Changing spring weather inspires math lessons that teach data collection, averages and graphing.
From snow to rain to sunshine, spring is a time of volatile weather. It is the perfect season to use math and graphing to collect weather data, calculate averages and graph comparisons.
Charting the Weather
First, work with your class to determine what elements of weather are typically charted. Depending on the level, students may suggest high and low temperatures, average temperatures, humidity levels, rainfall amounts or even barometer readings.
Bring in a variety of weather tools (or perhaps create a PowerPoint presentation of weather tools), old and new, and discuss how the tools are used to measure rainfall, temperature and other levels. As an alternative, meet technology standards by retrieving statistics from the National Weather Service website.
Collecting Data
Discuss why it is important to predict and chart weather. What interest would a farmer have in the weather? An engineer? A fisherman? A NASA scientist? How does weather affect other industries?
Break students into small groups for the purpose of collecting daily weather data. While one group determines temperatures, another group might be in charge of measuring rainfall , humidity or water temperatures. Provide data collection worksheets for younger students. Ask lder or more advanced students to design their own.
Graphing Averages
Continue the data collection for one month. After one month, allow students to work together to determine data averages, highs and lows, and extreme weather changes. Ask students to create a variety of graph designs to Compare results with average information from other years. Can students chart trends? Remember to provide students with an assessment rubric so that they know what elements will be graded.
This would also be a perfect time to invite a meteorologist to the classroom or to create a multidisciplinary unit that includes poetry (April is, after all, National Poetry Month!) or Earth Day gardening projects.
