Reading and Creating a Weather Map

Lesson plan that has students interpret and design a weather map. This activity can be used as an assessment or as practice for interpreting weather data.

Weblink address (URL): 
Reading and Creating a Weather Map

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Key Concepts:

  • Standardized weather symbols represent such information as cold fronts, warm fronts, stationary fronts, isotherms, and isobars.
  • By using these symbols, extensive meteorological information can be communicated effectively on a small weather map.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Analyzing
Interdisciplinary opportunities: 
  • Art/Geography: Have students pick another area of the world to study the weather. Instead of using normal weather symbols, have students create their own symbols or icons that represent weather conditions. See if fellow students can guess or read the maps.
  • History/Social Science (Research Topic): What are the oldest weather symbols you can find? Who used them? Are any of the symbols still in use today? Are there new weather symbols being used today?
  • English/Art: Peter Spier has created an entire book on "Rain." The interesting aspect of the children's book is that there are no words. Using what ever images or art you need, construct a book that tells communicates weather without using words.

Helpful Hints

Materials:

  • sample temperature map (provided below)
  • sample weather map (provided below)
  • map of continental United States (provided below)

References

Contributors: 
Virginia Cooter
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation