OBSERVE AND REPORT. Overview: Objectives: Targeted Alaska Grade Level Expectations: Vocabulary: Materials: Whole Picture:

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1 Overview: In this lesson, students are introduced to various methods of learning about weather and climate through an interactive multimedia file. Students awareness of weather is further heightened by gathering data on local weather conditions for three weeks. Students will analyze their data in a later lesson, Looking to the Future. Objectives: The student will: identify methods of gathering data on weather and climate; measure an attribute of weather; and describe weather conditions using quantitative and qualitative reporting. Targeted Alaska Grade Level Expectations: Science [11] SA1.1 The student develops an understanding of the processes of science by asking questions, predicting, observing, describing, measuring, classifying, making generalizations, analyzing data, developing models, inferring, and communicating. Math M2.2.3 Use a variety of measuring tools; describe the attribute(s) they measure. Vocabulary: anemometer a tool that measures wind speed and direction ceilometer a tool that measures the height of the cloud base hygrometer a tool that measures relative humidity, the amount of water vapor in the air pillow a tool that senses pressure from overlying snow to estimate snow water content precipitation gauge: a tool that measures collected precipitation proxy data In the study of climate, ice cores, tree rings, and coral can serve as proxies, or representatives of past climate conditions. thermometer a tool measures temperature visibility sensor a tool that measures visual range to ¼ mile Materials: Anemometers Precipitation gauge Outdoor thermometer Internet access MULTIMEDIA: Collecting Evidence about Weather and Climate available on the UNITE US website (uniteusforclimate.org) TEACHER INFORMATION SHEET: Calendar STUDENT WORKSHEET: Measuring Weather, Measuring Climate Whole Picture: Knowledge of environment conditions, including weather is key to carrying out activities outdoors. Practicing weather observation leads to a heightened awareness of the environment. Recording weather observations leads to a basis for comparison of future conditions. Weather observation is an area that ties together skills and procedures that are used in both Traditional Native Knowledge and Western Science. Students make empirical observations in natural settings and begin to recognize patterns. A difference in skills and procedures of weather observation is the way that weather observations are gathered and how they are reported. In western science, tools are often used to report quantitative data and in traditional native knowledge, a qualitative oral record is used. PFG-29

2 Traditional Native Knowledge holistic includes physical and metaphysical world linked to moral code emphasis on practical application of skills and knowledge trust for inherited wisdom respect for all things practical experimentation qualitative oral record local verification communication of metaphor and story connected to life, values, and proper behavior integrated and applied to daily living and traditional subsistence practices Common Ground Organizing Principles universe is unified body of knowledge stable but subject to modification Habits of Mind honesty, inquisitiveness, perseverance open mindedness Skills and Procedures empirical observation in natural settings pattern recognition verification through repetition inference and prediction Knowledge plant and animal behavior, cycles, habitat needs, interdependence properties of objects and materials position and motion of objects cycles and changes in earth and sky Western Science part to whole limited to evidence and explanation within physical world emphasis on understanding how skepticism tools expand scale of direct and indirect observation and measurement hypothesis falsification global verification quantitative written record communication of procedures, evidence and theory discipline-based micro and macro theory (e.g. cell biology and physiology, atomic theory, plate tectonics, etc.) mathematical models Activity Preparation: 1. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the tools the students will be using. Review any directions and included material. 2. The attached calendar is a tool to schedule students for gathering weather data and entering it on the website. You may assign one or two students to gather data each day. This schedule can be determined before class, or with student input during class. 3. Bookmark the site for data entry on a classroom computer. Activity Procedure: Source: Stephens, S. (2000). Handbook for culturally responsive science curriculum. Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Knowledge Network. 1. Explain that students will be learning about ways that inform us about weather and climate. Ask students What is the difference between weather and climate? Explain that weather is a term that refers to the state of the atmosphere at a given time that can extend to weeks. This can include description of temperature, cloudiness, humidity, precipitation, and wind conditions. Climate is a time-laden term. In order to say something about climate, data should be gathered over 30 years and is usually an average of conditions across this time period or how things have changed from the average. A common phrase to differentiate climate from weather is Climate is what you can expect and weather is what you get. 2. Distribute STUDENT WORKSHEET: Measuring Weather, Measuring Climate and ask students to access MULTIMEDIA: Collecting Evidence about Weather and Climate on the UNITE US website (uniteusforclimate. org) to complete the worksheet. PFG-30

3 3. Explain that students will take turns gathering weather data and record it on an online site over a period of three weeks. This data will be used in a future UNITE US lesson titled Looking to the Future. Display the website URL for data entry ( WtzYnFLVnl4blE6MQ) and explain the types of data that will need to be gathered. With each type of data, display the tool that will be used. You may wish to display the training sideshow for gathering precipitation data created by the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network ( Training/Training_Snow.html). 4. Display the calendar that shows which students will gather the data and when. Make copies if necessary. 5. Take the class outside to practice using the thermometer and wind gauge. Discuss what makes a good site and what makes a poor site for collecting precipitation data. 6. Students collect data for three weeks. Answers: 1. precipitation gauge or rain gauge 2. tide gauge 3. frost tube 4. snow pillow 5. Answers will vary. 6. D. 30 years 7. Proxy data are representatives of past climate conditions. Answers to question 8: These come from tree rings, Observation of Denali The weather will be... coral, sediment and ice cores. clouds around the mountain windy 8. See chart at right. pink color around the mountain extremely cold 9. Answers will vary. blue color around the mountain warm 10. E. All of the above. PFG-31

4 NAME: MEASURING WEATHER, MEASURING CLIMATE Directions: Access the MULTIMEDIA: Collecting Evidence about Weather and Climate on the UNITE US website (uniteusforclimate.org). Use the information to help you complete this worksheet. 1. This tool is used to measure the amount of precipitation: 2. This tool is used to measure sea level: 3. This tool is used to measure the depth of the frost level in the ground: 4. This tool senses pressure from overlying snow to estimate snow water content: 5. View the sideshow of satellite images. Which one do you find the most interesting and why? 6. In order to use ground-based measurements or satellite imagery to say something about climate, data must be collected for at least A. 1 month B. 1 year C. 10 years D. 30 years 7. What are proxy data? 8. According to Athabascan Elder Robert Charlie, what do the following observations of Denali mean for weather prediction? Observation of Denali The weather will be... Clouds around the mountain Pink color around the mountain Blue color around the mountain 9. Describe a local observation that tells about weather in your community. 10. What are the different methods of collect evidence about climate? A. Using remote sensing from space with satellites. B. By ground-based measurements. C. Collecting proxy data like tree rings and sediment cores. D. Interviewing people who have a keen sense of the environment and the changes on the land. E. All of the above. PFG-32

5 CALENDAR Calendar Month: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday PFG-33