WEBSITES ON CLIMATE AND WEATHER
FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Access these sites through your computer’s Internet connection. Open the underlined address (URL). Information can be printed or downloaded to your computer. Be sure to follow links to other sites and find your way back with the "Back" button
All of the sites listed were active as of April 2008. The evaluation is by the AVA Center staff according to the amount of information given, the general appearance of the site and its potential use in the classroom.
For more sites on Climate and Climate Change, see our Earth Day and the Environment website list: Earth Day and the Environment
WEBSITES LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES WEBQUESTS
ALL ABOUT NATURAL DISASTERS
http://www.suelebeau.com/naturaldisasters.htm
A full page of links to
websites about natural disasters such as Tornadoes, Earthquakes,
Volcanoes, Hurricanes, Tsunamis, and Blizzards. Includes photos
and lesson plans. Excellent
CLIMATE AND GLOBAL CHANGE
NEW!
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/climate/climate.html
An examination for junior high
students and up of climate and climate changes. Includes an image
gallery and crossword puzzle. Excellent
CLIMATE ARK – CLIMATE CHANGE
AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTAL
http://www.climateark.org/
A huge site with information on
climate change, air pollution, global warming, renewable energy
resources and much, much more. Mostly a portal to other sites.
Excellent
CLOUDS – 42EXPLORE
NEW!
http://www.42explore.com/clouds.htm
Basic information on clouds for
upper elementary/middle school students with activities and
webquests. Excellent
DAN’S WILD, WILD WEATHER PAGE
http://www.wildwildweather.com/index.html
A terrific, fun site for kids
from Dan Satterfield, chief meteorologist at a TV station in
Alabama. Sections: Games & Puzzles, Listen to the Weather (sounds
of storms), Take a Tour of My Forecast Office, Weather Quizzes,
Geography, Live Weather on your Desktop and more. Includes a
terrific teacher’s guide with lesson plans and more. Outstanding.
Excellent
DROUGHT – 42EXPLORE
NEW!
http://www.42explore2.com/drought.htm
Basic information on drought
for upper elementary/middle school students with activities and
webquests. Excellent
EDUGREEN – MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL
LEARNING FUN FOR THE YOUNG
NEW URL!
http://www.edugreen.teri.res.in/index.asp
Environmental education for
students on life on earth, air pollution, climate change and much
more. Includes crossword puzzles, jokes, word search, quizzes,
poems, stories and more. Excellent
EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE
EVENTS NEW!
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/extremes.html
Information from NOAA on
extreme weather. Sections include: U.S. Hurricanes, Billion &&
Dollar Weather Disasters, Global Climate Change, Climate
Monitoring, Heavy Precipitation, Temperature Extremes & Drought
and more. Excellent
FOR KIDS ONLY – EARTH SCIENCE
ENTERPRISE
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/
An Earth Science site for kids.
Sections: Air, Natural Hazards, Land, Water, and People. Includes
games, quizzes, puzzles, and more. Includes a Teacher’s Guide.
Excellent
FRANKLIN’S FORECAST – CLASSROOM
ACTIVITIES
http://sln.fi.edu/weather/index.html
A 5-day weather forecast from
the Franklin Institute. Sections: Weather Right Now, Weather
Events, Radar, Lightning, Weather Satellite, Weather Activities
and more. Don’t miss the activities. Excellent
GANDER ACADEMY’S HURRICANES
THEME PAGE
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/hurricanes.htm
A student-created site with
information on hurricanes. Sections include: Activities, Hunting
Hurricanes, Weather Theme, Current Hurricane Weather, Hurricane
Satellite Images, Hurricane Hazards, Naming Hurricanes, Teacher
Resources, and much, much more. Excellent
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/climate/GCmain.html
An educational module for
grades 5-12 in which students use the links provided to predict
the effects of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere on red
wheat yields in Kansas. Sections: Remote Sensing, Situation,
Wheat, and Carbon Dioxide. Excellent
GLOBAL WARMING – 42EXPLORE
NEW!
http://www.42explore.com/globewrm.htm
Basic information on global
warming for upper elementary/middle school students with
activities and webquests. Excellent
HURRICANE CITY – ATLANTIC
HURRICANE TRACKING
http://www.hurricanecity.com/
Hurricane tracking from Miami.
This is a big site with information on past and predicted
hurricanes. It includes live forecasts when storms are being
tracked. Includes This Area’s Storms Past (for the Atlantic City
area) Excellent
HURRICANE – 42EXPLORE
NEW!
http://www.42explore.com/hurricane.htm
Basic information on hurricanes
for upper elementary/middle school students with activities and
webquests. Excellent
THE HURRICANE HUNTERS
http://www.hurricanehunters.com/
The official site for the
Hurricane Hunters, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance
Squadron of the Air Force Reserve. A lot of information and
terrific photos. Includes an Ask a Hurricane Hunter page and
several videos. Excellent
A HURRICANE HUNTER’S PHOTO
ALBUM
http://home.att.net/~typhoon1/index.html
A virtual tour aboard a
"hurricane hunter" plane as it goes into the hurricane to record
weather data. You can follow sequentially or view thumbnails of
the photos. The sequential tour gives a description of the photo
and what is happening throughout the plane during a flight into a
storm. Also includes a FAQ page and links. Excellent
INTERACTIVE WEATHER MAKER
NEW!
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/weather/
"What would it be like to be a
real weather person - not just someone who reports the weather,
but someone who can actually control it? Well here's your chance.
Using our Interactive Weather Maker, you'll be able to turn a
sunny day into a windy day. Or create a rainy day. And if you
create the correct conditions, you can make a blizzard - complete
with a whiteout!"
Excellent
KIDS CROSSING: LOOK OUT FOR DANGEROUS WEATHER!
NEW!
http://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/index.htm
Information, activities and safety tips on
weather events. Colorful and packed with information. Excellent
KIDSTORM – FACTS ABOUT TORNADOES – LIGHTNING –
HURRICANES – STORM CHASING
NEW!
http://skydiary.com/kids/
Each section has links to information suitable
for students on tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes and storm
chasing. Click on the Gallery for a huge gallery of photos and
storm chasing stories. Excellent
MOUNT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY
WEATHER DISCOVERY CENTER
NEW URL!
http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/
Resources on the weather from
the Mount Washington Observatory. Sections: Weather, The
Observatory, The Weather Notebook and more. Go to the Weather
Arcade (scroll down) for lots of classroom activities (K-8).
Excellent
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
The official site for our U.S.
weather. Sections: Warnings, Current Observations, Forecasts,
Maps/Models, Weather Safety, Education, Information Center and
more. Check out the Education section for Teacher’s Guides, audio
& video clips, Student activities, Play Time for Kids and more.
Excellent
NOAA.GOV – NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
http://www.noaa.gov/
The official site for the
government agency responsible for weather, climate, the oceans
and the atmosphere. Includes: Question of the Month, Stories
Archive, s Stories, Weather, Ocean, Satellites, Fisheries,
Climate, Research, Coasts, Charting & Navigation, Cool NOAA
Websites, Storm Watch and more. Excellent
NOAA PHOTO LIBRARY IMAGE
COLLECTIONS NEW URL!
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/
Collections of photos from
NOAA. Click on Collections at the top to view the various
collections. Very Good
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY WEATHER
PAGES NEW URL!
http://php.scripts.psu.edu/dept/ur/weather/index.php
A huge amount of up-to-date
weather information. Sections: Real-Time Northeast U.S. Hourly
Analyses; Model Forecast & Cross Sections Movies; Virtual Reality
Weather Page; Hourly U.S. Weather Statistics; Decoded Offshore
Weather Data; User Weather Observations; and Northeast U.S.
Weather Page. Outstanding. Excellent
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HURRICANE
TRACKING AND PLOTTING
http://stormcarib.com/guide.htm
Just what it says. A guide to
tracking hurricanes and interpreting the reports from weather
forecasters with a lot of details. Specific to the Caribbean
hurricanes which can affect the Mid-Atlantic States. Excellent
PSC WEATHER CENTER
http://vortex.plymouth.edu/home.html
This site is for the Weather
Center for Plymouth State College in Hampshire. It has a vast
amount of detailed weather information, much of it interactive.
Includes charts for tracking storms and historical storm data.
Good for students. Excellent
SILA: CLUE IN TO CLIMATE CHANGE
NEW!
http://www.nature.ca/sila/hm_e.cfm
"We invite you to explore a
place where climate is changing faster than anywhere else on
earth: the Arctic. What's up with climate change
in the Arctic? What does it mean for northern people, plants and
animals? Where else in the world are similar changes happening?
What can we do about it? Step right up and discover how climate
change at the top of the world is everyone's business, no matter
where you live."
Sections:
Introduction, Adventure, Awareness, What Now?, and Quiz. Includes
a section for Educators with lesson plans. Excellent
SNOW – 42EXPLORE
NEW!
http://www.42explore.com/snow.htm
Basic information on snow for
upper elementary/middle school students with activities and
webquests. Excellent
SNOW/WINTER LINKS
NEW!
http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek3/snow.htm
A collection of links to sites
about snow and winter. Excellent
THE SOLAR SCHOOL
http://das.ee.unsw.edu.au/~solar/
A site for students on our
climate and environment. Sections: The Greenhouse Effect, Global
Warming, Renewable Energy, Little Bay, and The PV Power Station.
Excellent
TORNADOES – 42EXPLORE
NEW!
http://www.42explore.com/tornadoes.htm
Basic information on tornadoes
for upper elementary/middle school students with activities and
webquests. Excellent
TROPICAL TWISTERS – HURRICANES:
HOW THEY WORK AND WHAT THEY DO
NEW!
http://kids.mtpe.hq.nasa.gov/archive/hurricane/index.html
An explanation from NASA about
hurricanes. Includes information about the Hurricane Hunters,
provides a VRT tour of a hurricane and includes a word search
puzzle. Excellent
WEATHER – ABOUT.COM
NEW!
http://weather.about.com/
Extensive information about
weather. Not just for students. Sections include: Atmosphere and
Precipitation; Hurricanes and Typhoons; Tornadoes; Activities and
Experiments; Severe Storms and Lightning; Study and Teach
Weather; Photo Gallery; Weather by Country; Weather History;
Climate, Ozone & Pollution; Glossary and Ask a Weather Expert.
Excellent
WEATHER/CLIMATE WEBSITE LINKS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/weather.html
A full page of links to
weather/climate sites. Sections: Research/Informational Sites,
Offline Lesson Plans/Activities, Online Lesson Plans, Online
Project, Online Activity and Online Quiz. Excellent
THE WEATHER DOCTOR
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/doctor.htm
An extensive site with a large
number of articles explaining everything about the weather. Use
the Main Menu on the left to navigate. (Note: Some commercial
content in the right frames) Sections: Weather Eyes, Weather
Almanac, Weather Phenomenon & Elements, Weather Journal, Weather
Events, Weather People & History, Weather Whys, Weather and Arts,
Weather and Life, Weather Reviews, and more. Excellent
THE WEATHER DUDE
http://www.wxdude.com/
A colorful site from Nick
Walker, meteorologist with The Weather Channel. Sections: Weather
Basics-An Online Book, Meteorology A-Z, Forecasts, Maps &
Records, Weather Songs, Stuff for Teachers/Parents (including
lesson plans & activity sheets), Stuff for Kids and Atmospheric
Art. Excellent
THE WEATHER EYE
http://weathereye.kgan.com/
A fun, colorful site to teach
children about the weather. Sections: Cadet Section (grades 2-8),
Expert Section (grades 6-12), Teacher’s Lounge (lesson plans &
activities), and Parents’ Center. Excellent
WEATHER-RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR
PRIMARY STUDENTS NEW!
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/weather.shtml
Weather-related activities for
primary students such as poems, crafts, printable worksheets,
spelling worksheets, weather-related printable books and more.
Excellent
THE WEATHER WORLD 2010 PROJECT
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/home.rxml
"WW2010 (the weather world 2010
project) is a WWW framework for integrating current and archived
weather data with multimedia instructional resources using and
innovative technologies."
Includes
Online Guides, Classroom Activities, Archives and more. Excellent
WEB WEATHER FOR KIDS
http://www.ucar.edu/40th/webweather/
A fun, colorful site for
students with activities that can be done at home or in the
classroom. A Teacher Tips section gives teacher tips for each
activity (click on the list of activities). Excellent
WHAT’S UP WITH THE WEATHER?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/warming/
A PBS site on weather and
climate changes. "The overwhelming majority of scientists
agree: earth's temperature has risen during the past century. But
is it due to man's use of fossil fuel energy? And if so, how can
we prevent the catastrophic results that some scientists predict
if global warming continues? In "What's Up with the Weather?"
NOVA and FRONTLINE join forces to investigate the science and
politics of one of the most controversial issues of the 21st
century: the truth about global warming."
Excellent
WIND – 42EXPLORE
NEW!
http://www.42explore.com/wind.htm
Basic information on wind for
upper elementary/middle school students with activities and
webquests. Excellent
WHYY FILES – ENVIRONMENTAL
INFORMATION
http://whyfiles.org/oldframes/biglist.html
Scroll down to the
Environmental section for sections on: Air Pollution, Global
Warming, Hurricanes, Climatology, Butter’s Best (air pollution),
Melting Glaciers, Cooling Climate, Dusty Skies, El Niño,
Tornadoes, and more. Excellent
ALL ABOUT SNOW
NEW!
http://nsidc.org/snow/index.html
Extensive information about
snow including FAQs, Articles and Photos. Very Good
BILLY AND MARIA’S WEATHER
COLORING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/bm/bm_main.html
Simple coloring book to print
out for kids on weather. You may have to look around the page for
the link to the PDF file. Very Good
BLIZZARDS AND SNOW THEME PAGE
NEW!
http://www.cln.org/themes/blizzards.html
A collection of links to
information on blizzards and snow. Very Good
CIRCLES OF LIGHT – THE
MATHEMATICS OF RAINBOWS
http://www.geom.umn.edu/education/calc-init/rainbow/
An activity in which students
determine how rainbows are formed and where they are most likely
to occur. Very Good
CLIMATE HISTORY
http://www.scotese.com/climate.htm
The Earth’s climate has changed
drastically and frequently over millions of years. Includes
detailed information on the climate in early geologic eras and an
animation showing the climate changes. Very Good
CLOUD RESOURCES ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/clouds.htm
A page of resources for
elementary students on clouds. Very Good
DROUGHT: A PALEO PERSPECTIVE
NEW!
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/drought/drght_home.html
"This Web site was designed to
explain how paleoclimatic data can provide information about past
droughts and about the natural variability of drought over
timescales of decades to millennia. We note that droughts are a
world wide phenomenon and affect the global community. However,
the focus of these Web pages is North America."
Sections: The Beginning, The Story, The Data, A
Final Word. Very Good
EARTH FROM SPACE – ASTRONAUTS’
VIEWS OF THE HOME PLANET
http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/
A large collection of space
shuttle photos of the Earth. Very Good
EL NIÑO – A CHILD OF THE
TROPICS
http://library.thinkquest.org/20901/?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0520
A student-created site on the
weather phenomenon El Niño. Sections: Introduction, The Hype, The
Impacts, Interactive Timeline, La Niña, Prediction Methods, and
The Preparation. Very Good
EL NIÑO – AN INTRODUCTION
http://kids.mtpe.hq.nasa.gov/archive/nino/intro.html
An introduction from NASA on
the effects of El Niño. It explains how the weather phenomenon
has far-reaching effects such as killing coral reefs. Includes
three classroom activities. Very Good
EL NIÑO – HOT AIR OVER HOT
WATER
http://sln.fi.edu/weather/nino/nino.html
The Franklin Institute’s site
on El Niño. It starts with simple experiments on the effects of
hot water on the atmosphere and delves into the science. Very
Good
FAQ: HURRICANES, TYPHOONS, AND
TROPICAL CYCLONES
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/tcfaqHED.html
An extensive list of questions
and answers from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration). (Scroll down) Very Good
HURRICANE VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP
NEW!
http://www.field-trips.org/sci/hurricane/
A virtual field trip for middle school
students. Students follow the links to learn about hurricanes.
Very Good
HURRICANES
NEW!
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/weather/hurricane/
Information for elementary
students on hurricanes. Very Good
HURRICANES – HOW STUFF WORKS
NEW!
http://www.howstuffworks.com/hurricane.htm
Read the article about
hurricanes and follow the many links to more information. Ignore
the ads. Very Good
INTRODUCTION TO TORNADOES
NEW!
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/weather/tornado/
Information for elementary
students on tornadoes. Very Good
LIGHTNING AND THUNDER TUTORIAL
FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
NEW!
http://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255w03/cs255students/awozniak/p6/tutorialMain.html
"Here you can begin to find
some answers, starting with lightning and thunder, that will help
you understand one element of the larger picture: weather and the
atmospheric conditions around us. You will be able to learn and
understand the following: what causes lightning, how lightning
forms and what happens when it forms, what thunder is and what it
means, what causes thunder, and a few good safety tips to help
prepare and protect yourself from the dangers of lightning during
a thunderstorm."
Also good for junior
high students. Very Good
MCS WEATHER
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00848/
A site for students by students
on weather. Sections: Blizzards, Forecast, Hurricanes,
Interactivities, Thunderstorms and Tornados. Very Good
NASA LIGHTNING PRIMER
http://thunder.msfc.nasa.gov/primer/
A primer on lightning. Very
Good
NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS
LABORATORY
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/
NOAA’s leading weather research
facility. Includes a Teacher’s Guide. Very Good
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WEATHER CALCULATOR
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/elp/wxcalc/wxcalc.shtml
A set of conversion charts for
calculating weather. Includes: Temperature Conversions, Moisture
Conversions, Pressure Conversions, Wind Conversions and
Miscellaneous. Very Good
NOAA KIDS ACTIVITY PAGES
NEW!
http://www.education.noaa.gov/sweather.html
Several different activities
for kids from NOAA. Very Good
NORTHEAST REGIONAL CLIMATE
CENTER
http://met-www.cit.cornell.edu/
The regional climate center for
the northeastern states. Sections: Climate Data & Products,
Climate Monitoring & Assessment, Educational Resources, Weather &
Climate Links. Very Good
THE SAVAGE SEAS – THE WEATHER
FACTORY
http://www.thirteen.org/savageseas/weather-main.html
Contains a satellite image
viewer and animations showing weather phenomena. Sections:
Cyclones of the Sea, Ice and Icebergs, El Niño and Global
Warming, and more. Very Good
SNOW CRYSTALS
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/
A wealth of information of on
snowflakes and snow crystals, both natural and man-made. Includes
a lot of photos and directions on making your own photos. Also
the scientific facts about snowflakes and crystal growth. Very
Good
SNOWTASTIC SNOW
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/3876/
A site for students by students
on snow. Sections: Literature, Health and Sports, History,
Science, Games, and Activities. Very Good
SUPERTYPHOON
http://www.supertyphoon.com/
Information on typhoons,
cyclones and hurricanes (same thing-different names). Sections:
Satellite Images, Tropical Cyclone Advisories, Coastal Radar,
MPEG Animations, Sea Surface Temperatures, Numerical Models and
more. Very Good
SWIRL – SEVERE WEATHER INSTITUTE RESEARCH LAB
NEW!
http://movies.warnerbros.com/twister/cmp/swirl.html
Originally set up as of the promotion for the
movie "Twister", this site has very good information on
tornadoes. Sections: Introductory Information, Safety
Information, General Glossary, Tornado Intensity Scale, Warning
Definitions, Severe Event Location Codes, Tornado Statistics
(1950-1994), 1995 Killer Tornadoes and Storm Chaser’s Guide. Very
Good
TERRORS OF THE SKY: HURRICANES
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01529/
A site for students by students
on hurricanes. Sections: Introduction, Formation, Possible
Damage, Saffir-Simpson Scale, Categories of SSS, Naming, Past
Hurricanes, Protection, Picture Gallery, and Quiz. Very Good
THE TORNADO PROJECT
http://www.tornadoproject.com/
Information on tornadoes, past
and predicted. Check out the Storm Cellar’s Game Room for
crossword puzzles. This is a real enthusiast’s site and it has a
lot of photos and tips. Included is a diary of a "tornado tour"
in which groups act as storm chasers. The Curiosity Corner shows
devices scientists tried to insert into tornadoes to record storm
data. Very Good
THE WEATHER CHANNEL – EDUCATION
http://www.weather.com/education/?from=footer
The Weather Classroom, a daily
broadcast is aimed at students. Teachers can tape this every day
without copyright restrictions. In addition, check out the
Weather.com Resources section of the Teacher’s Lounge for
classroom activities. Very Good
WEATHER FOLKLORE AND WEATHER WITS
NEW!
http://members.aol.com/Accustiver/wxworld_folk.html
Weather proverbs, tips for calculating
temperature and humidity and more. Very Good
WEATHER NET CLASSROOM –
NATURE’S BIGGEST STORMS
NEW!
http://www.aws.com/aws_2001/schools/wx_mania/053003.htm
Information for students on
hurricanes. Includes a classroom activity, trivia and more. Very
Good
WEATHER PRINTABLE COLORING
PAGES NEW!
http://www.freeprintablecoloringpages.net/category/Weather
Scroll down the page for 40
printable weather coloring pages. Very Good
WEATHER SCIENCE HOTLIST
NEW!
http://www.fi.edu/learn/hotlists/weather.php
A collection of link to sites
about weather. Sections: Online Exhibits, Weather Right Now,
Background Information, Severe Weather, El Niño/El Niña,
Historical Weather, Career Connections, Activities, Atmosphere,
and Weather Forecasting. Very Good
WEATHER WIZ KIDS
NEW!
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/index.htm
Weather information for
elementary students by meteorologist Crystal Wicker. Good
explanations for students about various weather phenomena such as
lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, wind and more. Very Good
WEATHER – WHAT FORCES AFFECT
OUR WEATHER? NEW!
http://www.learner.org/interactives/weather/
Online interactive activities
from Annenberg. Sections: Introduction, The Atmosphere, The Water
Cycle, Powerful Storms, Ice and Snow, Forecasting, Our Changing
Earth, and Related Resources. Very Good
THE WIND: OUR FIERCE FRIEND
http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/units/energy/wind.html
Information and links from the
Franklin Institute on wind. Includes classroom activities. Very
Good
AMERICAN RED CROSS – DISASTER
SERVICES
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/
Information from the American
Red Cross on how to prepare for a serious storm and what services
they can provide in the aftermath. Good
BAD METEOROLOGY
http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/BadMeteorology.html
A site that looks at "bad" and
inaccurate statements about the weather that have been
perpetuated in the classroom and the media. Good
BLIZZARDS
NEW!
http://www.ussartf.org/blizzards.htm
Good information on blizzards. Good
CHASE DAY – TORNADO CHASERS
http://www.chaseday.com/
An image site for tornado
chasers, weather lovers, etc. Images of tornadoes and hailstorms.
Good
CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK
NEW URL!
http://www.climatenetwork.org/
An Australian-based
organization devoted to climate change. Good
CLIMATE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER
http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/
The site for NOAA’s climate
research. Sections: CDC At a Glance, Research at CDC, Focus
Topics, Data Access & Plotting, and Climate & Weather. Good
CLOUD GUIDE
NEW URL!
http://www.uen.org/weather/clouds/cloud_id.shtml
A simple guide to the different
kinds of clouds. Good
CLOUD TYPES
NEW!
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/cldtyp/home.rxml
Descriptions and photos of
types of clouds. Good
COLD SCIENCE – SCIENCE, LIFE
AND TRAVEL IN EARTH’S COLD REGIONS
NEW!
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/coldscience/acoldsci.htm
An article and links about life
and conditions in Arctic and Antarctic regions. Good
EL NIÑO AND CLIMATE PREDICTION
NEW!
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/gcg/RTN/rtnt.html
A report on changes in the
climate and global climate predictions. For older students. Good
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY UNIT SNOW
PAGE NEW!
http://emu.arsusda.gov/snowsite/default.html
Electron microscope images of
snow crystals. For senior high or advanced students. Good
EMERGENCY EDUCATION QUIZ
http://www.beprepared.com/Articles/Education.html
A short quiz on being prepared
for a weather-related disaster or other natural disaster (such as
an earthquake). Short but effective. Good
EXTREME WEATHER SOURCEBOOK 2001
http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/sourcebook/
Full title: "Economic and
Other Societal Impacts Related to Hurricanes, Floods, Tornadoes,
Lightning, and Other U.S. Weather Phenomena"
A simple fact
book on weather-related storm damage in the U.S. in 2001 and in
previous years. Sections: Hurricanes, Floods, Tornadoes, U.S.
Composite, Lightning and Other. Good
EXTREME WEATHER
http://library.thinkquest.org/12093/?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0520
A student-created website on
extreme weather. Sections: Radar and Warning Systems; Tornadoes,
Cyclones; & Microbursts; Hurricanes; Regional Weather
Expressions; Tornado Alley Game; Other Weather Resources; and
References. Good
THE FARMER’S ALMANAC WEATHER
http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather/weather.html
For decades, the Farmer’s
Almanac long-range weather forecasts were the primary source of
weather information for much of the country. This site explains
how they do the forecasts (without revealing their "secret
formula" and provides links to other websites. Good
GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE SERVER
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/
Images from the geostationary
satellites in orbit. Good
GLOBAL HYDROLOGY AND CLIMATE
CENTER
http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/
A combined academic and
government study the global water cycle and its effects on
climate. Sections: Satellite Images, Weather Forecast, s,
Research, Education, and Climate Impacts. Good
GLOBAL WARMING: WILL IT AFFECT
YOU? NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/J003411/
A site for students by students
on global warming. Sections: Agriculture, Recreation, Health,
Regional Effects and Causes. Good
GRAPHING STRATOSPHERIC OZONE
http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/ozone/graphing.html
A classroom activity for grade
9 students in which they must take data from NASA images and
graph the ozone in the stratosphere. Good
HEAT WAVE INFORMATION
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
Information from the National
Weather Service about heat and heat waves. It shows the Heat
Index and how high heat affects the body as well as ways to
escape the heat. Good
HURRICANE AND STORM TRACKING
FOR THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS
http://hurricane.terrapin.com/
The Storm Track system follows
major storms. Information includes satellite images and reports
when a storm is being tracked. Good
HURRICANE MOVIE CATALOG
NEW!
http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/rsd/movies/movies.html
A collection of online video clips of various
hurricanes. Access with Windows Media Player or QuickTime. Good
HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM DATA
http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/index.html
A collection of detailed
information on hurricanes and tropical storms including tracking
charts, winds, and other measured phenomena. Good
ICE SCULPTURES
NEW!
http://darkblueworld.smugmug.com/gallery/1041280/#P-1-15
Images of some fantastic ice
sculptures. Good
INTELLICAST.COM – WEATHER FOR
ACTIVE LIVES
http://www.intellicast.com/
Weather forecasts for anywhere
in the U.S. Good
JIM REED SEVERE WEATHER
PHOTOGRAPHY
http://www.jimreedphoto.com/
An online catalog of photos of
severe weather from a prominent weather photographer. Look in the
online catalog for large thumbnail photos. Good
MAKING A WEATHER VANE
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/Experiment12.htm
Instructions for making a
simple weather vane. Good
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WIND
CHILL CHART
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/
There’s a difference between
how cold it is and how cold it feels. Here is the official
wind chill index that forecasters use. Good
NATURE’S LETHAL WEAPONS
http://s.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/202344.stm
Information from the BBC on
lethal storms. Good
OWLIE SKYWARN WEATHER PAGE
NEW URL!
http://noaa.kids.us/
Hosted by Owlie, NOAA’s
official mascot, this page has safety tips for kids on weather
disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes and flash floods. Good
PRINTABLE HURRICANE TRACKING CHART
NEW!
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gifs/track_chart.gif
A hurricane tracking chart that you can print
out for use in class. Good
SEVERE WEATHER PICTURES
NEW!
http://www.angelfire.com/la/ussevereweatherpics/
Photos of severe weather such as thunderstorms,
lightning, etc. Ignore the ads. Good
SEVERE WEATHER VISUALIZATIONS
NEW!
http://www.vets.ucar.edu/vg/categories/severe.shtml
Animated graphics showing
severe storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes. In addition to
Severe Storms, click on Categories for Climate, El Niño
and La Niña, and Turbulence. For junior/senior high and up. Good
SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL STORMS
RIGHT NOW
http://members.tripod.com/~Post_119_Gulfport_MS/tropical.html
Worldwide forecasts for
tropical regions tracking storms. Good
SNOW AND ICE SCULPTURES
NEW!
http://www.nowpublic.com/node/176663/footage/list
Images of some fantastic snow
and ice sculptures. Good
STORM SPOTTING: AN INTRODUCTION
TO STORM OBSERVING AND REPORTING
NEW!
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/stormspotting/
A 4-part guide to learning
about storms and how to spot them. "Even
with all the technology used by the National Weather Service to
prepare severe weather warnings, storm spotters still give us the
most complete picture of what's really happening in and around
severe storms. Radar simply cannot tell us everything we need to
know. Storm spotters are the eyes and ears in the field.
For more than 60 years, storm
spotters have been the Nation’s first line of defense against
deadly storms. Working with their local communities and with the
local National Weather Service office, spotters provide
invaluable assistance and critical information to decision makers
when hazardous weather threatens. Countless lives have been saved
because of this unique partnership between volunteer storm
spotters, emergency management and the National Weather Service."
"This guide is intended to introduce you to the world of storm
spotting. It is NOT intended to replace the official training
that is offered by National Weather Service meteorologists each
year. Viewing a website cannot substitute for attendance and
participation in a 2-3 hour training session, so if you are
interested in learning more and becoming a storm spotter, you
should contact your local emergency management agency or the
National Weather Service."
Good
TORNADO ALLEY
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01927/
A site for students by students
on tornadoes. Sections: Damage, Formation, Characteristics,
Safety, and History. Good
THE TWISTER
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01533/welcome.htm
A site for students by students
on tornadoes. Sections: Welcome, Preview, History of Tornadoes,
Other Knowledge, and Interactive Corner. Good
WEATHER
NEW!
http://tooter4kids.com/weather/weatherindex.htm
Information on different types of weather for
elementary students. Suitable for grades 3-4. Good
THE WEATHER AND YOU
NEW!
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/weather/
Information for elementary
students on weather. Sections: Types of Weather, How Weather
Happens, Meteorology, Activities, Weather Web Sites, and
References. Good
WEATHER CAMERAS
NEW!
http://www.tvweather.com/tv_cams.htm
A collection of weather cameras
around the US and Canada. Some of these cams are not working.
Good
THE WEATHER CHANNEL
http://www.weather.com/
Official site of The Weather
Channel. Includes forecasts for anywhere in the U.S. Sections:
Health, Travel, Home & Garden, Recreation, Sporting Events, and
Golf. Good
WEATHER GLOSSARY
NEW!
http://www.weather.com/glossary/
A weather glossary from the
weather channel. Good
THE WEATHER LEGACY OF ADMIRAL
SIR FRANCIS BEAUFORT
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/history/beaufort.htm
A biographical sketch of Sir
Francis Beaufort, who developed the Wind Force Scale still in use
today. Good
WEATHER LORE
NEW!
http://www.gardendigest.com/weather.htm#Lore
Weather sayings and proverbs. Good
WEATHER LORE, JINGLES AND PROVERBS
NEW!
http://www.met.tamu.edu/class/Metr304/Dir-test/lore.html
A list of weather proverbs and jingles with an
explanation of their meaning. Good
WEATHER: RAINBOWS – E-THEMES
NEW!
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001096.shtml
A collection of links for
information on rainbows for students at the elementary level.
Good
WINTER – LINKS
NEW!
http://www.picadome.fcps.net/lab/currl/weather/winter.htm
A collection of links to sites
about winter and snow. Good
WINTER WEATHERLORE AND FOLKLORE
FORECASTS NEW!
http://www.stormfax.com/wxlore.htm
"Folklore is different from
weatherlore, but both are interesting and entertaining, and both
have been around for thousands of years. Folklore are
beliefs based on fear and superstition. Weatherlore is
based on observation of the environment and the effects that
changes in the weather have on insects, animals, birds and
people."
A collection of weather
sayings. Good
LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE – LESSON
PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=323
A lesson plan for grades 9-12
on climate change. "Until a few years ago, it was believed
that earth's climate changes gradually. But results from ice
cores and other geologic records of past temperature changes
indicate that this is not necessarily the case and that abrupt
climate changes may be the norm rather than the exception. In
this lesson, students will be introduced to some recent ideas
about abrupt climate change. This will give them a glimpse into
how scientific theories are formed and refined by data."
Excellent
THE ACTIVE EARTH – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g35/earth.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on
natural phenomena. "This lesson provides an introduction to
some natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and
hurricanes. Students will read about and view pictures of these
phenomena and will create posters or a mural depicting the things
they have seen." Excellent
AIR CONDITIONING: ANALYZING THE
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN CLIMATE RESEARCH AND ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010612tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on climate research. "In this lesson, students explore the
roles that United States government agencies play in weather
forecasting, climate control, and other climate-related
environmental issues. Students then write letters to President
Bush recommending how a National Climate Service could be
organized using resources from these established agencies."
Excellent
AND NOW FOR THE WEATHER (AND
CLIMATE) REPORT: ANALYZING DATA RELATED TO WEATHER AND CLIMATE –
LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20070605tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on weather for
grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students make basic weather
predictions and investigate a weather cable channel and its
response to climate change. They then interpret and compare
charts and graphs about weather and climate and reflect on how
climate changes impact their own life and the business
community."
Excellent
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURES:
PROPOSING THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20021203tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on climate policy. "In this lesson, students research past,
present and proposed climate change policies. They will then
develop timelines based on different predictions of climate
change effects and assess the likelihood of each timeline playing
out in reality."
Excellent
BLOWING IN THE WIND – LESSON
PLAN NEW!
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM298&page=teacher
A lesson plan on wind
generation for grades 9-12. "Wind
energy is becoming a viable alternative to more traditional forms
of energy generation. In this lesson, students will determine the
feasibility of wind generation in different areas of the United
States. Finally, students will explore the possible role of
government in providing incentives for wind energy generation."
Excellent
BLOWING THROUGH HISTORY:
EXAMINING THE HISTORY OF HURRICANES IN THE UNITED STATES TO
CREATE A LIBRARY REFERENCE GUIDE – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040817tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on hurricanes. "In this lesson, students will explore
hurricanes, consider the damage caused by Hurricane Charley, and
research various hurricanes that have hit the United States to
create a class guide on these major storms." Excellent
BREEZY, CHILLING OR FREEZING?:
EXPLORING DIFFERENCE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT COLD – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040210tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on cold. "In this lesson, students assess factors which
influence how different individuals perceive the weather. They
then research and write dialogues exploring particular aspects
which affect a person's sense of being "cold.""
Excellent
CELEBRATE WINTER! – LESSON
PLANNING ARTICLE NEW!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson094.shtml
An article for teachers
planning lessons on winter. Includes background information and
suggestions for lessons and activities. Excellent
CLEARING THE AIR: EXPLORING
EMISSIONS AND SUBSTANCES THAT INFLUENCE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE –
LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20001003tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on climate change. "In this lesson, students investigate a
variety of emissions that contribute to global warming. As
presenters at a mock international summit, students prepare
recommendations for reversing the global warming trend."
Excellent
CLIMATE AND CO2: ANALYZING
THEIR RELATIONSHIP – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g912/co2.html
A lesson plan on climate.
"In this lesson students will speculate
on various scenarios of future world climates if the greenhouse
effect increases."
Excellent
CLIMATE CONTROL: STUDYING THE
EARTH’S BIOMES AND EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DAILY LIFE
AND THE ENVIRONMENT – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000105wednesday.html?
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on climate. "In this lesson, students work in groups to
explore the locations, characteristics, and natural and human
dangers to the Earth's biomes to better understand the
relationship between daily life and the environment."
Excellent
CLIMATE CONTROLS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/climatecontrols.html
A lesson plan on climate for
grades 6-8. "This lesson has students consider how various
parts of the world and the United States are affected by climate
controls such as world air currents. They will read about climate
controls and will create maps showing how these controls affect
the climate in various places around the country."
Excellent
CLIMOGRAPHS: TEMPERATURE,
PRECIPITATION AND THE HUMAN CONDITION – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/15/g912/pgafrica4.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12
on climographs. "Climographs are a graphic way of displaying
climate information; specifically, average temperature and
precipitation. They are a valuable tool in studying climate, but
also can be used to infer connections between climate and human
conditions. In this lesson, students learn about how to read,
analyze, and construct climographs. They also practice matching
climographs to locations in the United States and in Africa, and
discerning climate patterns and making some predictions about
their effects on humans in different places in Africa."
Excellent
THE CLOUD IN THE BOTTLE –
LESSON PLAN
http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Meteorology/MET0003.html
A lesson plan for
grades 4-12 on cloud formation. "Students are somewhat
interested in the weather and can be made increasingly aware of
cloud formation by this rather simple in class demonstration.
PURPOSE: The purpose to this activity is to demonstrate to the
students the direct affects of pressure and temperature on cloud
formation."
Excellent
CLOUDS CLOUDS CLOUDS – LESSON
PLAN
http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Meteorology/MET0201.html
A lesson plan for
grades 5-6 on clouds. "In this lesson, students will learn
about different types of clouds, the levels in which the clouds
are classified, and the precipitation associated with them. In
groups, students will gather information about clouds from a
CD-ROM and then enter the information into a teacher-made
database. Students will also use web cams from the Internet to
make predictions about weather for cities across the country."
Excellent
COMMERCE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN –
LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/11/g68/commerce.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on
how monsoons affect maritime trading in the Indian Ocean.
"This lesson will introduce students to the geographic features
of the Indian Ocean and the critical role of the monsoon in
determining maritime trading patterns before the 16th century.
Students will research various historic ports along the borders
of the Indian Ocean and determine possible ways that local rulers
attracted merchants. They will assess the extent of commerce in
the Indian Ocean before the arrival of European ships in the 16th
century and how trading patterns changed there as a result."
Excellent
COUNTING ON THE HAVOC OF
HURRICANES: COMPARING STATISTICS OF HURRICANE FLOYD TO OTHER
RECENT HURRICANES: A MATH LESSON
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990916thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on hurricanes. "In this lesson, students define and classify
all the different ways in which numbers are used in forecasting
and coping with the effects of a hurricane. They then conduct
research to compare and contrast these numbers as they apply to
Hurricane Floyd and other recent hurricanes. Finally, they graph
their findings."
Excellent
CREATIVE CLIMATES – CLASSROOM
ACTIVITY NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/08/climates.html
A classroom activity for
multiple grades on climate.
"Snow in the
Sahara? Heat at the Poles? Cold tropics? Talk about disaster
areas! Until now, you may have thought that the biggest climatic
disaster was global warming. It's true, that's pretty hot stuff,
but things could get a whole lot worse if really wacky weather
began to occur. As the head of the Climate Observation Post,
you'll want to make sure you know all about the world's weather,
climate, and climate controls.
There are six climate zones in
the world: tropical, dry, mild, continental, polar, and high
elevation. Within each zone are further distinctions that
indicate a more specific type of climate.
Now that you're ready, create
your own illustrated climate map and match wits with the weather!
Using the climate map as a guide, print out a world map and
photographs of four of the world's climate zones. Use the
photographs to illustrate your climate map, and color in the
climate zones with shades that seem right to you. You might want
to use blue for polar regions, for instance, or red for desert
regions."
Excellent
DEFINING DROUGHT – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=437
A lesson plan for grades 9-12
on drought. "In this lesson, students will look at drought
from a variety of perspectives. The lesson focuses first on the
scientific definition of drought, including weather patterns,
water cycles, water requirements by plants and animals, and
physiological responses by plants and animals to drought. The
lesson also focuses on the current and historic social and
economic impacts of drought."
Excellent
DISCOVERY SCHOOL WEATHER LESSON
PLANS FOR TEACHERS
NEW URL!
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/weather.html#k-5
Twelve lesson plans on weather
from the Discovery Channel. Excellent
DUST IN THE WIND: EXPLORING THE
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DROUGHTS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000425tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on drought. "In this lesson, students investigate the causes
and effects of droughts by participating in a simulation 'town
hall meeting.' Acting as community members, students must make
informed decisions to help a town and its surrounding areas that
are suffering the effects of a prolonged drought."
Excellent
EDHEADS – WEATHER ACTIVITIES
NEW!
http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/
Fun, colorful weather
activities for elementary students. Includes a Teacher’s Guide.
Excellent
EL NIÑO – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=157
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on
El Niño. "This lesson explores these concepts in the context
of El Nino. El Nino is a mass of warm water that moves eastward
as trade winds relax. The warm water brings torrential rains to
parts of the world that are not prepared for such weather."
Excellent
EL NIÑO: MORE THAN JUST HOT
AIR? – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/gk2/seaselnino.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on
El Niño. "This lesson introduces young students to the El Niño
phenomenon by having them do a brief experiment and look at
pictures of El Niño, including some pictures drawn by
kindergarten and first grade students who experienced an El Niño
season."
Excellent
EL NIÑO: THE CHILD RETURNS –
LEARNING MODULE NEW!
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/elnino/elnino.html
A learning module for grades
9-12 on El Niño. "Faced with a rapidly changing situation, the
director of the World Bank and the president of the Northern
Insurance Negotiating Organization (Nino) have approached your
group of environmental consultants for advice in forecasting the
environmental conditions and economic impact that will accompany
this developing El Niño. They want to know not only what can be
expected from this El Niño with regard to weather, fisheries, and
crops, but also how its impact can be softened."
Sections:
Situation, Remote Sensing, The Spheres, and What is an El Niño?
Excellent
EMISSION STATEMENT: EXPLORING
HOW INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING AND ARE
AIMING TO COMBAT IT – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010725wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on global warming. "In this lesson, students investigate the
emission of greenhouse gases by industrialized nations. After
participating in an international global warming conference,
students assess whether or not the United States should take part
in the international climate accord."
Excellent
EXPLORING WEATHER CONDITIONS
THROUGH PAINTING – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2223/
A lesson plan for grades 5-8 on
weather conditions. "Students will learn about how weather
influences culture, daily life, and mood by examining paintings
depicting different types of weather. Students will demonstrate
their understanding by painting a picture depicting a particular
weather condition."
Excellent
THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE –
LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g35/trythishurricane.html
A lesson plan on hurricanes for
grades 3-5. "This lesson introduces
students to the structure of a hurricane, particularly the eye.
You might want to use it as an introduction to a unit on
hurricanes or weather phenomena. Students will view a video about
hurricanes, do a simple hurricane simulation, take a tour into
the eye of a hurricane, and write reports about their tour."
Excellent
EYE ON THE STORM: EXPLORING HOW
TRACKING THE HISTORY OF NATURAL DISASTERS HELPS PREDICT THE
FUTURE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010724tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on weather. "In this lesson, students first learn about how
geologists collect information about past hurricanes to determine
patterns that may help with storm prediction. They then research
the history of natural disasters in different regions of the
United States and develop regional insurance profiles based on
their findings and related predictions."
Excellent
GLOBAL WARMING – ISSUES IN
DEPTH NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/issues_in_depth/20060406.html
An in-depth look at Global
Warming with lesson plans and classroom activities. Excellent
GOING THE WAY THE WIND BLOWS:
EXAMINING HOW CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY AFFECTED PREHISTORIC
HUMANKIND – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20041006wednesday.html?
A lesson plan on how weather
affects man for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students will
consider the various ways geography has affected civilization,
then research how various species of ancient humans were affected
by geography and climate. They then create dioramas illustrating
their findings for a class exhibit, and write journal entries
from the perspective of their assigned prehistoric people."
Excellent
THE HEAT IS ON: CREATING
WEATHER EMERGENCY GUIDES IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990713tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on severe weather. "In this lesson, students research various
types of severe weather conditions common to their geographic
location and create weather emergency guides. Students work in
groups to develop guides for extreme weather conditions such as
heat waves, tornadoes, floods, and storms, focusing on
understanding the formation of these types of weather conditions,
forecast and surveillance methods, preparation, and safety
procedures in the event of an emergency."
Excellent
HOW’S THE WEATHER – IN AFRICA?
– LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/gk2/pgafrica1.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on
weather around the world. "In this lesson, students describe
and later compare how weather affects human activity in two
places on opposite sides of the world. Students first identify
the seasons and weather in their community and how human
activities are affected by weather. They then cross the globe and
compare how the weather of northern Africa impacts human
activities there. Students look for a connection between the two
environments and conclude that although the weather and
activities may be very different in both places, the impact of
weather on human activities is a common thread in human
communities all over the world."
Excellent
HOW’S THE WEATHER TODAY? – LESSON PLAN
NEW!http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/gk2/weathertoday.html
A lesson plan on weather for K-2. "This lesson asks students to think about the weather in their area and introduces them to weather and temperature trends in different latitudes of the United States. They will look at today's weather map and record the high temperatures for a few cities. Students will conclude by drawing pictures of themselves outdoors in their hometown and in another place that has different weather." Excellent
HURRICANES 1: THE SCIENCE OF
HURRICANES – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=312
Lesson 1 in a 2-part unit for
grades 3-5 on hurricanes. "This lesson is the first of a
two-part series on the science of hurricanes and the kinds of
technology being used to identify and track them. In Hurricanes
1: The Science of Hurricanes, students examine different
scientific aspects of hurricanes, all in an effort to begin to
understand the nature of motion—particularly how changes in speed
or direction of motion are caused by forces."
Excellent
HURRICANES 2: TRACKING
HURRICANES – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=314
Lesson 2 in a two-part unit for
grades 3-5 on hurricanes. "This lesson is the second in a
two-part series on the science of hurricanes and the kinds of
technology being used to identify and track them. In Hurricanes
2: Tracking Hurricanes, students’ study of hurricanes is
broadened by exploring how technology and science are used today
to identify, measure, and track powerful tropical storms to
better warn and secure people from their often-devastating
impact."
Excellent
HURRICANES – ISSUES IN DEPTH
NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/issues_in_depth/20070904.html
An in-depth look at hurricanes
with lesson plans and classroom activities. Excellent
HURRICANES – LESSON PLANNING
ARTICLE NEW!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson076.shtml
An article for teachers
planning lessons on hurricanes. Includes background information
and suggestions for lessons and activities. Excellent
HURRICANES SPARK A STORM OF
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY – LESSON PLANNING ARTICLE
NEW!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson015.shtml
An article for teachers
planning lessons on hurricanes. Includes background information
and suggestions for lessons and activities. Excellent
ICE, ICE BABY: EXAMINING THE
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF MELTING ICE FORMATIONS IN ANTARCTICA –
LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20020402tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on global warming. "In this lesson, students learn about the
causes and effects of the melting ice formations in Antarctica;
they then research different aspects of the topic in order to
create a s special."
Excellent
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM:
CREATING NEWS REPORTS ON MAJOR STORMS – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050830tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on storms. "In this lesson, students share opinions about what
information the public needs about an impending hurricane. They
then research and report on a major U.S. hurricane and synthesize
their learning by comparing different news sources’ reports about
Hurricane Katrina."
Excellent
IN THE FORECAST, A FLURRY OF
CONCERNS ABOUT SNOW: EXPLORING IMPLICATIONS OF THE LACK OF
SNOWFALL DATA ON VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030211tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on climate change. "In this lesson, students consider the
effects of climate change on snowfall and how a lack of data in
snowfall collection will impair climate change research. In
groups, students investigate different effects of snowfall and
make recommendations to lobbyists about effective means to
persuade policymakers to increase funding for better snowfall
monitoring systems."
Excellent
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN
WEATHER AND CLIMATE NEW!
http://www.cln.org/subjects/weather_inst.html
A collection of theme pages on:
Air Quality, Clouds, El Niño, Blizzards and Snow, Floods, Global
Warming/Climate Change, Hurricanes, Lightning, Ozone Depletion,
Tornadoes, and Water Quality. Includes additional links to
Weather Resources (several are broken). Excellent
IS EL NIÑO COMING? – LESSON
PLAN NEW!
http://forces.si.edu/elnino/edu/nino_is_el_nino_coming.pdf
A lesson plan for grades 5-8
and 9-12 on predicting El Niño. Excellent
K-8 EXPLORING WEATHER USING THE
INTERNET
http://www.k12science.org/k12partner02/k-8weather.html
A teacher-oriented site to
assist in teaching about the weather. "Today's workshop will
focus on using the Internet in the study of meteorology. You will
begin with an review of the types and sources of weather
information necessary for forecasting the weather. You will
examine the instruments that are used to gather weather data.
Then you will see how such weather information is displayed on
weather maps and as real time data. You will then consider and
discuss how information from Internet sites can be integrated
into your curriculum. Finally, you will examine a variety of
weather related web sites that may be useful to you in teaching
weather. As a result of this workshop, you will be prepared to
implement Internet based meteorology resources in your classrooms
and to assist fellow teachers in doing so."
Excellent
LET’S BUILD A SNOWMAN – LESSON
PLAN NEW!
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=239
A lesson plan on snow for
grades K-2. "Snowmen are of interest to young students. This
lesson suggests building a snowman as one way to provide food for
birds and animals during the winter. Students read fiction and
nonfiction books and access the Internet to gain information
about how animals survive during the winter. They also use a
K-W-L graphic organizer to activate prior knowledge and increase
their understanding of the topic. Students then use their graphic
organizers to write stories. Extension activities involve writing
poetry, building snowmen to feed animals, and doing art
projects."
Excellent
MAKE YOUR OWN WEATHER STATION
http://www.fi.edu/weather/todo/todo.html
Detailed directions from the
Franklin Institute on setting up your own weather station either
at home or in the classroom. Excellent
METEOROLOGY LESSON PLANS
NEW!
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Science/Meteorology
26 lesson plans for various
grade levels on weather topics. Excellent
THE OCEAN AND WEATHER: EL NIÑO
AND EL NIÑA – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=425
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on
El Niño and El Niña. "In this lesson, students will explore
the weather phenomena El Niño and La Niña. They will learn about
when and where these weather changes occur, and about the effects
they have on everything in their wake."
Excellent
PREPARE YOURSELF – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/gk2/prepare.html
A lesson plan on disaster
preparedness for grades K-2. "This lesson introduces U.S.
students to natural hazards that occur across their country and
in their home region. They’ll learn where tornadoes, hurricanes,
earthquakes, volcanoes, or severe thunderstorms are likely to
occur and will find out which type of event is most likely to
happen near their home. They’ll practice some safety steps and
will make signs to educate other kids and adults about these
precautions."
Excellent
PROJECT LEARN: CYCLES OF THE
EARTH AND ATMOSPHERE – TEACHING MODULE
http://www.ucar.edu/learn/
"This Web site is for middle
school science teachers. While some students may find portions of
this site useful, the primary audience is classroom teachers and
it has been developed with that target audience in mind. The
information and classroom activities found on this Web site were
taken from the print versions of LEARN's teaching modules, Cycles
of the Earth and Atmosphere: Their Impact on Climate Change and
Ozone in our Atmosphere. The on-line module is intended to be
flexible allowing the teacher to select some or all of the
activities. The sections build on the content and learning of the
previous sections yet are not dependent on previous knowledge.
Sections and activities may be implemented sequentially or the
order may be altered to best fit individual classroom needs. The
on-line module, Cycles of the Earth and Atmosphere, consists of a
general overview and seven topical sections each with supporting,
field-tested classroom activities designed for middle school
grades 6 through 9."
Outstanding.
Excellent
PROPERTIES OF AIR – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=156
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on
air. "This lesson addresses some of the physical properties of
air on the substance level in order to help students’ build
toward future understanding of how air particles behave on a
molecular level. However, such concepts should not be introduced
at this time. Research indicates that students of all ages show a
wide range of beliefs about the nature and behavior of particles
and have difficulty in appreciating the intrinsic motion of
particles in solids, liquids and gases."
Excellent
RAIN, ICE, STEAM: USING READING
TO SUPPORT INQUIRY ABOUT THE WATER CYCLE – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=912
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on
the water cycle. "This unit of study allows first- and
second-grade students to discover the repetitive cycle of water.
Read-alouds introduce the topic of rain and hands-on experiments
and classroom centers teach students about the water cycle and
how it functions. After exploring the different parts of the
water cycle, students demonstrate the knowledge they have gained
by working in groups to write and perform a play."
Excellent
RAINY WEATHER UNIT
NEW!
http://www.theteachersroom.com/rainunit.htm
A unit for primary students on
rainy weather with poems and activities. Excellent
SEVERE WEATHER: HURRICANES –
LEARNING MODULE
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/sevweath/sevweath.html
An educational module for
grades 5-12 in which students review the actions of Hurricane
Andrew in 1992 in preparation for tracking, analyzing and
predicting the course of a hurricane during the school year.
Sections: Team Training Activities, Background Information,
Situation, Hurricane Watch, and Extension Activities. Excellent
SISTER STORMS: CHILDREN OF THE
TROPICAL SEAS – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/15/g68/seasstorms.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on
tropical storms. "In this lesson students will learn about
different kinds of tropical storms throughout the world. They
will learn about how the storms are different, how they are
similar, and how they are distributed throughout the world. They
will study specific storms in detail and create class
presentations about them."
Excellent
SNOWFLAKES – A THEMATIC
APPROACH NEW!
http://www.wsanford.com/~wsanford/exo/snowflakes.html
A multi-disciplinary approach
to teaching about snow and snowflakes. Includes lots of ideas for
projects and activities. Excellent
STATIC ELECTRICITY AND
LIGHTNING- LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=203
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on
lightning. "Static Electricity and Lightning introduces
students to concepts about lightning and how they relate to
static electricity. In this lesson, students explore a variety of
websites to learn about lightning and then explain in their own
words what causes lightning and how it is related to static
electricity."
Excellent
STORMING THE WEB: EXPLORING HOW
THE INTERNET HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE LEARN ABOUT WEATHER – LESSON
PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000601thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on weather. "In this lesson, students explore the importance
of weather prediction and the Internet's role in changing the way
weather is reported. By participating in an Internet scavenger
hunt, students will come to a greater appreciation of the role
weather prediction through the Internet plays in their own lives
as well as the lives of people all over the world."
Excellent
STORMY STORIES – CLASSROOM
ACTIVITY NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/07/stormy.html
A classroom activity for grades
6-8. "Picture this: You're the star reporter at a Web site
called Disasterama.com. Each day millions of eager readers hit
your site for stories about people who've faced the forces of
nature. Your latest assignment is to give a kid's-eye view of
living through a catastrophe. You've just finished four
interesting interviews when you have a disaster of your own. For
reasons known only to itself, your computer merges and jumbles
your files. Result: a mess."
Excellent
TENDING TO THE GREENHOUSE:
EXAMINING CAUSES, EFFECTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL WARMING –
LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990302tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on global warming. "In this lesson, students investigate
global warming through initial discussion of recent findings of
an 11-day lengthening of the growing season caused by warmer
temperatures. Students then work in small groups, acting as
'organizations' concerned with the trends in global warming, to
research and propose solutions for restricting greenhouse gases."
Excellent
TORNADOES AND TECHNOLOGY –
LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/15/g912/tornadotech.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12
on tornadoes. "Students will learn the basics about how
tornadoes are formed, and where and when they are most likely to
occur. They will then study the current research on tornadoes and
explore how scientists are trying to predict them. They will
learn about the equipment "storm chasers" use to study tornadoes,
and will develop their own research plans."
Excellent
TOUR DU JOUR?: PROJECTING THE
IMPACT OF INCREASING GLOBAL TEMPERATURES ON THE TOURIST ECONOMY–
LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060315wednesday.html?earchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on global
temperature rise for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students
learn how warmer temperatures have impacted ice drift tourism on
the northern coast of Hokkaido, Japan. They then consider the
ways a continued warming trend might impact other global tourist
destinations in the future."
Excellent
TWISTER TRACKING – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g912/fontwister.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12
on tracking tornadoes. "In this lesson, students will use a
database to learn about, organize, and compare tornadoes in their
home state and across the country. [Note: This lesson can be
conducted in conjunction with the giant screen film, Forces of
Nature, either before or after students view the film.]"
Excellent
TWISTER! UNDERSTANDING – AND
SURVIVING – TORNADOES – LESSON PLANNING ARTICLE
NEW!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson116.shtml
An article for teachers
planning lessons on tornadoes. Includes background information
and suggestions for lessons and activities. Excellent
TWISTER: WHAT TO DO IN A
TORNADO – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/15/g35/tornadosafety.html
A lesson plan on tornadoes for
grades 3-5.
"In this lesson, students
will learn that although tornadoes are most likely to occur in an
area of the United States called "tornado alley," they can happen
anywhere and at any time. Students will read about the basics of
tornado safety. They will also learn about the signs that a
tornado might be coming, and what they should do to protect
themselves, their families, and their pets if they ever
experience a tornado firsthand. They will then create safety
brochures to share with their friends and families."
Excellent
UNDER THE WEATHER: PROPOSING A
WEATHER MONITORING STATION FOR YOUR SCHOOL – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20041230thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on weather
monitoring for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students identify
measurable characteristics about the weather and learn about how
they are monitored. They then research and propose the
construction of a weather monitoring station on their school’s
grounds."
Excellent
UV MENACE – LEARNING MODULE
NEW!
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/ozone/uvmenace.html
A learning module for grades
10-12 on UV dangers. "Your role is to evaluate the current
status of the Montreal Protocol and determine if it adequately
considers the interrelationship of Earth's spheres. To do this,
you must investigate how an event in one sphere may have an
effect in a second sphere, which may, in turn, affect a third
sphere. You should determine if there is a need to revise the
Protocol. In any event, you must be well prepared to defend your
recommendations."
Sections: Situation, Hydrosphere,
Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Anthrosphere, Biosphere, and Remote
Sensing. Excellent
VARIABLE SKIES: UTILIZING THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD TO INVESTIGATE TORNADO MODELS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030506tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on tornadoes. "In this lesson, students examine factors which
affect a vortex and create model tornadoes. They then identify
variables, pose a testable question, and perform an experiment
using the scientific method. After they collect their data,
students write a complete lab report."
Excellent
WALKING ON THIN ICE: EXPLORING
THE INTERPRETATION OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000829tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on global warming. "In this lesson, students examine
scientific evidence of changes in the Arctic ice cover. Students
participate in a simulation of an international conference and
debate the relationship between global warming and changes in the
arctic ice cover."
Excellent
WARNING SIGNS FOR DANGEROUS
TIMES: EXPLORING THE USE OF STORM-TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES – LESSON
PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000127thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12
on weather forecasting. "In this lesson, students explore the
use of storm-tracking technologies, research and present how they
forecast natural disasters, and assess the importance of these
technologies."
Excellent
WEATHER AND AGRICULTURE –
LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g912/globalclimate.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12
on the effect of climate on agriculture. "Students will
research, discuss, and write reports on the relationship between
climate and agriculture. They will pretend that they have just
purchased farms in specific parts of the United States and will
investigate that region's weather and climate in order to
maximize the chances that their farms will succeed."
Excellent
WEATHER AND WIND – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2241/
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on
weather. "This lesson introduces the expanding and condensing
properties of air masses and the unequal heating of Earth as the
force behind the wind. Students will write a report on a topic
related to wind and weather patterns, and will create a dance to
demonstrate their understanding of weather patterns."
Excellent
WEATHER COMPLAINTS – LESSON
PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/extremeweather.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on
how people are affected by the weather. "This lesson asks
students to consider the weather and climate in their home region
and to think about the ways in which people complain about the
weather. Students will refer to a climate map to predict what the
climate might be like in specified United States cities. They
will then find out those cities' average temperatures and
precipitation by using a weather Web site. As a final project,
students will write statements that people in these cities might
make to describe their weather and climate." Excellent
WEATHER DETECTIVES: QUESTIONING
THE FACT AND FOLKLORE OF WEATHER SAYINGS – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/15/g912/tornadote