WEATHER WATCHERS
There is a great science lesson waiting to happen right outside your door. Have your child grab a notebook and follow you. Have your child identify wind direction, describe sensory information, and sketch the cloud types. Help them develop a system to record daily data and make a prediction for tomorrow.
Some things you might encourage noting:
CLOUDS
Cirrus: Wispy, thin and high in the sky. They point in the direction of the wind. Fair weather.
Altocumulus: Fuzzy bubbles in long rows. They precede a cold front, often indicating a later storm.
Nimbostratus: Dark, low hanging. Light rainfall.
Cumulus: Big cotton balls with clear sky between them. Usually no rain, but can change to cumolonimbus.
Cumulonimbus: Tall and wide. Thunderstorm clouds.
WIND
Winds from the south typically mean warmer weather is on its way; winds from the north usually indicate a cold front. East-west winds are tougher to gage.
In the mood for a field trip? Call your local television station and see if you can swing by to meet with a meteorologist. Your little weather watcher will enjoy sharing his/her journal & learning a bit more about a possible career in meteorology.
