DE Science Elementary
“5-Minute Prep” For
Weather and Climate
Weather > Weather Patterns
Weather Patterns – The Big Ideas
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Air masses are broad areas of air with the same
temperature and humidity.
Air masses with different characteristics meet at a
front, or a boundary.
Weather maps show the locations of fronts,
temperatures, wind speeds and direction,
precipitation, and air pressure.
Different kinds of weather are associated with warm,
cold, stationary, and occluded fronts.
The jet stream, the Gulf Stream, and other large air
and ocean currents influence global weather patterns.
Weather Patterns – Prior Knowledge
Students have probably learned about weather in their
early elementary years. They are probably familiar with
sky conditions and temperature, but will not have much
background knowledge on cold fronts, air masses, and
ocean currents. It would be helpful for students to view
the FUN-damental Under the Weather to review the
basics about weather and how its reported. It would also
help if students:
– Have viewed weather reports in newspapers or television.
– Have seen a weather map with weather symbols that indicate
cold or warm fronts.
Weather Patterns – Common Misconceptions
• The jet stream is a place where airplanes fly in the sky.
– Reality: Jet streams are fast flowing, relatively narrow air
currents. They form near boundaries of adjacent air masses with
significant differences in temperature. Meteorologists use the
location of the jet stream to aid them in forecasting. During airline
travel, flying long distances along with the jet stream can cut hours
off a long distance trip.
• The H on weather maps stands for hot temperatures
whereas L means cold weather .
– Reality: Symbols on weather maps are misleading to many
people. The H and L represent areas of high and low pressure.
• Isobars on weather maps represent wind speed or
temperature .
– Reality: The isobars represent areas of equal pressure.
Weather Patterns – Using DE Science Content
When you close this presentation, you can review the
following recommended resources for Weather Patterns.
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Virtual Lab: What Shall We Do Tomorrow?
Exploration: Weather Patterns
Video: Ocean Currents
E Book: The Schoolhouse Blizzard
Use the PowerPoint version of this presentation for
hyperlinks to these resources or you can get to them
through the browser or search feature.
Weather Patterns – Instructional Ideas
• In the Exploration, students will learn about warm
fronts, cold fronts, and stationary fronts and how
they are formed as they match labels with
pictures of each of these.
– Next students examine a weather map and determine
which direction the weather patterns are traveling.
– Show students a copy of the weather maps from your
local paper over a five day period and ask them to
explore how the weather moves across the country.
Weather Patterns- Instructional Ideas
• Before showing the video called Ocean Currents, provide
students with a list of statements about ocean currents and
ask them to identify them as being true or false.
– This is called an anticipation guide. It will help students focus on
what is important as they watch the video.
– After watching, students can confirm or fix their initial responses.
Also, after the video is over, ask students to dialogue with a
partner about how oceans and currents affect climate.
• After students read the E Book called The Schoolhouse
Blizzard, give students a blank map of the United States.
– Students can create weather conditions all over the country using
correct weather symbols.
– Students can then switch maps with a partner and report the
weather in certain areas of the country.
State standards:
If you wish to review your state standards
regarding Weather Patterns, click here to get to
the curriculum standards search feature of DES.
http://discoveryeducation.com/forward/curriculum.cfm
You can click on any standard to see what
resources are available to teach it.
Additional Information:
For additional content, check the Extend section
within the concept.