Finding the Best Weather Curriculum Materials
There are hundreds of weather lesson plans on the internet. Some are good, but others are downright awful. In fact, I have experimented around and tried several of the awful plans. But the SAM and SAM II plans are wonderful.
Choose and Download the Free Weather Curriculum Here
- Anatomy of Clouds
- Forecasting Severe Weather: Forecasters Use GPS to Observe a Hurricane
- Disappearing Ozone
- Forecasting Tornados: Forecasters Use Temperature, Dewpoint, and Air Pressure
- El Nino and La Nina
- Greenhouse Effect: Too Much, Too Little, or Just Right?
And once again, don't forget the SAM II Answer Key!
SAM II picks up where SAM (Student Activities in Meteorology) leaves off. While SAM I contains 10 full lessons aligned with the National Science Standards, SAM II has 6 lessons. According to a letter for science teachers, SAM II is designed so that students use current trend setting scientific research and cutting edge technology to learn the processes of science - data collecting, graphing, analyzing, predicting, etc. - as well as information, principles, and concepts of science.
Reactions from Weather Teachers
No matter what grade level you teach, I think that these activities could be adapted. It might me very difficult for the lowest grade levels, but not impossible! If you have used any of the activities, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at weather.guide@about.com. I especially want to hear how you have adapted and made this curriculum your own. NOAA also asks that you fill out an evaluation form on the activities.
