ATLANTA PUPPET |
Study Guide Features |
Language Arts Lesson Plan - Idioms |
Lightning Safety Tips |
Lesson Plan - Basic Aspects of Winter |
Lesson Plan - The Wind Blows |
Lesson Plan - Make a Wind Vane |
QCCs |
WEATHER SHOW TEACHER'S STUDY GUIDE
The Study Guide for The Weather Show program is now available as a downloadable PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file that makes it easy to view , download, and print for your classroom needs. Download The Study Guide For the Study Guide in Adobe Reader File (PDF) Format Click Here There are also 3 Lesson Plans available:
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Additional Topics & Links
Weatherlore
Folklore are beliefs based on fear and superstition.
Weatherlore is based on observation of the environment and the effects that changes in the
weather have on insects, animals, birds and people.
Atlanta Puppet's Weather Show introduces the idea of how people use to look to their natural surroundings to get some idea of what to expect from the weather in the near future.
There is something to be considered in the ways and wisdom of our grandparents and great-grandparents. Their keen observation of the world around them was, indeed, out of necessity. It would be unfortunate to lose the desire and ability to really observe the natural world and, instead, put all faith in the man-made hardware of satellites, radar, and computer models.
In the performance, 6 examples are given of Weatherlore -
Cats - When
cats wash behind their ears, it means rain
Explanation - Cats, like all furry animals, are affected by the climate conditions around
them. When the air is dry, cats will wash themselves with the grain of their fur. When
humidity increases or the air becomes charged with static electricity, cats will wash
themselves against the grain to relieve themselves of the uncomfortable feeling caused by
static electricity build-up.
Flies - Flies
bite more when it is going to rain
Explanation - This rule does not always apply, but insects do calling more during
moist weather, as flying is more difficult. Heat causes human sweating, which makes you a
more appetizing target. These two reasons, plus a release of more body odors when
atmospheric pressure on your body lowers, will add up to the rule that flies and insects
are more bothersome just before a rain than at any other time
Spiders - Spiders
leave their webs when it is going to rain
Explanation - Spiders, ants, and other insects are very adept at monitoring atmosphere
conditions as their survival depends on it. Web spinning spiders will retreat to a safe
overhang or other shelter when they sense a drop in barometric pressure and a rise in
humidity levels.
Birds - When
birds fly low, there will be much snow
Explanation - This is also attributable to a drop in air pressure causing the air to
become "heavier" and resulting in difficulty in higher altitude flying. It
can also be linked to certain birds hunting for insects that are flying lower to the
ground for the same "heavy air" reason. An on-coming thunderstorm or other heavy
precipitation event will also cause this behavior.
Caterpillars
- When cold weather is coming, a caterpillar will put on his wooly coat
Explanation - This observance has been made by all countries and cultures where wooly
caterpillars are present. The occurrence may be considered coincidental with the natural
growth cycle and metamorphosis of the caterpillar, but many agricultural cultures
have used it as a gauge for harvest and preparation for winter.
Squirrel - When
you see a squirrel bury a large amount of nuts, a hard winter is ahead
Explanation: Squirrels just do the best they can, and some years have better nut seasons
than others. Yet, the old-timers still observe the activities of the squirrels as a sign
of winter weather. Like the caterpillar, this behavior serves as a reminder to the change
of season approaching.
Mi'kmaq
(Mic-Mac) Indian Legend
All cultures in the world have used legends to describe
weather events and phenomena. In the Atlanta Puppet performance, an adaptation of the
legend, "The Storm Bird", from the Mi'kmaq Indian tribe is presented as an
example of weather myth and legend. It is also a humorous depiction of how humans can
learn to cooperate with nature.
Multi-Culture Research:
To find out
more about the Mi'kmaq Tribe, go to:
http://www.dickshovel.com/mic.html
For a
Mi'kmaq version of the "Cinderella" story, go to:
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/stories/cinder3.html
For a
Mi'kmaq "trickster" story of an otter and rabbit, go to:
http://www.indians.org/welker/bunghost.htm
Beaufort
Wind Scale
The use of the Beaufort Wind Scale is
portrayed in the performance. The scale assigns wind velocity a visual effect and number.
The scale has been adopted by the World Meteorological Organization as a standard for
describing wind speed.
Further
information on the Beaufort Wind Scale can be seen here -
http://www.stormfax.com/beaufort.htm
Lesson Plan :
Understanding Wind Direction And Making A Wind Vane
A simple classroom craft activity Click HERE
Lesson
Plan: The Wind Blows
A hands-on classroom activity using observation, measurement and recording of data
Click HERE
The
Lightning Box
The spectacular phenomena of lightning is
addressed in the performace with use of "The Lightning Box". An
explanation of how lightning is formed is given. The audience participates in learning a
counting technique to judge distance of a storm by counting between lightning flash and
thunder crash.
There are people that make it their professional business to chronicle and record severe weather conditions. These people are known as "Storm Chasers" and they have several sites on the internet.
A web site
featuring the closest 12 stroke lightning strike ever caught on video. Great photographs
and story. It also provides links to many sites with lightning photos.
http://www.dastrike.com/
The National
Severe Storms Laboratory's Weather Room - just about everything one would need to know
about lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. Lesson plan tips and
coloring books, too!
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/
A Study Guide
page about Lightning Safety Tips
Click HERE
Weather Precautions
The Weather Show concludes with a review
of precautions one should take to protect against normal seasonal changes of winter cold
and summer heat.
Using a stuffed toy animal or doll figure, have students describe or make a list of what clothing the figure should wear in summer and winter
Emphasize the use of sun blocks and the drinking of water to avoid dehydration during hot summer months
Other Study Guide Pages and Web Sites
Study Guide Page - Basic Aspects of Winter - This activity is a great way for young students to begin to grasp the difference in weather and seasons. To help them better understand Winter, this lesson includes two great books for the first grade reading level. Click HERE
The Collaborative Lesson Archive - Multiple Lesson Plans of Various Approach - http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/WEATHER/weather.html
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Language Arts Lesson Plan - Idioms |
Lightning Safety Tips |
Lesson Plan - Basic Aspects of Winter |
Lesson Plan - The Wind Blows |
Lesson Plan - Make a Wind Vane |
QCCs |
A full page drawing of one of the characters in the show (Mac) is provided for coloring page activity for younger grades after the performance |