Contextualization
Introduction
Predicting the weather is one of the most fascinating yet practical aspects of science. It involves analyzing and interpreting data collected from different parts of the globe to forecast changes in the climate. This science is based on principles of Meteorology, which is the study of the atmosphere. Understanding these processes allows us to predict the weather, from the temperature next summer to the chance of a hurricane in the near future.
Today, meteorologists can predict the weather with reasonable accuracy thanks to advances in science and technology. They use everything from weather balloons to sophisticated satellites to supercomputers to gather and analyze data. This data is then used to create models that help predict the weather.
While weather forecasts aren’t always 100% accurate, they help us plan many aspects of our day-to-day lives. They are also incredibly important for agriculture, aviation, and readying communities for extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters.
Contextualization
Weather forecasting is a crucial part of our daily lives. Every day, millions of people check the weather forecast to decide what to wear, whether to bring an umbrella, or whether to plan an outdoor excursion. For some professions, such as farmers, fishermen, and pilots, the weather forecast can even determine whether they go to work or not.
In addition, weather forecasting plays a crucial role in making decisions about large-scale public events. Event planners, for example, cannot afford to ignore the weather forecast. Weather forecasts also help governments prepare for natural disasters and take steps to minimize damage.
Hands-on Activity: “Weather Forecasting with Science!”
Activity Title
Homemade Weather Station
Project Goal
Students will build a homemade weather station to record weather conditions over the course of a week and compare their findings with official weather forecasts for their region using digital tools.
Project Description in Detail
Students will form groups of three to five. Each group will be responsible for building their own weather station and tracking weather conditions such as temperature, humidity and precipitation.
After the data collection phase, students will analyze the results and compare them with the official weather forecast. In so doing, they will assess the accuracy of daily weather forecasts as reported in the media.
Necessary Materials
- Household thermometer
- Homemade rain gauge (can be made from a clear plastic bottle)
- Homemade hygrometer (can be made from human hair)
- Homemade anemometer (can be made from plastic cups and a stick)
- Homemade barometer (can be made from a glass jar, a balloon and a straw)
- Data recording sheets
- Internet access to check weather forecasts
- Poster board, markers and other materials for graphing and charting
Instructions in Detail
Step 1: Building the Weather Station
Students will build their own homemade weather stations. This will be done with guidance from their teacher and by following detailed instructions for building each device which can be found online.
Step 2: Collecting the Data
Once the weather stations are built, students will monitor and record the data on a daily basis for one week. To do so, they will use the data recording sheets provided.
Step 3: Analyzing the Collected Data
After the data has been collected, students will analyze the data and compare it with official weather forecasts. They may use graphs and charts to do so, which will help them visualize and interpret the data.
Project Deliverables
Students will submit a written report including the following sections:
- Introduction: provide context for the topic, explain its relevance and real-world application, and state the objective of the project.
- Development: explain the theory behind the project, describe the project activity in detail, explain the methodology used, present and discuss the results obtained.
- Conclusion: summarize the main points, state what was learned, and draw conclusions about the project.
- Bibliography: list the references consulted to complete the project, such as books, web pages and videos.
This documentation is essential for students to reflect on what they learned during the project and the skills they developed, such as teamwork, problem-solving and time management.
The report will be graded based on the clarity and coherence of the writing, the correct use of scientific language, the correct interpretation and representation of data, and the critical reflection on the results obtained.
