METEOROLOGY
by Bonnie Glasgold, Science Cluster

 LESSON 2 - We're all under (air) pressure!

AIMS:  1.  What is air pressure?
              2.  What instrument measures air pressure?
              3.  How can we use a barometer to measure air pressure?

GRADE LEVEL:  Grade 5 Science Club

ESTIMATED TIME FRAME:  4 weeks

SETTING:  Science classroom, computer lab., 5th grade homerooms

INTERDISCIPLINARY AREAS:  Science, Art, Math

MOTIVATION:  Ask leading questions such as:
    1.  What do we mean when we talk about a "blanket of air"?  To illustrate the
                concept that air has weight, have children lay on the floor, and put 1
                blanket on them, then 2, 3, etc.
     2.  How do the blankets illustrate and compare to a "blanket of air"?
     3.  What is a high pressure system?
     4.  What is a low pressure system?
     5.  What types of weather are associated with high and low pressure?
     6.  What instrument measures the air pressure?
Show children a weather map indicating high pressure and low pressure areas.  Let children elicit their own questions.

PROCEDURE:
    1.  Explain and define the vocabulary.
    2.  Show how to read a weather map, indicating high and low pressure systems and        fronts.
    3.  Identify the types of weather associated with each system.
    4.  Show how a barometer measures air pressure.
    5.  Create (build)  2 different classroom barometers.  Both barometers work on the same principle.  One uses water in a bottle, the other uses a straw on top of a balloon covered jar.   Directions for the straw barometer is included on an attachment.   Link for Bill Nye's Barometer in a Bottle is http://nyelabs.kcts.org/homedemos/demo11.html 
    6. Create a database using a word processing program (see attached sample)
    7.  Use the classroom barometers to keep track of weather systems (database sheet) and make weather predictions.  Compare to the actual weather.

VOCABULARY:  high pressure, low pressure, front, air mass, barometer

EVALUATION:
    1.  Keep a barometric weather database for two weeks.
    2.  After two weeks, compare predictions to actual weather events.
    3.  Have children produce a report of information on air pressure, barometers, etc. on Claris Works.

ADDITIONAL:
LINKS:
http://earthlab.com/leveltxt/easy/wxinst/barom.html  

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES:
    1.  Talk about what other instruments are used to forecast weather.
    2.  Relate each weather instrument to what it is used to predict (humidity, wind pressure, etc.)
 
 

DIRECTIONS FOR CLASSROOM BAROMETER

MATERIALS:
    jelly jar (or any similar jar)
    rubber balloons
    rubber bands
    scissors
    straw
    ruler
    pen
    paper
    clear tape
PROCEDURE:
    1.  Take a balloon and wrap it over the mouth of the jar.
    2.  Secure it really tight (so no air can get in) with a bunch of rubber bands.
    3.  Cut one end of the straw so it comes to a point.
    4.  Tape the straight, non-pointed end of the straw to the middle of the balloon.  Let the straw rest on the edge of the jar.
    5.  Put  the barometer on a table pushed against a wall out of the sun.
    6.  Lean a ruler against the wall, next to the barometer so that the straw points to the marks on the ruler.
    7.  For two weeks, take a reading and enter the information on the database.