Meteorology Section RM

VHS Catalog 12-13

Course Title:	Meteorology Section RM
Course Code:	teorilrd
MA NCES Code:	03007
Discipline:	Science - General
Grade Level:	07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12
Level:	Standard
Offering:	Repeated Semester (Fall: 25 Seats; Spring: 25 Seats; )
Duration:	15 weeks
Prerequisites:	Wonder and curiosity. Any specific skills necessary for completion of the class will be taught during the class.
Additional Requirements:
Accredited by:	Certified by NCAA for initial-eligibility (VHS School Code: 221356); Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools; Northwest Accreditation Commission
Course Requires a Media Kit to be Shipped to Students: No
Course Requires a Media Kit to be Purchased by Course Sponsor (see additional details below): No
Description: Earth’s weather and climates have influenced and continues to influence daily human events as well as human history. We are inundated daily with accounts of weather, both good and bad. Our daily activities depend, a great deal, on the weather. Weather phenomenon, such as hurricanes, floods and tornadoes have caused loss of life and damage of property. Loss of food crops has resulted from drought or extremes of temperature. We cannot fly a plane, have soldiers jump out of planes, or, for that matter, fight a war without consulting meteorologists to see what the weather is supposed to be on any given day. The Persian Gulf War and the Iraqi Freedom War were all planned according to the weather. The weather helped bring Allied victory on the Russian front during World War II. This class is designed to introduce you to the basic factors of weather/meteorology and to engage your natural curiosity in it. I hope you will find this course interesting as well as challenging. This class was designed around the Internet like our daily activities are designed around the weather. Simple meteorological observations are interwoven with online based assignments, mapping activities, data gathering and graphing activities, and writing assignments to introduce students to the many facets of weather. We will address questions such as: What is global warming? What might be causing it? How does location affect temperature and precipitation? What causes thunderstorms? Why do most weather systems move from west to east in the United States? Why do some not move that way? What can we do to prepare for potential weather disasters? Why are there more people killed by lightning in Florida than in any other place in the United States? Which weather sayings are true and which are nonsense? Do the cows really lay down when it is going to rain? Where is "Tornado Alley"? Why is it there? Why does it feel hotter when the temperature is 93 degrees with high humidity levels than it does when it's 93 degrees and low humidity? How real was the movie "Twister"? Or for that matter, how real was the weather forecast for today? Join us to find out the answers to these and many other questions related to weather. This course may be appropriate for Gifted and Talented middle school students that meet all course prerequisites.

MediaKit Contents:

Syllabus:
Week 1 - Getting Acquainted
Introduce Yourself
Where Are You Located?
Local Weather Observations

Week 2 - Energy in the Atmosphere Weekly Features
Global Mean Temperature Patterns
Composition of the Atmosphere
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 3 - Temperature Weekly Features
Science & History Research the History of the Temperature Scales
Isotherms
Temperature Mapping Activity
Wind Chill
Local Weather Observations
US TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 4 - Moisture in the Atmosphere Weekly Features
Properties of water
Raindrops
Warm Air & Humidity
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 5 - Stability and Instability
The Weather Desk
Lifting Condensation Level
Hawaii Weather
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic
USA TODAY Quiz

Week 6 - Clouds and Patterns of the Weather
Clouds & Patterns of the
Nephelococcygia
Clouds & Poetry
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 7 - Clouds & Precipitation
Creating a Cloud
Clouds
Weather Experiences
Weather Modification
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 8 - Air Pressure and Winds
Wind Systems
Pressure and Winds Interact
Atmospheric Pressure
Jet Stream
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 9 - Weather Station Model
Weather Station Model
Decoding a Weather Map
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 10 - Weather Patterns
The Weather Desk
Weather Patterns Air Masses
Fronts
Mid Latitude Cyclones
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic
USA TODAY Quiz Looking Ahead

Week 11 - Severe Weather
Severe Weather
Impacts of Severe Weather
WebQuest - Hurricanes
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 12 - Weather: History, Myth, Legend, and Experience
Weather: History, Myth, Legend and Lore
Weather on the Web
"Twister" the Movie
Analysis of collected local weather data
Local Weather Observations
WebQuest - Hurricanes

Week 13 - Pop Weather
Meteorologist Interview
WebQuest - Hurricanes
Local Weather Observations
USA TODAY - TODAY'S Graphic

Week 14 - Weather & Human Impact
Analyzing Weather Forecasts
El Nino
Weather and Human Impact
Local Weather Observations
Graphing Your Hottest and Coldest Average Weekly Temperatures
USA TODAY'S Graphic

Week 15 - The Storm Abates
The Weather Desk
Let's Talk
Course Evaluation
Final Exam

Course Objectives:
Students will:

1) Understand the basic features of the Earth;

2) Know the major external and internal sources of energy on Earth;

3) Know that weather and climate involve the transfer of energy in and out of the atmosphere;

4) Know how winds and ocean currents are produced on the Earth's surface (e.g., effects of unequal heating of the Earth's land masses, oceans, and air by the Sun; effects of gravitational forces acting on layers of different temperatures and densities in the oceans and air; effects of the rotation of the Earth);

5) Understand the nature of scientific inquiry;

6) Understand the use of hypotheses in science (e.g., selecting and narrowing the focus of data, determining additional data to be gathered; guiding the interpretation of data);

7) Design and conduct scientific investigations by formulating testable hypotheses, identifying and clarifying the method, controls, and variables; organizing and displaying data; revising methods and explanations; presenting the results; and receiving critical response from others;

8) Know that a wide range of natural occurrences may be observed to discern patterns when conditions of an investigation cannot be controlled;

9) Use technology (e.g., hand tools, measuring instruments, calculators, computers) and mathematics (e.g., measurement, formulas, charts, graphs) to perform accurate scientific investigations and communications; and

10) Know that creativity, imagination, and a good knowledge base are all required in the work of science and engineering.

This catalog description was last modified on 07/12/2012