Scientist You Should Know
Dr. Kimberly Wood is a Meteorology Researcher who studies tropical cyclones at Mississippi State University. They use computer modeling and satellite data to predict development of cyclone patterns. They also evaluate data from actual past storms like storm surge (increase in the water level of the ocean) and damage.
http://arashi.geosci.msstate.edu/
https://www.geosciences.msstate.edu/people/professors/kimberly-wood/
https://twitter.com/DrKimWood
Introduction to the topic
This has taken a turn to super verbal/analytical topics, so I want to be sure to come back to our young/less verbal/more multisensory learners when it comes to just introducing a topic. Fundamentally, we are talking about air and water interacting. So, let’s walk all the way back to what we’re not saying:
Plus, I am a huge picture book enthusiast and, imperfect as old Dewey’s system can be, it’s lovely for providing choice to learners. Your call number is 551.
Experiencing the science
The idea here is to talk about energy in air getting transferred to energy in water. Energy is the “ability to do work” officially. It can really be translated into the ability to move because work is just force times distance. Force that moves stuff. So, long story short: Moving air translating into moving water? What’s the deal?
[Note that we’re talking just about surface waves, and the idea of “waves” needs to be a whole thing we talk about in physics. That said, wind causes some of the waves. https://ocean.si.edu/planet-ocean/tides-currents/currents-waves-and-tides]
Find any sort of fan and blow across the top of any sort of water.
Respond by practicing science
Multisensory response
Try different ways of using the straw in the activity above. Experiment by shortening the straw, changing the angle, and by eliminating the straw altogether. Try different types of fans. Try making a fan out of folded paper and moving water on the page.
Creative response
This is a good one for dancing too, because we’re talking about transfer. Can someone be wind and someone be water in a dance situation? What about in an improvised play or story? The Circle Round podcast has lots of good legends about celestial bodies and creation stories. How do the air and wind feel about one another?
Verbal response
The readers, writers, and researchers among us have a lot of ways we can go when thinking about this complex interaction between air and water that makes weather very tricky to predict. I like the idea of looking for ways our ancestors predicted weather. I have saved some of what I’ve found for the storms lesson, but here are some milder weather prediction techniques of old:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/leeches-predict-weather-tempest-prognosticator
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/WxForecasting/wx2.php
Consider various indigenous peoples in this analysis. Let’s remind each other that these tribes still exist and retain their traditions of weather prediction in many cases:
http://www.bom.gov.au/iwk/culture.shtml
Analytical response
This Science Journal for Kids article is exceptionally well related this time I think:
Phew, there have been a lot of suggestions so far and I’m hesitant to pile anything on. I think I’ve already suggested an anemometer or a weather vane. Digital weather stations are fun for a lot of people, although no one in my house ever seems interested. Maybe watch some Weather Channel and just think about the units and how the models get made. I live near the Weather Channel and a tour can be super informative.
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/make-a-weather-station