Course Sample for Our Wondrous Weather Homeschool Science Course
Weather Conditions
What’s the weather like today? Is the sun shining and the temperature warm? Or is it rainy and chilly?
Do you know what a weather forecast is? Have you ever thought about the tools that a meteorologist uses to determine the weekly forecast? Did you know that the type of weather you see where you live could be very different from the weather that a child living in another state or country sees? Join us as we take a deeper look at weather. You can even visit a Web site or two that will allow you to create your own weather conditions!
When you listen to the weather report, you may hear a lot of different descriptions about what is going on outside, but what does all of that really mean? Is there a difference between “partly cloudy” and “partly sunny”? Let’s see if we can describe some of the terms that a weatherman might use.
Sun
Sun is an easy one, right? If the forecast calls for sunny skies, you expect to look outside and see the sun shining brightly. What causes this, though? The obvious answer is that there is a lack of clouds in the sky, but the reason that there are fewer clouds is what we really want to discuss.
High air pressure will generally cause fewer clouds and more sunshine. “High pressure” simply means that the air is denser and will sink. The sinking air creates fewer clouds, giving way to sunshine. This type of weather is seen more often in the summer.
You have probably heard the terms “partly cloudy” and “partly sunny” when your parents have the weather report on the television, right? What do they mean? A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that they mean the same thing, but they don’t. If it is partly sunny out, that means that the sun will be shining for less than half of the day. On the other hand, if it is partly cloudy, the clouds are supposed to be around for less than half the day. See the difference?
What do you like to do on sunny days? Write a paragraph or two describing your favorite sunny day activities.
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation. When you go outside to play in the snow, the temperature is cold. The snow is created in the clouds when the water vapors form into crystals due to freezing. It is said that no two snowflakes are exactly the same. Try making your own snowflake.
What do you think happens to the animals when it is cold and snowing? A lot of animals hibernate during the winter months, while others might head south. Some animals might hibernate for a short time, and others can be active out in the snow.
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