Meteorology Course Syllabus ~Spring 2014~
Instructor: Amanda Cole
Email: amandacole@msdlt.k12.in.us
Phone: 964-7591
Website: http://myhaikuclass.com/acole/geology, My Big Campus
Room: 177
Class Time: M7, M-F
Teacher Prep Period: G1 and M6 (speak with me to receive a pass for help)
Textbook: The AMS Weather Book: The Ultimate Guide to America’s Weather, by Jack Williams
Course Description: Meteorology is an introductory course designed to familiarize students with
basic weather concepts. Students will learn the foundations of meteorology including what drives
global weather patterns, air and water currents, severe storms and forecasting. The changing
dynamics of Earth’s atmosphere, and the role humans play in it, will be a major focus. Class time
will be spent in lecture, class discussions and extensive group laboratory work. Students will also
be responsible for assigned readings, daily comprehension quizzes and content tests. The ability
to work in groups is essential. This class will be taught as an upper-level, advanced high school
course.
Prerequisites: None
Materials: Each day, bring your textbook, pen/pencil, and binder to class. In your binder, you
should keep loose-leaf paper. It is up to you how you wish to organize your binder; I like to have
a separate section for homework, graded papers and notes. A ruler, calculator and colored pencils
may also be helpful.
Schedule: This schedule is subject to change. Please check the course website and teacher
announcements for changes.
Date
Subject
Readings (to be done before class)
1/14
Introductions, Textbooks,
Weather Writing Prompt
None
1/16
Disasters, Living w/Weather
Who Uses Meteorology?
p.2-7 Daily Quiz #1
1/21
The Science of Weather
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
p.7-17 Daily Quiz #2
1/23
Solar Energy and Weather
Conduction/Convection/Radiation
p.22-27 Daily Quiz #3
Date
Subject
Readings (to be done before class)
1/27
Seasons and Earth’s Energy Budget
Earth/Sun Relationships
1/29
The Variable Sun
p.42-45 Daily Quiz #5
Geomagnetic Storms and Disaster?
1/31
Review Chapters 1-2
2/4
Exam #1- Meteorology Basics
p.48-53
and Earth’s Energy from the Sun
Air Pressure
2/6
Air Pressure and Wind
The Jet Stream
p.53-61 Daily Quiz #6
2/10
Ocean Currents
Global Water Circulation
p.66- 69 Daily Quiz #7
2/12
Water and Humidity
Measuring Humidity
p.74-79 Daily Quiz #8
2/14
Air’s Vertical Movements
Stable vs. Unstable Air
p.81-88 Daily Quiz #9
2/19
The Water Cycle
Review Chapters 3-4
p. 91
2/21
Exam #2- Pressure, Wind, Water p.98-100, 117
& Currents
El Niño
2/25
Wind and Air Pressure Patterns
Looking at Weather Maps
p.102-108 Daily Quiz #10
2/27
Storms, the Jet Stream
and Ocean Currents
p.108-116 Daily Quiz #11
3/3
Weather Data…
How Do We Collect It?
Ch. 6
3/5
Simple Forecasting
Learning to Make a Forecast
p.152-156 Daily Quiz #12
3/7
Scientific Forecasting
Making a Forecast cont.
p.157-165 Daily Quiz #13
p.27- 35 Daily Quiz #4
Begin studying for Exam 1
Date
Subject
Readings (to be done before class)
3/11
Long-term Forecasts
p.171-174 Daily Quiz #14
3/13
Review Chapters 5, 6 and 7
3/17
Exam #3- Weather Patterns
& Forecasting
Begin Thunderstorms
3/19
Thunderstorms
How Do They Form?
p.178-188 Daily Quiz #15
3/21
Supercells and Lightning
Struck by Lightning Video
p.188-196 Daily Quiz #16
3/25
Tornadoes and Safety
Tornado Alley/Twister
p.196-203 Daily Quiz #17
3/27
Tornadoes and Safety
Twister Video
(** Snow Make Up Day**)
**Spring Break- March 29-April 6**
4/7
Fire Weather
Special Winds
p.206-215 Daily Quiz #18
4/9
Thunderstorms and other
Mesoscale Weather
p.215-217 Daily Quiz #19
p.223-225
4/11
Introduction to Hurricanes
Mapping Hurricanes
p.230-236 Daily Quiz #20
4/15
Inside a Hurricane
Hurricane Anatomy
p.236-240 Daily Quiz #21
p.241-243
4/17
More than Wind….
Hurricane Damage (Katrina)
p.251-252 Daily Quiz #22
4/21
Review Chapters 8, 9 and 10
4/23
Exam #4- Severe Storms
Storm Safety
4/25
Air Pollution
Measuring Air Quality
p.262- 270 Daily Quiz #23
Date
Subject
Readings (to be done before class)
4/29
Extreme Heat/Extreme Cold
p.270-275 Daily Quiz #24
5/1
Humans & the Ozone Layer
CFC’s
p.278-286 Daily Quiz #25
5/5
Global Warming
p.286-293 Daily Quiz #26
5/7
Effects of Global Warming
p.293-299 Daily Quiz #27
5/9
Final Project: Weather PSA
5/13
Work on Weather PSA
5/15
Present Weather PSAs
5/19
Final Exam Review
All chapters
5/21
Final Exam Review
All chapters
5/23
Final Exam Review
All chapters
5/27-5/30
FINAL EXAMS
All chapters
6/2
Possible Snow Make-Up Day??
Grading: Grades for this course will be based off of total points earned out of total points
available each term. Final grades will be calculated using the following percentages: 40% for
Term 1, 40% for Term 2 and 20% for the final exam. The school grade scale will be used.
Daily quizzes are worth 10 points each, tests are worth 60 points each, and labs/activities are
worth varying points.
Classroom Misconduct: School rules will be enforced at all times. Failure to follow school rules
will result in a phone call home and appropriate disciplinary actions (such as referrals). Please do
not use electronics such as phones and headphones in the classroom, unless given permission for a
particular activity. Please leave all food/drink at the door. Passes will only be given under
extreme circumstances and/or if your work is finished. You will find that I am a fairly easy-going
teacher who gets along well with most students. All I ask is that the classroom culture is one of
respect. This means respect for me, as well as your peers. Pay attention, participate and listen
when others are speaking. Clean up after yourself. Most importantly…have fun!
Attendance: Being in class is the best thing you can do to help yourself succeed in this class. Try
to be here as much as possible….too many absences and you will fall behind. If you are going to
be absent, please email me for any questions. You may also check our class website to get lecture
notes, assignments, etc. Find a friend in class who can bring home work/assignments to you. Stop
in before/after school to get your make-up work. Don’t assume that we didn’t do anything
because you were gone!! All work due to legitimate absences may be made up according to the
policy below.
Make-up Work/Exams: If you are absent, please see the class website or speak to me regarding
make up work. You will be given one extra day to turn in your work for each day that you were
absent. Make sure you turn in your absent work ON TIME, as late work is not accepted. All labs
need to be made up within ONE WEEK of the lab, otherwise it will be taken down and a zero will
be given for that lab. Labs may be made up during study hall or before/after school. Please see me
to schedule a lab make-up time. All exams need to be made up as soon as possible from the date
of the initial exam. Make up exams will cover similar topics, but may not be identical to the exam
given in class. Failure to schedule a make-up exam will result in a zero for that exam grade.
Late Work: As this is an advanced level course, late work will not be accepted. Failure to submit
work on time will result in a zero for that grade. If there are extenuating circumstances (such as a
birth/death in the family) please contact me ASAP and I will try and work with you to get your
work submitted.