Introduction:  This lesson will teach the students how to identify areas of severe weather using different maps and the information obtained from these maps.

Objectives:

1. Students will be able to find severe weather on several different types of weather maps using information gathered from the three maps  in the exercise.
2. Students will be able to answer teacher's questions about each map discussed in the lesson.
3. Students will be aware that all of the maps were generated on the same date and time.
4. Students will analyze data received from each map and show relationships to the other maps.
5. Students will be able to come to a decision about severe weather in an area for that date and time using above data.
6. Students will be able to follow the directions in this exercise.

1. Familiarize yourself with each set of questions for each map to make the implementation of the exercise flow easily.
2. Each image will show a different type of map that was discussed in the LEARNING TO READ WEATHER MAPS  lesson. Make sure students realize that each map is up to date and current for the time of your lesson.
3. A quick review of each map might be necessary to get the students reacquainted with the the information each map gives.  Military time is used on all maps. Remember, 12:00 is midnight and 14:00 is two in the afternoon.( After 12.00 always minus 12 to get time.(Ex. 14:00 - 12:00 = 2:00)
4. A quick review of Greenwich Mean Time vs Eastern Standard/Daylight Time is suggested.  Some resources are available below to help cover this topic.

1. Satellite Image
2. Radar Image
3. Pressure map
4. Severe weather map

1. Hand out the question sheet to each student in their groups to allow them to follow the lesson and record their data.(Obtain this worksheet to copy by clicking HERE.)
2. Discuss  image and/or map displayed on your computer and lead the students into answering the questions for each.(See teacher links at bottom of page.)
3. Have the groups come to a decision after viewing each map and record this on the blackboard. Record their success in correctly identifying an area of severe weather after viewing the first two images.
4. Finally, after using all of the views and answering the questions, have each group report their findings and which map or maps were the most helpful.

The students should write in their weather journals a reflection about today's activities.  Answer the questions..

• What was the most interesting about the real time data exercise you completed.
• What did you learn?
• What other questions do you still have?

Severe weather resource

Converting from Greenwich Mean Time (indicated as GMT, UTC, Z) to Eastern Daylight Time or Eastern Standard Time.
Understanding Time Conversion
Convertingfrom AM/PM to UTC
CompareYour Computer's Clock to the Atomic Web Clock (UTC)
 

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