Weather Brainstorm
What do you know about weather? You probably already know a lot.
Work with your STEM team to brainstorm about weather. Try to come up with as many ideas as you can. Think about types of weather, causes of weather and effects of weather. Use the Weather Brainstorm Tool on page 5 of your Engineering Portfolio to record your ideas, and answer the additional questions on page 6.
Severe or Not Severe?
Next, look at the following slideshow. Classify the weather you see as severe or not severe, and explain why. Use the table on page 7 in your Engineering Portfolio to record your ideas.
> Text version of Severe or Not Severe
Teacher Note
Before your class begins the activity on this page, divide children into STEM teams of about 4 students each. (See Appendix C of the Teacher's Guide for more information on forming STEM teams.) Next, have students turn to pages 5-7 of their Engineering Portfolios.
Essential Questions
- What is severe weather?
- How does severe weather impact people's lives?
Did You Know?
The air around the Earth is called the atmosphere. When the sun shines on the Earth, some parts of the atmosphere heat up more than others.
Watch the following video to find out more.
> Forces of Nature
(from National Geographic Kids)
