Embedded Files
Phenomenon:
Phenomenon:
Every winter big snowstorms occur along the Wasatch Front, bringing several inches of snow to the Salt Lake Valley and several feet of fresh powder to mountain ski resorts.
Student Task:
Student Task:
Construct an explanation for what causes sudden changes in weather conditions (i.e., a snowstorm). Identify patterns that can be used to predict when the next big snowstorm will happen.
Model
Model
N/A
Investigate
Investigate
Students ask questions about how to predict the weather then use tools to collect data before, during, and after a snowstorm.
Obtain Information
Obtain Information
Students read to obtain information about air masses and the interactions between high and low pressure weather systems.
Analyze Data
Analyze Data
Students compare the data they have collected to historical weather data from past snowstorms to look for patterns.
Explanation:
Zones of high and low air pressure cover the world due to the uneven heating of Earth’s surface. When two air masses meet they don’t mix. Instead the air masses collide, causing sudden changes in weather. Large quantities of water condense when low pressure air masses are uplifted, causing precipitation (or winter snow).
NGSS Standard:
NGSS Standard:
MS-ESS2-5 Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
Utah SEEd Standard:
Utah SEEd Standard:
Standard 6.3.2 Investigate the interactions between air masses that cause changes in weather conditions.
Recommended Teaching Sequence:
Recommended Teaching Sequence:
Day 1: Students ask questions about how meteorologists predict the weather then begin using weather instruments to collect data before, during, and after a snowstorm.
Day 2: Students compare the data they have collected to historical weather data from past snowstorms to look for patterns. Students read to obtain information about air masses and the interactions between high and low pressure weather systems.
Day 3: Students construct an explanation for what causes sudden changes in weather conditions (i.e., a snowstorm). Students draw a model of a storm system to support their explanation.
Formative Assessment:
Formative Assessment:
Use what students have written in their science notebooks as a formative assessment, including how well they organized and analyzed the weather data they collected and their written explanation for the phenomenon of a snowstorm.
Do students understand that interactions between air masses cause changes in weather conditions?
Lesson Contributor(s):
April Mitchell, Science Specialist, Salt Lake City School District
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