Weather Journal

Activity: Weather Journal

Grade Level: 1st and 2nd

Use the Internet to track temperature in Makkah, Saudi Arabia to understand how weather conditions affect lifestyles. Convert centigrade to Fahrenheit measurements. For early elementary students.

Objective: The Weather Journal helps students understand some of the lifestyle differences between our local community and Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

This activity is done by students for one to two weeks in the spring, after students can add double digit numbers:
1. Daily, go to the Internet to get temperatures in Makkah and Hurst, Texas.
2. Records the temperatures on scrap paper and shares them with the class
3. Whole class does the conversion of the Makkah temperature; several volunteers come up to the board to do the math OR students use calculators at their desks
4. Everyone records the Makkah and Hurst temperatures in their journals.
5. At the end of the class, the whole class discusses what patterns the temperatures have shown for the week. Teacher writes ideas on the board and group copy into their journals. Group discusses food, clothing, shelter in relationship to weather. Discuss ways to continue to track the weather at home if you do not have a computer e.g. through the newspaper, weather channel on television, etc.

Preparation:
The "Weather Dude" http://www.wxdude.com/

Map Skills:
1. Learn the seven continents and their locations
2. Learn the location of your state and city on the North American continent
3. Learn the location of Makkah on the continent of West Asia
4. Learn the location of Makkah and that it is the capital of Saudi Arabia

Classroom Review/Conversion Formula/Journals:
1. Post signs with website address and our city, state and zip code.
2. Discuss need to convert Makkah temperatures, given in centigrade, to Fahrenheit system used to record local temperatures

Conversion formula:
multiply the centigrade temperature by 9 then divide by 5 and add 32 to get Fahrenheit; for example:
Step 1.) 22° centigrade x 9 = 198
Step 2.) 198 / 5 = 39.6
Step 3.) 39.6 + 32 = 71.6° Fahrenheit
Note: this is done using a calculator. Find the Fahrenheit temperature by using a Fahrenheit/Centigrade scale. The scale page may be printed out for students' use.

Modified from: http://www.dia.org/education/egypt-teachers/mathsci/wilson/prep.htm