1. Make a Weather Learning Log: Begin by leading a brief class discussion with the students on how weather affects their daily lives considering such factors as the kinds of clothes they wear and the outdoor activities that they can do. Optionally, you can use the first one or two questions from Step 2 (i.e. What do they think of when they hear the word "weather"?, etc.). This will get them thinking about weather.
   • Have students take out their journal. Students can either complete a Weather Learning Log individually or in small groups (this will depend on your objectives).
2. Discuss and answer the following questions: After a brief discussion, divide students into groups and ask them to discuss and answer the questions.
3. Brainstorm: One the students have answered the questions, they should move on to the next step and try to brainstorm designs for instruments.
 
4. Present: Once the groups have brainstormed designs for their instruments AND answered the questions, gather the groups to report on their ideas. The groups will come up with different solutions to the problem that was posed (for example a group might decide to hold a long paper streamer straight up in the air and the direction that it points will tell them something about wind direction). After allowing time for reports, tell them that, although their ways are good and that they will have time to try out their ideas, you are going to show them how to make the instruments that they will be using in this unit.
   • Sky Conditions: It is important to decide on a standardized way to report sky conditions. The class should come to a consensus as to the words (cloudy, partly cloudy, overcast, etc.) they should use to identify skies that are not clear and you should post these on the classroom wall.

Combining Activities 1 & 2:
While Internet / computer access is not required for this activity, it is recommend that every student or pair of students access the weather web site used in the next activity (Activity 2) so that they learn how to collect weather data from the Internet. One way to do this if you do not have access to a computer lab is to Combine Activities 1 & 2 by asking students or pairs of students from each group as they are making their weather instruments to individually go to the computers in your classroom and complete the Internet data collection section of Activity 2 (i.e. Part 2: Use the Internet to observe weather). Students can then add their weather observations collected from their instruments directly to the Current Conditions table and complete Part 3: Analyze the Data after all of the weather instruments have been made.

Part 2: Make a Class Weather Station

1. Build the Weather Instruments: It is recommended that each of the groups build all five weather instruments so that they have a thorough understanding of each of the common tools that meteorologists use. By collecting their own data, the students will learn more about weather through a process similar to the one that professional meteorologists use.
   • After completing their instruments, each group should store them in a box and take their thermometer, anemometer, wind vane, and rain gauge outside with them each day since it would be impractical for the students to leave their instruments outside for the duration of the unit.
   • TIME: If time does not permit each group to make their own instruments, you can assign each group an instrument. In this case, if you have more than 5 groups, you can elect to have the additional groups make the same instrument. Once completed, all of the instruments could then be put together to create a class weather station.
2. Practice: to assure accuracy in equipment use, encourage the groups to repeat their tests and calculate average results.
3. Record your measurements: Once the groups have repeated the tests, they should record their measurements in their Weather Learning Log or their Student Worksheet. If you are combing Activities 1 & 2, students can record their measurements directly to the Current Conditions table.

Homework: Students can either answer the questions when they complete this activity or as an optional homework assignment. If you opt for the students to complete the questions as a homework assignment, please note that Internet access will be required to complete numbers 3 & 4.

• If only one or a few of the students in each of the group has access to the Internet at home, library, etc., you can either print and distribute the satellite maps or ask a member from each group to print and share the satellite maps with the other group members.