Earth’s
Weather
by Denise Carroll
Changes in Weather
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Weather is what the air is like outside.
Weather can be warm or cool.
Weather can be sunny, windy, or cloudy.
Weather can change quickly.
There are four seasons during the year.
The Four Seasons
1. Spring begins in March.
• The air is warm,
windy, and rainy.
• Trees begin to
grow new leaves
and flowers.
• Warm air and rain
helps plants grow
new leaves and
flowers.
The Four Seasons
2. Summer begins in June.
• The days are hot and
sunny.
• This is the warmest
time of the year.
• Leaves are green on
trees.
• Storms can make the
weather change
quickly.
The Four Seasons
3. Fall or Autumn begins in September.
• The air begins to get
cooler.
• The leaves of some
trees change colors
and drop off.
• Some plants die.
The Four Seasons
4. Winter begins in December.
• The air is cold.
• Some places have
snow.
• Winter is the coldest
time of the year.
• Many trees have lost
their leaves.
The Water Cycle
• A water cycle is the way water moves
from the air to land and back again.
Condensation
• The water vapor rises into the air, cools,
and condenses into tiny droplets of water.
• The drops of water come together to form
clouds.
Water Cycle
Evaporation is when a
liquid changes to a
gas.
The sun’s heat makes
water evaporate into
water vapor.
Precipitation
The water drops
become heavy and
fall as rain, sleet,
snow, or hail.
The rain falls or snow melts
and flows to rivers, lakes,
and oceans.
Meteorologists
• Meteorologists are scientists who
use special tools to measure, predict,
and study weather conditions.
Measuring Weather Conditions
• A thermometer
measures temperature,
or how hot or cold the
air is.
• A rain gauge measures
how much rain or snow
has fallen.
• A wind vane shows
which direction the wind
is blowing. It points to
the direction the wind is
coming from.
• An anemometer
measures how fast
the wind is
blowing.
Think:
Why do we need to know the
weather conditions each
day?
Measuring weather conditions
helps people.
• People will know how to dress when
they go outside.
• People can plan outdoor activities or
vacations.
• Scientists can tell people to get ready
for bad weather or a big storm.
• Measuring the weather conditions
help scientists predict the weather.
Clouds
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Clouds are made up of millions and millions of
small water drops or tiny pieces of ice.
Clouds give us clues about how the weather may
change.
We will learn about these three types of clouds.
1. Cumulus
2. Cirrus
3. Stratus
Cumulus
• Cumulus means
heap. These
clouds look big and
puffy like balls of
cotton.
• When these clouds
start piling up and
turn dark, they can
bring a storm.
Cirrus
• Cirrus means
curl. These clouds
are very high up in
the sky.
• They look thin or
feathery and hold
only a little bit of
water.
• We see these clouds
when the weather is
sunny.
Stratus
 Stratus means
stretched out. These
clouds make the
whole sky look dark
and gray because
they cover the sky
and block the sun.
 Stratus are low, gray
clouds that usually
bring rain or snow.
Preparing for Weather
• Always listen to the radio and television for
weather bulletins.
• Stock a good supply of food that does not
have to be cooked.
• Store plenty of fresh water.
• Make sure you have flashlights and extra
batteries, candles are not safe.
• Be sure your pets are safe.
• Secure loose objects outside your home.
• Always be calm and patient.
Thunderstorms
• A thunderstorm has rain,
thunder, and lightning.
• When we see big, thick,
dark cumulus clouds,
we might expect thunder
and lightning to come.
• Lightning produces light and heat - called energy.
• When the air is heated that quickly, it expands (gets
bigger) and then contracts (gets smaller). When the
air expands and contracts, it creates an explosion
called THUNDER.
• Lightning safety – Stay indoors away from doors
and windows. Do not use the telephone. Take off
head sets. Turn off, unplug, and stay away from
appliances, computers, power tools, & TV sets.
Tornado
• A tornado is a funnelshaped cloud that spins
very fast.
• It has very strong winds
that can destroy many
houses and buildings.
• It picks up debris or
buildings by its swirling
winds.
• Tornado safety – Stay
inside away from windows,
doors and outside walls.
Cover your head and body
to protect yourself from
flying objects.
Hurricane
• A hurricane begins over
warm ocean waters and has
winds that are more than 74
mph.
• It has strong winds, high
ocean waves, and lots of
rain.
• It causes floods and
destroys many homes and
buildings.
• The hurricane season
begins June 1 and ends
November 30.
• Stay indoors, in the center
of your home, in a closet or
bathroom without windows.
Blizzard
• A blizzard is a storm
with heavy snow and
strong winds.
• It is difficult to see
outside during a
blizzard.
• Blizzard Safety: Stay
indoors. If you go
outside after the
storm, wear layers of
clothing.
Congratulations
• You have learned about the four seasons,
the water cycle, three types of clouds,
storms, and how to be prepared for
weather.
• You’re an expert weather watcher!
• REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE SAFE!
Resources
• http://images.search.yahoo.com
• http://office.microsoft.com/clipart
• http://soniacoleman.org/Tutorials/Po
werPointTemplates/templates1.htm