Challenge

Teams will be interviewing for a spot on The Weather Channel to be featured in their “Climate Kids” segment.  They are looking for kids who can forecast the weather accurately by analyzing weather instrument data, images of clouds, and weather charts/maps. 

Standards

Science:

S4E4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to predict weather events and infer weather patterns using weather charts/maps and collected weather data. 

a. Construct an explanation of how weather instruments (thermometer, rain gauge, barometer, wind vane, and anemometer) are used in gathering weather data and making forecasts. 

b. Interpret data from weather maps, including fronts (warm, cold, and stationary), temperature, pressure, and precipitation to make an informed prediction about tomorrow’s weather. 

c. Ask questions and use observations of cloud types (cirrus, stratus, and cumulus) and data of weather conditions to predict weather events. 

Math:

MGSE4.MD.2       Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Represent measurement quantities using diagrams such as number line diagrams that feature a measurement scale. 

Challenge

NASA is looking for a new prototype model that shows the phases of the moon. They are looking for a new and improved educational tool that can teach children all around the world about the phases of the moon. Your challenge is to create a model that shows each phase of the moon. Your model should: be interactive, contain the Sun, Earth, and Moon, and must show how the moon orbits around the Earth to create the phases of the moon. May the moon phases be with you! 

Standards

S4E2. Obtain, evaluate and communicate information to model the effects of the position and motion of the Earth and the moon in relation to the sun as observed from the Earth

b. Develop a model based on observations to describe the repeating pattern of the phases of the moon (new, crescent, quarter, gibbous, and full)