IQ Weather Lessons 4 thru 8
LESSON 4
Air and Wind
This planet is surrounded by a lot of air. Gravity holds that air in place…keeping it from escaping into outer space. This lesson looks at the many forces that make the wind blow, as well as a discussion about the jet stream. If you’ve ever wondered why some days are windier than others…and why the wind blows from one direction or another…this will help you understand the process!
Why is knowing what the wind will do important?
What do you think makes the wind blow?
Name three ways the wind impacts what you do.
LESSON 5
Seasons
A lot of people love the change of the season! By the end of the summer, we are always ready for cooler weather. Winter makes us long for spring and warmer air. And everyone loves the bright colors of autumn. And with each change of season comes a change in the weather. This lesson explores what makes the seasons and why they change more in some parts of the world than others!
Shine a flashlight on a world globe directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° north of the equator). Spin the globe and observe the distribution of light over the globe.
Then shine the light over the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° south of the equator) Spin the globe and observe the light distribution over the globe.
Observe how little light hits the poles when the light is on one hemisphere or the other.
Observe the changes in the light over the equator.
LESSON 6
Clouds
Have you ever laid on your back and watched clouds float by? Have you ever wondered why some clouds are thick and puffy and some are flat and wispy? Have you ever thought about why clouds even exist? We see clouds almost every day, and likely don’t think much about them unless they are dark and threatening…but even the smallest cloud can tell us something about what is happening in the sky overhead. That is the focus of this lesson on clouds!
Why are clouds important?
Do you know what it takes for clouds to form?
Discuss what different types of clouds tell you.
LESSON 7
Unique Clouds
As you learned in the last lesson, clouds cover about 67% of the planet at any one time. But there are a few types of clouds that are fairly rare, and unusual. This lesson takes a look at three types of unique clouds that are not readily visible in every part of the earth. And, unless you live in the right location, you would likely have to travel to see them!
Have you ever heard of nacreous, noctilucent, or lenticularis clouds?
Can you guess you guess what these unusual clouds might look like based on their names?
What do you think makes these clouds different from others?
LESSON 8
Precipitation
Everyone enjoys a rainy day every now and then…but have you ever thought about what happens to make it rain? Precipitation is happening all around the world, all the time. But there are reasons why rain, sleet, and snow form where they do…and when they do. This lesson provides insight into how precipitation forms, and what kind of precipitation occurs!
How much water falls from the sky during a storm?
Why are some raindrops bigger than others?
What determines the type of precipitation that falls from a cloud?