Grades: 3-8
Length: 4/15 Minute
Rights: Annual Lease
Guide: Online
Internet: http://www.unitedlearning.com http://whro.unitedstreaming.com
Weather Smart teaches weather principles at an age-appropriate level and is supported by quizzes, puzzles, exercises, coloring pages, Internet references, and hands-on experiments to make the weather come alive to young students. The Weather Smart series is written and produced by Alan Sealls, an award-winning meteorologist, whose work appears in science textbooks, CD-ROMs, and educational TV programs. The spark for creating this series comes from over a dozen years of experience of weather presentations to elementary school students. These delightful and entertaining programs are geared toward children's fascination with weather and their desire to understand how weather works.
Block Feed
Wednesday 2/20/08 2:00-3:00 a.m. #1-4
1. Climate. What are climate and the Greenhouse Effect? Is global warming really happening? Is El Nino new? These questions are answered in this program, as students are taught how climate differs from weather. Through the use of vibrant footage from around the globe, students see how climatologists determine what the climate was in centuries past and how that information is used. Climate change is shown to be a regular cycle of the Earth; however, the ways in which humans likely influence climate are also presented, along with tips for things each of us can do so we do not contribute to climate change.
2. Forecasting & Weather Instruments. Knowing tomorrow's weather helps all of us plan and have more productive, enjoyable, and safe lives. This vivid program shows the basics of how weather forecasts are made. Students learn to understand the symbols that they see on weather maps in the media. By measuring, charting, and tracking weather, it becomes easy to see how things change as weather moves from one part of the Earth to another. It is also made clear that math skills are vital to measuring and forecasting. We examine the tools and instruments used by meteorologists to detect and measure clouds, precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind, and pressure. Students become familiar with the names and functions of weather instruments.
3. Heat, Wind and Pressure. The sun is highlighted as the driving force behind weather, and the source of energy for our planet. Animations and video examples show the uniqueness of Earth's atmosphere and how air is set into motion as wind when it is heated unevenly. Heat, wind, and pressure are all connected. Air with different temperature is related to differences in weight (or pressure), which is what causes circulations (wind). The properties of hot and cold air are contrasted. Students learn to associate high or low pressure with calm or stormy weather. While storms generate wind, students see that wind pushes storms and weather systems around the Earth. We see that air in motion is constantly trying to balance heat so that no part of Earth gets too hot or too cold.
4. Water, Cycle, and Clouds. What role does the water cycle play in weather and in life? This program shows beautiful footage of clouds and the sky, and how water continuously changes phase. The basic cloud types are presented in vivid examples, along with many awesome colors that water makes in sunsets and rainbows. Students learn the fundamentals of condensation, evaporation, and precipitation, and how to recognize these phenomena in their environment. We see the various forms of precipitation and how they are related to seasons. Terms such as liquid, solid, vapor, moisture, and humidity are used in explaining how the water cycle is vital to life on Earth. Special attention is given to flood safety.