Weather

Sometimes weather makes headlines and fills television news coverage with live pictures and commentary about damage, death, and destruction. Most of the time, though, its influence on our lives is much less dramatic, but it’s something we still need to take into account as we plan for the day or week ahead. How many layers of clothing do we need before leaving home on a January day? Will a shower cancel our summer plans for a picnic or ball game?

Because children interact with various elements daily, opportunities to encourage observation and experimentation arise naturally. From classroom charts that record days of sunshine, clouds, rain, or snow, it’s logical to progress to more detailed outdoor observations and measurements. Of course, weather has social as well as scientific dimensions. Almost a year after Katrina and Rita devastated sections of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, hundreds of people remain displaced. Congressional investigations have led to changes in government agencies. Such results are not new, as Jim Murphy reminds readers in Blizzard!

Despite advances in weather forecasting, the famous statement that appeared in a Hartford Courant editorial more than 100 years ago still holds true: “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” While the resources below cannot provide ways to change or control the elements, they should help students understand their basic components and respect their power.

BRANLEY, Franklyn M. Down Comes the Rain. illus. by James G. Hale. HarperCollins. 1997. pap. $4.99. ISBN 0-06-445166-6.

Gr 1-4 –Four lively children are active participants in this simple exploration of the water cycle. As they observe and comment on everyday phenomena, they encourage reader participation. Explanations of cloud formations and production of rain and hail are accompanied by clear, simple diagrams, while engaging watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations effectively use word balloons to create a conversational feel.

GIBBONS, Gail. Weather Words and What They Mean. illus. by author. Holiday House. 1990. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-8234-0805-1; pap. $6.95. ISBN 0-8234-0952-X.

Gr 1-3 –Gibbons defines and illustrates basic concepts relating to temperature, air pressure, moisture, and wind. Her simple, flat graphics work well in comparing terms such as high pressure and low pressure or in establishing the progression from flurries to blizzard when snow falls.

HOPKINS, Lee Bennett, sel. Weather: Poems for All Seasons. illus. by Melanie Hall. HarperCollins. 1995. pap. $4.99. ISBN 0-06-444191-1.

Gr 1-3 –These selections range from writings by Carl Sandburg and Langston Hughes to more contemporary rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis and Sandra Liatsos. Teachers will find read-aloud selections for most any day, whether fair or blustery. The short poems are simple enough for beginning readers to enjoy independently, and Hall’s impressionistic illustrations feature children enjoying outdoor activities in all seasons.

PIPE, Jim. Weather. (Earthwise Series). Stargazer. 2004. PLB $27.10. ISBN 1-932799-47-8.

Gr 2-5 –Pipe explains the difference between climate and weather before turning to straightforward discussions of terms associated with the latter. Each overview of elements such as wind and rain includes photographs. Throughout the book, text boxes offer suggestions for phenomena to observe or provide ideas for related activities. These hands-on projects include art, music, and writing components that extend weather-related activities in the curriculum.

SIMON, Seymour. Weather. HarperCollins. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-06-088440-1; pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-06-088439-8.

Gr 3-6 –Stunning, full-color photographs accompany clear, thorough introductions to weather components. Diagrams of how the sun warms Earth at different levels of intensity and how wind patterns vary in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres put local climate changes in a larger perspective. The format lends itself to classroom sharing in lower grades but includes enough information to interest middle school students in search of the basics.

SINGER, Marilyn. On the Same Day in March: A Tour of the World’s Weather. illus. Frané Lessac. by HarperCollins. 2000. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-06-028187-1; pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-06-443528-8.

Gr 1-3 –Singer illuminates the diversity of weather by taking readers on a global tour on a single day. While hail falls in India, sunlight “sparkles on the market” in Senegal. Fog covers a Louisiana bayou and the temples of the Nile Valley. Colorful folk-art illustrations stretch children’s weather consciousness. World maps on the end pages pinpoint the locations from the Arctic to Antarctica.

WALDMAN, Neil. The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story. illus. by author. Millbrook. 2003. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-7613-2347-3; PLB $23.90. ISBN 0-7613-1762-7.

Gr 1-4 –Waldman follows a single snowflake through a year after it falls on a mountain in January. After melting, it joins a river that supplies an irrigation system. Evaporating into fog before descending as a raindrop, the snowflake emerges from a bathroom faucet and then travels to the ocean. Magnificent paintings reinforce the drama of the unending cycle. A mind-stretching afterword muses that the water we drink today might once have plunged over Niagara Falls or risen in a jungle mist.

COBB, Vicki. I Face the Wind. illus. by Julia Gorton. HarperCollins. 2003. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-688-17840-5; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-688-17841-3.

K-Gr 2 –This easy-to-read book encourages youngsters to question the world around them and seek answers to their “whys.” With some adult help, they can demonstrate that air, though invisible, weighs something. Other activities explore how air molecules move. Imaginative illustrations employ various styles and sizes of type to create word pictures, such as an umbrella that turns inside out when wind gusts are strong.

LAUW, Darlene. Weather. illus. by Lim Cheng Puay. Crabtree. 2003. PLB $21.28. ISBN 0-7787-0565-X; pap. $7.95. ISBN 0-7787-0611-7.

Gr 3-6 –Lauw provides instructions for creating simple versions of instruments used by meteorologists. Among them are barometers, a weather vane, hygrometer, and rain gauge. For each project, she clearly indicates the materials required, the level of difficulty, and the need for adult help. She also provides uncluttered diagrams and step-by-step instructions. Information on the history of and current developments related to forecasting will help budding scientists place their experiments in a larger context.

LEVINE, Shar & Leslie Johnstone. Wonderful Weather. illus. by Steve Harpster. Sterling. 2003. Tr $12.95. ISBN 0-8069-7249-1; pap. $4.95. ISBN 1-4027-2768-2.

Gr 2-4 –Designed for adults and children to do together, each experiment is intended to answer a specific question, such as why a shirt sticks to a person on a hot day. Most explorations can be done with equipment in the average household or classroom and completed in a short time, sometimes in only a few minutes. After each experiment, the authors offer simple explanations for what occurred. Cartoon illustrations reinforce the text’s breezy and encouraging tone.

MARTIN, Jacqueline Briggs. Snowflake Bentley. illus. by Mary Azarian. Houghton. 1998. PLB $16. ISBN 0-395-86162-4.

Gr 1-4 –The patient, thorough scientific observations of W. A. Bentley are celebrated in this picture-book biography. Determined to develop a method of recording his observations of snowflakes, Bentley ultimately succeeded in photographing the elusive ice crystals. Woodcut illustrations reveal the hard work and delight Bentley experienced in his lifelong love affair with wintry weather.

STEWART, Melissa. What’s the Weather? (Investigate Science Series). Compass Point. 2004. PLB $21.26. ISBN 0-7565-0639-5.

Gr 2-4 –Stewart encourages readers to observe and record weather conditions in order to detect changes and patterns. Activities such as noting daily and weekly temperature changes, measuring puddles every 30 minutes to detect evaporation, and determining wind direction with a wind stick will send students out of the classroom and into firsthand encounters with weather phenomena.

COLE, Joanna. The Magic School Bus inside a Hurricane. illus. by Bruce Degen. (The Magic School Bus Series). Scholastic. 1995. pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-590-44687-8.

Gr 2-4 –Anyone familiar with Ms. Frizzle could predict that her class trip to the weather station would involve numerous twists and turns. Some occur high in the atmosphere after the school bus turns into a weather balloon and sails over the ocean where tropical storms form. Before class members reach safety, they experience a hurricane and a spin-off tornado. The nonstop action is accompanied by relevant facts presented in short student reports placed along the edges of the main story.

MILES, Elizabeth. Thunder and Lightning. (Watching the Weather Series). Heinemann. 2004. PLB $24.21. ISBN 1-4034-5579-1; pap. $7.60. ISBN 1-4034-5677-1.

Gr 1-3 –Simple diagrams and dramatic photographs introduce basic information about the causes and dangers of lightning. In addition to identifying different shapes, Miller provides examples of lightning’s potential to harm animals and plants. She explains what causes thunder, talks about how meteorologists forecast thunderstorms, and includes a list of precautions readers should follow to minimize risks during such storms.

MORTENSEN, Denise Dowling. Ohio Thunder. illus. by Kate Kiesler. Clarion. 2006. RTE $16. ISBN 0-618-59542-2.

K-Gr 3 –Clipped, energetic poetry translates the science of thunderstorm formation into one farm family’s tangible experience. A growing cloud on the horizon intensifies into a massive black wall. As it approaches, strong winds and lightning force the children and father to find shelter in the barn. Hail and torrential rains are followed by sunshine. Powerful double-page oil paintings capture the drama of summer storms.

PATERSON, Diane. Hurricane Wolf. illus. by author. Albert Whitman. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-8075-3438-2.

K-Gr 3 –Noah’s parents allay his fears about the approach of Hurricane Anna as they prepare for the storm’s arrival. While not minimizing its power, text and illustrations project a sense of calmness and suggest practical steps that can be undertaken. The book concludes with additional recommendations for a hurricane plan.

WETTERER, Margaret K. & Charles M. Wetterer. The Snow Walker. illus. by Mary O’Keefe Young. (On My Own History Series). Carolrhoda. 1996. PLB $23.93. ISBN 0-87614-891-7; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-87614-959-X.

Gr 2-4 –During the March 1888 storm that ravaged the northeastern United States, 12-year-old Martin Daub braved the elements to help his neighbors in the Bronx, making numerous trips on his snowshoes for groceries and medicine. As evening fell, he realized that the storm held danger as well as adventure. This early reader offers a good introduction to the storm presented in more detail by Jim Murphy’s Blizzard! (see below).

ARNOLD, Caroline. El Niño: Stormy Weather for People and Wildlife. Clarion. 1998. RTE $16. ISBN 0-395-77602-3; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-618-55110-7.

Gr 5-8 –Arnold explains how the warm current along the Peruvian coast can have a devastating impact on weather across the globe. Photographs of locations from California to Botswana to India document the effects on animals and plants and the increase in floods and hurricanes. Diagrams illustrate El Niño’s formation, and a chart shows the recurring pattern in the past half century as well as the occurrence of its “twin,” La Niña.

FRIEND, Sandra. Earth’s Wild Winds. (Exploring Planet Earth Series). 21st Century Bks. 2002. PLB $24.90. ISBN 0-7613-2673-1.

Gr 5-8 –Friend’s coverage ranges from the importance of winds in history and legend to the development of meteorological instruments to measure wind direction and intensity. Clear and colorful diagrams illustrate topics such as wind formation. In addition to winds in the United States, the author describes winds in other parts of the world and even mentions those on other planets.

KAHL, Jonathan D. W. Weather. (National Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic. 1998. pap. $8.95. ISBN 0-590-05488-0.

Gr 4-9 –The bulk of this guide is devoted to photographs and explanations of clouds, storms, and other phenomena that observers can identify outdoors. The compact format increases portability to encourage amateur meteorologists to study and analyze their surroundings. Directions for reading weather maps and creating simple components of a weather station extend the book’s value.

Scholastic Atlas of Weather. Scholastic Reference. 2004. Tr $17.95. ISBN 0-439-41902-6.

Gr 4-7 –A plethora of charts and diagrams provides succinct introductions to many topics related to weather and climate. For example, the double-page spread of cloud formations shows their occurrence at three levels in the sky and notes distinguishing structural characteristics. Among other unique illustrations is one that charts how the shape of snowflakes relates to the temperature at which they form. From weather lore to modern technology used in forecasting, this volume packs a lot of information into each page.

SILVERSTEIN, Alvin, Virginia Silverstein, & Laura Silverstein Nunn. Weather and Climate. (Science Concepts Series). 21st Century Bks. 1998. PLB $26.90. ISBN 0-7613-3223-5.

Gr 4-8 –Drawing clear distinctions between weather and climate, the authors provide thorough explanations of the forces that shape each one. Although the book relies more on text than illustrations, highlighted boxes on related topics add visual interest and provide additional information. Examples include how weather affects health and why planting trees helps prevent global warming. Numerous definitions help make this a solid choice for students needing a basic introduction.

BREEN, Mark & Kathleen Friestad. The Kids’ Book of Weather Forecasting: Build a Weather Station, “Read” the Sky & Make Predictions! illus. by Michael Kline. (A Williamson Kids Can! Bk.). Williamson. 2000. pap. $12.95. ISBN 1-885593-39-2.

Gr 3-8 –From developing a weather log through creating various kinds of instruments and making calculations, the authors offer simple advice and intriguing insights into the world of meteorology. After providing “getting-it-right” rules about aspects of forecasting, they present scenarios that challenge readers to develop their own predictions. Black-and-white cartoons complement the breezy, conversational style.

GARDNER, Robert. Weather Science Fair Projects Using Sunlight, Rainbows, Ice Cubes, and More. Enslow. 2005. PLB $26.60. ISBN 0-7660-2361-3.

Gr 5-9 –Gardner focuses on experiments that can be extended or modified for science-fair projects. He outlines safety precautions needed in all science projects and identifies which activities require the assistance of adults. Basic black-and-white drawings accompany most projects, but students need to read and interpret written instructions as well. Noting that science-fair judges reward “creative thought and imagination,” the author reminds students that they need to do more than duplicate the experiments provided.

LINDOP, Laurie. Chasing Tornadoes. (Science on the Edge Series). 21st Century Bks. 2003. PLB $26.90. ISBN 0-7613-2703-7.

Gr 5-8 –Lindop discusses pioneers in the field of tornado chasing such as Tetsuya Fujita, who developed theories about tornado structure and a scale to classify them based on their damage. She follows the work of scientists involved in Project VORTEX, designed to document a tornado’s life cycle. While effectively capturing the thrills of storm chasing, she also stresses precautions people need to take if threatened by a tornado.

CEBAN, Bonnie J. Tornadoes: Disaster & Survival. (Deadly Disasters Series). Enslow. 2005. PLB $23.93. ISBN 0-7660-2383-4.

Gr 4-6 –Ceban explains how tornadoes form and where and when they are most likely to occur, but the book’s real impact lies in its accounts of several major storms in the United States and Canada. Gripping stories told by frightened survivors and sober statistics of deaths and injuries personalize the destruction. A chart of the 10 deadliest U.S. tornadoes is included along with detailed recommendations for actions to take in case of a tornado warning.

KRAMER, Stephen. Lightning. photos. by Warren Faidley. (Nature in Action Series). Carolrhoda. 1992. PLB $19.93. ISBN 0-87614-659-0; pap. $7.95. ISBN 0-87614-617-5.

Gr 4-7 –Drawings that show how lightning forms and what happens when it strikes the ground accompany an explanatory text about this powerful and dangerous phenomenon. However, the book’s real attraction is Faidley’s spectacular photographs. The views of lighting emanating from massive clouds or splitting darkened skies will fascinate readers.

MURPHY, Jim. Blizzard! Scholastic. 2000. RTE $18.95. ISBN 0-590-67309-2.

Gr 5-9 –This is a masterful depiction of the blizzard that struck the eastern United States in March 1888. In addition to explaining the meteorological conditions that led to its creation and sustained intensity, Murphy includes numerous accounts of those who survived and others who died. He incorporates a wealth of information about employment, transportation, homelessness, and politics to create a comprehensive appreciation of how weather can influence social policy as well as individual fortunes.