11 x 17 inch paper.
How to Make a Kite
https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=25670953-C837-CCC0-4ECA07BD911BB455
This National Park Service link provides video directions to make a kite.
Weather Station (0:08 minutes)
This video shows a weather station.
Rain Gauge
This file shows a rain gauge.
Weather Balloon (0:17 minutes)
This video shows a weather balloon launch.
Live Doppler Radar Map
Click on “Live Radar.” If there is no precipitation in the zoomed region surrounding the school, zoom out. The color key at the top of the screen shows colors that represent rain, mixed rain and snow, and snow. Clicking on the (play button) shows radar over the past hour.
Navigate to the “Radar” tab to find the radar map. If there is no precipitation in the zoomed region surrounding the school, zoom out. The color key at the top of the screen shows colors that represent light and heavy rain, mixed rain and snow, and snow. Clicking on the (play button) shows radar over the past 2 hours.
Live Satellite Map
Click on “Live Radar.” Under “Weather Overlay,” choose “Satellite.” Clicking on the (play button) shows satellite images over the past 12 hours.
https://www.weather.gov/satellite
Choose the correct region from the left side menu. Choose “Animation Loop” under the “GeoColor” menu. Set the “Loop:” to 24 to view satellite images over the past 2 hours.
Wind Speed at 12:30 p.m.
This weather map shows combined data from satellite, radar, and wind speed at 12:30 p.m. on the day students were not able to fly their kites.
Wind Speed Ranges
This file shows ranges of wind speeds that students can use to sort their data into high and low wind speed categories.
Pen Pal Playing Outside
This file shows a photograph from a pen pal.
Weather Words
This file gives students simple words to use to describe different climates.
Past Weather
This website gives past weather data for different locations in the US. Type the location of your school in the search field. Select the History tab and then select Daily to view high and low temperatures for July 15 of past years.
Pen Pals Letters Map
This file shows the location of five of Mrs. Reyes’s Pen Pals.
Climate Zone Map
This image is a simplified version of the Köppen map, showing five climate zones.
Map with Matching Cities
This image shows the cities on the Matching City cards on a simplified version of the Köppen map.
Past Temperatures on July 15
This file shows the past temperatures on July 15 for Ushuaia, Argentina; Stanley, Falkland Islands; Nanortalik, Greenland; and Queenstown, New Zealand.
Past Weather on July 15
These links can be used to find the past weather on July 15 for other locations that students might want to investigate.
Pen Pal Poster Directions
This file shows the requirements for the Pen Pal Poster.
Evidence for Pen Pal Claim
This file shows the evidence that students should use to support their pen pal claim.
Gueydan Map
This file shows the location of Gueydan, Louisiana.
Gueydan Weather (0:13 minutes)
This video shows weather in Gueydan, Louisiana, on October 9, 2020.
Gueydan Climate Zone
This file shows the location of Gueydan, Louisiana, and the climate zone of Gueydan, Louisiana.
Gueydan and Hurricane Map
This file shows the location of Gueydan, Louisiana, and common locations of hurricanes.
Newnan, Georgia Storm Damage
This video shows damage from a tornado in 2021 in Newnan, Georgia.
Roof Design Collaboration
This file can be used as a tool to help groups collaborate about and use evidence to inform their roof design.
Wind Test
This file provides directions for the wind test.
Roof Recommendations
This file provides guidance for what students should consider when they make their roof recommendation.
Kids Cup Cities
This is the list of cities that have submitted a bid to host the Kids Cup.
Map with Kids Cup Cities
This image shows the possible cities for the Kids Cup on a simplified version of the Köppen map.
Kids Cup Recommendation Poster
This file shows the requirements for the Kids Cups Poster.
Kit Tips & Tricks