Task 2

Materials and tools for a working group:

worksheets

Another task is to examine the impact of clouds on the nature of the weather, respectively precipitation appearance. Through observation, pupils can see if the presence of each cloud is associated automatically with rain. At the beginning of the activity, the teacher discusses with the pupils the nature of the weather depending on the clouds: Are there clouds in the sky only when it rains? Can they also occur during a sunny day? If so, what do they look like? Are they different from those that bring precipitation? Can we predict rain or storm by observing clouds?

Before making observations, pupils make predictions as to whether the weather can be predicted by observing clouds. Pupils should draw/write down predictions about what clouds (and if any) occur in the sky in different types of weather. Verification of predictions is associated with longer observation. Pupils will record the nature of the weather (the same categories as in Task 2) within a few days (2 weeks to a month; they can observe either at the same time every day or, for example, every Monday at 12.00 during one month). On the basis of a longer observation, pupils can observe the different character of weather and the occurrence of clouds during it. They can also record air temperature, wind speed and its direction. The results of the observation shall be entered in a table in the worksheet. Then they return to their predictions and write down their findings.

Finally, they will try to conclude with the teacher whether weather patterns can be predicted based on the occurrence of different types of clouds, depending on the measurement of wind speed and direction and air temperature.