Igniting a Passion for Science and Meteorology
Developed in partnership with the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO), a NOAA cooperative institute at the University of Oklahoma, Weathering the Storm is a cutting-edge STEM curriculum focused on earth science and Oklahoma weather. Piloted in 2024 and launching in 2025, this middle-school curriculum builds students’ understanding of weather patterns, natural disasters, and the role of technology in disaster preparedness. By connecting real-world issues to STEM careers, youth are inspired to engage in solving global challenges and are prepared to become future leaders in meteorology.
The Future of Meteorology Starts Here
Ready to bring the excitement of weather and meteorology into your classroom? Explore the Weathering the Storm curriculum modules and discover a wealth of free resources designed to support your teaching and engage your students. With comprehensive teacher guides, ready-to-use student handouts, and dynamic presentation slides, we’ve provided everything you need to seamlessly integrate this cutting-edge curriculum into your classroom. Dive into the modules below and start inspiring the next generation of scientists, meteorologists, and STEM leaders today!
Module 1
Driving Question: How do we keep people safe in the extreme temperatures of summer and winter?
Lesson 0
Topic:
Weather and Meteorology
Students will discover that weather is the atmosphere's state at any given moment, defined by key components like temperature, pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloudiness. They'll also be introduced to meteorology, the science dedicated to studying these elements and the atmosphere's processes.
Weather and Meteorology
Students will discover that weather is the atmosphere's state at any given moment, defined by key components like temperature, pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloudiness. They'll also be introduced to meteorology, the science dedicated to studying these elements and the atmosphere's processes.
Lesson 1
Topic:
Temperature
Students will explore how temperatures differ between sun and shade, discovering that different substances absorb varying amounts of energy from the sun. They'll also learn how to measure temperature using both Celsius and Fahrenheit scales.
Temperature
Students will explore how temperatures differ between sun and shade, discovering that different substances absorb varying amounts of energy from the sun. They'll also learn how to measure temperature using both Celsius and Fahrenheit scales.
Lesson 2
Topic:
Heat Transfer
This lesson delves into the sun's crucial role in powering all weather. Students will learn how solar energy heats the air, increasing molecular energy and thus air temperature. They'll explore the three methods of heat transfer: radiation, conduction, and convection. The lesson also explains how convection currents, driven by warm air rising and cool air sinking, create air masses that influence weather patterns, using the fascinating phenomenon of mirages as evidence of convection in action.
Heat Transfer
This lesson delves into the sun's crucial role in powering all weather. Students will learn how solar energy heats the air, increasing molecular energy and thus air temperature. They'll explore the three methods of heat transfer: radiation, conduction, and convection. The lesson also explains how convection currents, driven by warm air rising and cool air sinking, create air masses that influence weather patterns, using the fascinating phenomenon of mirages as evidence of convection in action.
Lesson 3
Topic:
Heat Index
Lesson 3 introduces students to relative humidity as another key weather component. They'll discover how humidity affects our perception of temperature, making it feel hotter or colder than the actual reading, while understanding that it doesn't change the true temperature itself. Finally, students will learn about the Heat Index, a practical measure that combines temperature and relative humidity to give us a more accurate sense of how hot it really feels.
Heat Index
Lesson 3 introduces students to relative humidity as another key weather component. They'll discover how humidity affects our perception of temperature, making it feel hotter or colder than the actual reading, while understanding that it doesn't change the true temperature itself. Finally, students will learn about the Heat Index, a practical measure that combines temperature and relative humidity to give us a more accurate sense of how hot it really feels.
Lesson 4
Topic:
Wind Chill
In this lesson, students will explore wind chill, learning how wind speed affects how cold the air feels to our skin. They'll discover that higher wind speeds increase heat loss from the body, leading to a decrease in body temperature and a greater sensation of cold.
Wind Chill
In this lesson, students will explore wind chill, learning how wind speed affects how cold the air feels to our skin. They'll discover that higher wind speeds increase heat loss from the body, leading to a decrease in body temperature and a greater sensation of cold.
Lesson 5
Topic:
Temperature Advisory Alerts
Lesson 5 explores how extreme weather conditions can pose serious health risks. Students will learn how high temperatures, humidity, and heat indices can create unsafe conditions, potentially leading to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. They'll also discover how high wind speeds combined with low temperatures or wind chill can create dangerous situations that put people at risk for hypothermia and frostbite.
Temperature Advisory Alerts
Lesson 5 explores how extreme weather conditions can pose serious health risks. Students will learn how high temperatures, humidity, and heat indices can create unsafe conditions, potentially leading to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. They'll also discover how high wind speeds combined with low temperatures or wind chill can create dangerous situations that put people at risk for hypothermia and frostbite.
Module 2
Driving Question: Why is it so windy in Oklahoma?
Lesson 1
Topic:
Air & Wind Pressure
In this lesson students will learn how to interpret weather graphs to determine both wind speed and direction. They'll discover the connection between changes in atmospheric pressure and wind patterns, understanding that wind is ultimately the result of a pressure gradient.
Air & Wind Pressure
In this lesson students will learn how to interpret weather graphs to determine both wind speed and direction. They'll discover the connection between changes in atmospheric pressure and wind patterns, understanding that wind is ultimately the result of a pressure gradient.
Lesson 2
Topic:
Measuring Air Pressure
This lesson explores the concept of air pressure, explaining how gravity causes air to exert pressure on Earth's surface. Students will learn how air pressure changes with altitude and how it can be measured using tools like barometers and radiosondes. They'll also discover the multiple units used to express air pressure and practice converting between these units using mathematical procedures.
Measuring Air Pressure
This lesson explores the concept of air pressure, explaining how gravity causes air to exert pressure on Earth's surface. Students will learn how air pressure changes with altitude and how it can be measured using tools like barometers and radiosondes. They'll also discover the multiple units used to express air pressure and practice converting between these units using mathematical procedures.
Lesson 3
Topic:
Measuring Wind
This lesson focuses on the importance of measuring wind speed and direction, explaining how these measurements contribute to our understanding of current air quality, safety conditions, and even help predict precipitation and temperature changes. Students will learn that wind speed is measured using an anemometer, while wind direction is determined with a wind sock or wind vane.
Measuring Wind
This lesson focuses on the importance of measuring wind speed and direction, explaining how these measurements contribute to our understanding of current air quality, safety conditions, and even help predict precipitation and temperature changes. Students will learn that wind speed is measured using an anemometer, while wind direction is determined with a wind sock or wind vane.
Lesson 4
Topic:
Global Wind Patterns
Lesson 4 explores prevailing winds, explaining how these winds follow predictable patterns across the globe. Students will learn that these patterns are driven by a combination of factors, including the uneven heating of Earth's surface, differences in air pressure, convection currents, and the Coriolis Effect.
Global Wind Patterns
Lesson 4 explores prevailing winds, explaining how these winds follow predictable patterns across the globe. Students will learn that these patterns are driven by a combination of factors, including the uneven heating of Earth's surface, differences in air pressure, convection currents, and the Coriolis Effect.
Lesson 5
Topic:
Local Wind Patterns
Students will learn how wind speed varies across different terrains, from the high wind speeds often experienced in grasslands and mountain ranges to the typically lower wind speeds found within forests. The lesson explains how friction on the surface can affect wind speed, and how mountains, by forcing air to rise, can create unpredictable and complex wind patterns.
Local Wind Patterns
Students will learn how wind speed varies across different terrains, from the high wind speeds often experienced in grasslands and mountain ranges to the typically lower wind speeds found within forests. The lesson explains how friction on the surface can affect wind speed, and how mountains, by forcing air to rise, can create unpredictable and complex wind patterns.
Module 3
Driving Question: Why do some clouds rain and some don’t?
Lesson 1
Topic:
Water Cycle
In this lesson students will consider the question of why some clouds rain and some don’t by first exploring how rain is produced. They will simulate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation through a lab activity that captures steam. Students will construct a model of the water cycle, taking into consideration the role that the sun, gravity, air pressure, and heat transfer play in the process. After determining what causes rain to stop, students will investigate how rainbows are formed.
Water Cycle
In this lesson students will consider the question of why some clouds rain and some don’t by first exploring how rain is produced. They will simulate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation through a lab activity that captures steam. Students will construct a model of the water cycle, taking into consideration the role that the sun, gravity, air pressure, and heat transfer play in the process. After determining what causes rain to stop, students will investigate how rainbows are formed.
Lesson 2
Topic:
Raindrop Research
This lesson explores clouds and how they are made of droplets of water that may fall as raindrops. Students investigate how water droplets coalesce into larger drops. As raindrops fall, air resistance causes the drop to flatten on one side, resulting in a drop that is similar in shape to a hamburger bun. Students research different types of radar and discover why it is important for meteorologists to study the size and shape of raindrops. Students will then complete a project in which they propose a new color palette for radar images that will make them easier to understand for all viewers.
Raindrop Research
This lesson explores clouds and how they are made of droplets of water that may fall as raindrops. Students investigate how water droplets coalesce into larger drops. As raindrops fall, air resistance causes the drop to flatten on one side, resulting in a drop that is similar in shape to a hamburger bun. Students research different types of radar and discover why it is important for meteorologists to study the size and shape of raindrops. Students will then complete a project in which they propose a new color palette for radar images that will make them easier to understand for all viewers.
Lesson 3
Topic:
Cloud Formation
This lesson focuses on the different mechanisms of lift in the atmosphere and the role that convection, air density, air pressure, and temperature play in each. Students observe the various appearances of clouds and investigate the causes of these different appearances. Students estimate cloud cover by applying mathematical procedures and then use these estimates to create a weather report. Students discover that uplift causes clouds to be taller, a concept that will be further explored in the next lesson.
Cloud Formation
This lesson focuses on the different mechanisms of lift in the atmosphere and the role that convection, air density, air pressure, and temperature play in each. Students observe the various appearances of clouds and investigate the causes of these different appearances. Students estimate cloud cover by applying mathematical procedures and then use these estimates to create a weather report. Students discover that uplift causes clouds to be taller, a concept that will be further explored in the next lesson.
Lesson 4
Topic:
Storm Clouds
Lesson 4 explores how atmospheric processes lead to the formation of clouds that can cause severe precipitation. Through experimentation, students identify that strong updrafts are required for the formation of hail. Students will practice calculating precipitation probabilities using concepts of estimation and multiplication of percentages. The module concludes with students constructing a final model to explain why some clouds produce precipitation and some don’t.
Storm Clouds
Lesson 4 explores how atmospheric processes lead to the formation of clouds that can cause severe precipitation. Through experimentation, students identify that strong updrafts are required for the formation of hail. Students will practice calculating precipitation probabilities using concepts of estimation and multiplication of percentages. The module concludes with students constructing a final model to explain why some clouds produce precipitation and some don’t.
Module 4
Driving Question: How do clouds become thunderstorms and severe thunderstorms?
Lesson 1
Topic:
Thunderstorms
In this lesson, students will investigate thunder and lightning by observing storms, exploring static electricity, and modeling how sound travels in waves. After discovering how lightning causes thunder, they'll create public safety posters on staying safe during storms.
Thunderstorms
In this lesson, students will investigate thunder and lightning by observing storms, exploring static electricity, and modeling how sound travels in waves. After discovering how lightning causes thunder, they'll create public safety posters on staying safe during storms.
Lesson 2
Topic:
The Recipe for a Storm
Throughout this lesson, students will explore how thunderstorms form by examining the roles of humidity, atmospheric stability, and lifting mechanisms. They will then create a model to demonstrate how these factors interact to produce a thunderstorm.
The Recipe for a Storm
Throughout this lesson, students will explore how thunderstorms form by examining the roles of humidity, atmospheric stability, and lifting mechanisms. They will then create a model to demonstrate how these factors interact to produce a thunderstorm.
Lesson 3
Topic:
Severe Thunderstorms
This lesson focuses on helping students distinguish between general and severe thunderstorms by examining the atmospheric conditions that cause each. Students will simulate wind shear, plan an investigation on the interaction of warm and cold air masses, and analyze case study storms using surface maps and convective outlooks to determine the factors that lead to severe weather.
Severe Thunderstorms
This lesson focuses on helping students distinguish between general and severe thunderstorms by examining the atmospheric conditions that cause each. Students will simulate wind shear, plan an investigation on the interaction of warm and cold air masses, and analyze case study storms using surface maps and convective outlooks to determine the factors that lead to severe weather.
Module 5
Driving Question: How can understanding severe weather help us predict and prepare for dangerous storms?
Lesson 1
Topic:
Predicting Severe Weather
In this lesson students will analyze real-world severe weather data to determine seasonal patterns for tornadoes and hurricanes and relate these phenomena to the appropriate seasonal weather patterns.
Predicting Severe Weather
In this lesson students will analyze real-world severe weather data to determine seasonal patterns for tornadoes and hurricanes and relate these phenomena to the appropriate seasonal weather patterns.
Lesson 2
Topic:
Thunderstorm vs. Tornado
Students will investigate why some storms produce tornadoes and others do not. They will explore weather research field campaigns and become familiar with how and why meteorologists study storms. Students will investigate the source of damaging winds and gain experience forecasting dangerous wind conditions.
Thunderstorm vs. Tornado
Students will investigate why some storms produce tornadoes and others do not. They will explore weather research field campaigns and become familiar with how and why meteorologists study storms. Students will investigate the source of damaging winds and gain experience forecasting dangerous wind conditions.
Lesson 3
Topic:
Tornadogenesis
This lesson investigates what atmospheric conditions are likely to result in tornado formation. Students will also practice interpreting radar images of storms to determine if tornadoes are likely to occur.
Tornadogenesis
This lesson investigates what atmospheric conditions are likely to result in tornado formation. Students will also practice interpreting radar images of storms to determine if tornadoes are likely to occur.
Lesson 4
Topic:
Hurricane Genesis
Lesson 4 explores what atmospheric conditions are necessary for the formation of tropical cyclones. They will gather wind and air pressure data for multiple tropical storms and classify each. Finally, students will construct a model to compare the formation of tornadoes and hurricanes, noting the differences and similarities of each.
Hurricane Genesis
Lesson 4 explores what atmospheric conditions are necessary for the formation of tropical cyclones. They will gather wind and air pressure data for multiple tropical storms and classify each. Finally, students will construct a model to compare the formation of tornadoes and hurricanes, noting the differences and similarities of each.
Lesson 5
Topic:
Tornado and Hurricane Safety
Students will explore data related to tornado paths and severity in order to determine possible patterns that should be investigated. Students will practice writing a research question that could be used to guide an investigation. This information is then connected to public knowledge about storm safety as students complete public education campaigns about severe weather safety.
Tornado and Hurricane Safety
Students will explore data related to tornado paths and severity in order to determine possible patterns that should be investigated. Students will practice writing a research question that could be used to guide an investigation. This information is then connected to public knowledge about storm safety as students complete public education campaigns about severe weather safety.
These materials were prepared by Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance with funding provided by NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research under NOAA-University of Oklahoma Cooperative Agreement #NA21OAR4320204, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
