Grade 10 Science  Cluster 4
Weather Dynamics: Cloud Seeding
“…there must be research on the changes that
the country has undergone, and in the future, it
could be used as a lesson for our future
actions.”
King of Thailand - Bhumibol Adulyadej
The Reigning Rainmaker!
Manitoba Curriculum Outcomes
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Cluster 0- Overall Skills and Attitudes
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S2-0-8d Describe examples of how technologies have evolved in response to
changing needs and scientific advances
S2-0-8e Discuss how peoples of various cultures have contributed to the
development of science and technology.
S2-0-9a Appreciate and respect that science and technology have evolved
from different views held by women and men from a variety of societies
and cultural backgrounds.
S2-0-9e Be sensitive and responsible in maintaining a balance between the
needs of humans and a sustainable environment.
Cluster 4 – Weather Dynamics
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S2-4-02 Outline factors influencing the Earth’s radiation budget.
S2-4-07 Investigate and evaluate evidence that climate change occurs
naturally and can be influenced by human activities.
S2-4-08 Discuss potential consequences of climate change.
Lesson Overview
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Purpose & Intent - The goal of this lesson is to challenge:
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1. student understanding and appreciation of the contributions to science
made by other cultures and societies.
2. to develop a higher level of scientific literacy in the area of weather
dynamics.
3. students to critically think, read, and write in the field of science.
Teacher Overview
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Teachers should adjust and adapt the information and discussion questions
in order to challenging their specific students to think, read, write, and
discuss the relevant issues surrounding cloud seeding. As the main goal is
to foster critical thinking and literacy skills, teachers should avoid focusing
on or introducing the specific details relating to the scientific process of
cloud seeding. The presentations lack of scientific content is an intended
omission.
Lesson Structure
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The lesson is broken up into 3 phases
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Activating
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Acquiring
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a video-prediction activity to stimulate creativity and/or
capture the interest of the students.
Thai cultural beliefs regarding water/rain
overview of the biography and interests of the King of Thailand
basic informative overview of the process of cloud seeding.
Applying
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critical thinking and student discussion
extension of topics to other areas of science
Activating Activities
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Students watch the first 2 minutes of the
following video without any sound.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlX7rJv_m0g&feature
=related (science of Super Storms)
Following the silent viewing of the video students make
written or oral predictions what they think the lesson will
be about.
NOTE: students will most likely have the context of
weather from previous days/weeks of activities.
Challenge them to be specific.
The King of Thailand
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Name: Bhumibol Adulyadej
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Born December 5, 1927
Ascended to the throne June 9, 1946
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(under 20 years old!)
Acted as the head of state for over 60
years!
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Longest reigning monarch in the world
The King is extremely well respected,
revered, and loved by all Thai people
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Speaking negatively about the Royal
Family is illegal and carries extreme
consequences
Skills & Interests of the King
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Academics  has studied
Science, Politics, and Law at Swiss
University
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Music  internationally respected
jazz musician
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performed and recorded many
Jazz concerts
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With Benny Goodman, Jack
Teagarden, Lionel Hampton,
Maynard Ferguson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0
10wFNXDfNk&feature=related
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(musical monarch video)
Skills & Interests of the King
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Athletics  Sailor
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won a gold medal as an athlete in the
South East Asian Games
designed and built several boats
Humanitarian  Royal Development
Projects to improve life of Thai people
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Economic projects
Social projects
Scientific projects
Engineering projects
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QUOTE FROM THE KING
“The important thing for the survival
of the Thai society is that the majority
of those who work, both in the
government and the private sector,
still strive to work in the same
direction; this is why the Thai nation
still stands.” - Bhumibol Adulyadej
Thai Reverence of the King
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Thai people revere and respect the King to
the utmost degree
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It is illegal to speak negatively about the King in
any respect
THAI movie theatres play a special anthem to
respect the KING before every movie begins
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All movie goers are quiet, stand, and remove their hats
during entire video/song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djwY41a4lsA&feature
=related (Thai Royal Anthem)
The Reigning King makes it Rain!
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ROYAL RAINMAKING PROJECT
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Assisted in setting up the Royal Rain
Making center in 1969
In 1999 the King developed a new
cloud seeding technique (and owns
the patent) called “Super-sandwich”
received international awards for his
contributions to the science of
artificial rainmaking
Watch the following video
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x26
l3f_thai-king-s-artificial-rainmaking_shortfilms
Traditional Thai belief  Water/Rain
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3 Major Thai Holidays/Festivals revolve around Water/Rain
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Loy Kratong  celebrates the Goddess of Water, the importance
and role of water in the life of Thai people
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Songkran  Thai New Years, coincides with the hottest time of the
year and the end of the dry season.
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Kor-Fon  festival in the northeast of Thailand in the middle of the
dry season.
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NOTE: As water/rain has historically been of central importance in
Thai life, the Thai King’s influence through the Royal Rainmaking
Project resulted in
Basic Processes of Cloud Seeding
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Watch the following video (with sound) to see the
basics of current cloud seeding
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlX7rJv_m0g&feature=r
elated (Science of Super Storms)
Possible Extension Activities
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How has cloud seeding been listed as a potential solution to
global warming?
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Watch the video below for more information
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How were cloud seeding techniques were used in Beijing to
influence the weather during the 2008 Olympics?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg7J8P-uXqM
What problems do you predict with this technique?
Do you think it is environmentally responsible to alter the weather for
an athletic competition?
Explain how the “Royal Rainmaking Project” helped make the
Thai King even more respected by the Thai people.
Research how water is currently used in the Thai holidays and
celebrations (Loy Khratong, Songkran, and Kor-Fon)