Weather, Weather Everywhere

Published on Cleveland Museum of Art (http://www.clevelandart.org)

Grade Level:

4–7

Student Level:

Middle School

This art-infused science program addresses earth science standards as students learn about the hydrologic cycle (water cycle), and its effect on cloud formation and weather. Students will also learn to identify different types of clouds, including cumulus, cumulonimbus, cirrus and stratus clouds, with help from artworks in the museum's collection. In addition, students discover that artists were meticulous observers, and weather systems centuries ago were very similar to what we experience today. Discussion includes the water cycle, cloud formation, temperature and precipitation. There is also an optional "Cloud in a Bottle" interactivity during the program.

Don't have a CILC ID? Register Here [2]

Weather, Weather Everywhere (Lesson PDF) [3]

Program Format:

Introduction to the hydrologic cycle (water cycle) and explanation of the Water Cycle Worksheet the students fill out during the lesson.
Discussion of Evaporation/Transpiration, Condensation, and Precipitation with examples included in museum artwork.
Optional movement activity where the students simulate the movements of water molecules.
Discussion of Accumulation, the final stage of the water cycle.
Discussion of cloud types (i.e. stratus, cumulus, cirrus, etc.) with examples included in museum artwork, and explanation of the Cloud Identification Chart the students will fill out.
Explore the effects of air pressure and temperature on weather.
Optional "Cloud in a Bottle" interactivity.

Objectives:

Students will understand the water cycle.
Students will understand how density of air affects weather.
Students will understand weather changes due to pressure and temperature.
Students will understand clouds consist of water vapor or ice crystals, depending on their altitude and other physical conditions.
Students will understand different types of clouds are associated with different weather conditions, so visible changes in clouds alert one to oncoming weather systems.
Students will understand cloud types, and their weather systems, have followed consistent patterns for centuries, as documented by both photography and by artwork that predates photography.

Source URL: http://www.clevelandart.org/learn/distance-learning/middle-school/weather-weather-everywhere

Links:
[1] http://www.cilc.org/program_detail_new.aspx?id=3933
[2] https://cmaweb10.clevelandart.org/cgi-bin/Education.py
[3] http://www.clevelandart.org/sites/default/files/documents/WeatherLesson.pdf