Weather Scope Print...
   
Name:_________________________ Date:___________________________

Student Worksheet Enrichment Activity 2: Cloudy Weather

Step #1: Cloud in a Bottle
Divide into groups of five - six and collect the soda bottle, hot water, and the ice cubes.
  1. Pour the hot water into the bottle and screw the cap on tightly.
     
  2. Answer the following questions
    • What happening to the air in the bottle?



       
    • How could you use the ice cube to cool the air in the bottle?





       
    • What do you think will happen when you open the bottle and put an ice cube at the mouth of the bottle?





       
  3. After 2 or 3 minutes, remove the cap and put an ice cube over the mouth of the bottle.  There should be a cloud just below the ice cube.
    • What happened? Describe your observations.




       
    • What happens to the air filled with water vapor when it is cooled?





       
    •  What two things must be present for a cloud to form?




       
Step #2: Cloud Observation
  1. What do you know about clouds?
    • Do all clouds bring rain?



       
    • What kind of clouds do you see on sunny days?





       
    • Have you ever seen clouds that look like feathers, animals, cotton balls, etc.? What was weirdest cloud shape you've ever seen?







       
  2. Go outside and draw at least one cloud that you see in the space below.















     
  3. Write as many words as you can to describe your cloud.







     
Step #3:  Cloud Identification
  1. Access the cloud identification web site.
     
  2. Find the cloud that most closely resembles the one you drew and label it in your Weather Learning Log.
    • What kind of cloud does your cloud mostly resemble?

       
    • What kind of weather does that cloud indicate?



       
    • What kind of weather are we having today?



       
Step #4: Satellite Images
  1. Individually, or as a group of students, access the satellite image for your region.
     
  2. Find approximately where your city is located on that map and answer the following questions:
    • What color are the clouds on your satellite map? 




       
    • What does the satellite map show about your city?  Is it partly cloudy or all cloudy? 





       
    • What does the satellite map tell us about the cloud conditions over our school? Look outside.  Do you agree? 





       
    • What could the reasons be for a difference between your observation and that of the weather satellite?






       
  3. Select one the animated images of the most recent satellite maps.
     
  4. Find approximately where your city is located on that map and answer the following questions:
    • Which direction are the clouds moving? 





       
    • What does the satellite map tell us about the cloud and weather conditions later today or tomorrow? Write down your prediction and test it out by observing the weather tomorrow.






       
  5. Time permitting, select another city in a different region and repeat numbers one (1) to four (4) again.

REPEAT STEPS TWO (2), THREE (3), and FOUR (4) EVERY DAY FOR ONE WEEK IF POSSIBLE

 

 

Copyright © 2007 Stevens Institute of Technology,
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) All Rights Reserved.