Wild Weather

Learning all about clouds

Our Big Science Question:

Can we predict if we need to eat inside or out - is it going to be a wet lunch time?

Our thoughts after Sarah's visit...

My favourite bit was:

• Watching the lightning fingers on the movie (Emilee and Siena)
• Looking at the model of the satellite and touching the weather balloon (Tahu and Max)
• Learning that the size of a satellite box is about the same as a washing machine (Reagan)
• Watching how the satellite gets up in space (Freya)
• Learning about how the clouds come and the different types of clouds (Miracle)
• Learning about the flat cloud (Gordon)
• Holding the anemometer - it was really heavy (Harry)
• Seeing the cumulus clouds and learning the new words for clouds (Lucy)
• Talking about all the different types of weather (Jemma)

What I learned:

• A satellite goes into space on a rocket and then it takes photos of the earth so we can see the weather (Leila and Freya)
• A weather  balloon is a big balloon and it is filled with a special gas (Helium) that makes it float. It flies high into the sky and takes lots of measurements (temperature, photos). It has the measuring thing on the bottom. (Harry, Lucy, Reagan and Max)
• A weather map has cold fronts with blue triangles and warm fronts with red semi circles on it (Siena)
• There is an H for High and a L for Low. If it is a high the weather is sunny. If it is a low the weather is rainy and cloudy (Richard, Tahu and Ella)

Thank you Sarah! You were awesome and you taught us a lot!!

Visit from Sarah the Meteorologist

We had a visitor at school today. Her name is Sarah and she is a meteorologist. She came and taught us all sorts of stuff about the weather and what a meteorologist does.

Why do we want to know about the weather?

• Planes and ships need to know so they know where it is safe
• Farmers need to know so they can look after their animals and crops
• Mums and dads need to know so they can get the washing dry

• Schools need to know so they can plan and change things like cross country

Meteorologists look at lots of observations and make predictions about what the weather might do.

The observations come from ships, airplanes, satellites, weather balloons, webcams and radar.

This is a weather balloon. It is made of very thick rubber and a measuring instrument is hung off the bottom. It takes photos and sends information back to the meteorologists.

They can be photos and video and graphs.

Meteorologists need to know what is going on up there in the atmosphere.

After looking at all the observations, meteorologists tell the lady or man on the T.V. what to say about the weather.

How do we measure wind?

Anemometer - if the wind is moving slowly then the anemometer turns slowly

How do we measure sunshine?

We use sunshine hours

How do we measure temperature?

We use a thermometer. When the liquid is high up the thermometer it is hot, and when it is down low it is cold.

Clouds

There are lots of different types of clouds. Check out the poster in class to see all the different types and their names.

Fluffy clouds are called cumulus

Flat clouds are called stratus and they often sit on the hills

Cumulonimbus - really big clouds. 

They stretch from quite low down 

to very high up

When there is a mix of fluffy and flat they are called stratocumulus.

But there are lots of other types of clouds… Alto

is in the middle.

What is precipitation?

Stuff that falls out of clouds

Rain, snow, and hail

Visibility - this is how far you can see. When it is very rainy you cannot see very far.

Weather Maps

Warm Front When there is a warm front, it means warm air

is coming - it is going to get warmer.

On the weather map a warm front has red semi-circles.

There are lots of fluffy clouds.

Cold Front When there is a cold front, it means cold air is 

coming - it is going to get colder.

Very convective - lots of wind and rain cloud.

On the weather map a cold front has blue triangles.

There is a big sharp line of where the weather is coming from.

Stationary Front Mix of red semi-circles and blue triangles.

High This is shown by an H on the map

The weather is likely to be sunny with not much cloud

Low This is shown by an L on the map

The weather is likely to be rainy and cloudy

Can you read this weather map?

HUA RĀKAU

Kia ora koutou tamariki ma.  Go to this link to learn about Hua Rākau

http://www.digitaldialects.com/Maori/Fruit.htm

Weather for Kidz

Our Big Science Question:

Can we predict if we need to eat inside or out - is it going to be a wet lunch time?

Check out this site. There are loads of cool ideas and lots of information!

What is Weather?

What is Weather?

Why should we learn about the weather?

• So we know when it is cold or hot (James)
• So we know what to wear (Amy)
• So you can read the weather map (Reagan)
• So you can help other people be smart and wear the right clothes (Leila)
• So we can be safe - if there is a storm you can stay at home and take care (Ella)
• So we know if we need to wear sunblock or a hat if it is sunny (Miracle)

What do we know about the weather?

What I Know	What I Want to Know	What I Learned
Rain Sunny Clouds Storms Ice, Hail Snow Fog Lightning Thunder Seasons Tornado Hurricane Cyclone Flood, Fire	What makes it snow? What causes weather? What causes seasons? What causes storms? How does rain turn into hail? Why doesn’t it snow in New Zealand?	The weather is what it is outside… is it rainy? Windy? What makes the weather? (sun - heat, moisture, wind, air pressure)

First we thought about what we already knew and then had a think about some questions about the weather we might have. We had a look at all these clips and then had a think about what we had learned.. 

3D Shape Song 2

3D Shapes

Stars

Matariki

The Moon Video

Nga Ahua

The Sun