What's the weather today? People are interested in the weather so they can plan their day, determine what they should wear, if they should venture outside, when and where to vacation, and many other tasks. Gardeners and farmers need to understand both weather and climate to decide what and where to plant, and how best to take care of their animals. Homeowners also need to understand typical climate conditions, allowing them to determine which flowers and shrubs to plant on their properties. It also tells them what kind of insulation, furnace, and air conditioner to install. And when stormy weather is predicted, people need to be prepared. It is important that they know how to be safe in dangerous weather.
The first level of Weather and Climate Science Education for Grades 3-12 introduces basic weather words and ideas. These activities focus on understanding the weather around you. Readers will also begin to learn the difference between weather and climate, and how these ideas are related. The second level introduces readers to more complex weather topics. They will learn about air pressure, winds, humidity, and fronts. The third level delves more deeply into weather and climate science. This level will help prepare readers to understand weather all through their lifetimes. The final section, the Facilitator's Guide, provides answers to the youth activities as well as information about Next Generation Science Standards.
Carroll, Natalie J.: - Natalie J. Carroll is a Purdue University professor with extensive experience in curriculum development. She and her creative writing teams have composed thirty-two natural resource, activity-based curricula for youth and twenty-three grant-funded projects. She and her coauthors have received ten national awards for their work. She has also published numerous journal articles and educational works for youth and adults, and has presented her work to hundreds of conferences in Indiana and around the world. Carroll has received seven awards for curriculum development from professional associations in addition to Purdue's Christian J. Foster Award for Contributions to K-12 STEM Education and the Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to the Rural People of Indiana from the Indiana Farm Bureau.
Leuenberger, Gretchen: - Gretchen Leuenberger has enjoyed diverse experiences as an elementary teacher, librarian, reading specialist, and elementary-school principal. She served for forty-two years as a career curriculum specialist, presenting curriculum materials and programs at schools throughout Indiana.
Leuenberger, Theodore: - Theodore Leuenberger regularly works with Purdue University faculty on a variety of publications and projects. He taught junior and senior high school biology, general science, and earth science for thirty-seven years, and contributed to seven publications, most recently "Field Studies as a Pedagogical Approach to Inquiry" in Science as Inquiry in the Secondary Setting. He has copresented his work at dozens of national and state science teacher association meetings, and he received the Purdue University Department of Education Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002.
