Browse Formal Resources

Ground Validation and OLYMPEX Webquest

Primary Topic:

Technology

Subtopics:

Precipitation, Remote Sensing, STEM Careers, Data, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Interactive

Audience:

Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.C, ESS2.D

Keywords:

OLYMPEX, ground validation, rain gauge, radar, airborne instruments

Summary:

You will learn how we measure precipitation from the ground and from space using satellites, and why we need to do ground validation of the satellite data. You will also learn about the OLYMPEX Field Campaign.

Assessing Drought in the United States

Primary Topic:

Societal Applications

Subtopics:

Water & Life, Weather and Climate, Weather, Climate, Data, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS3.A, ESS3.B

Keywords:

drought, citizen science, drought severity, precipitation variability

Summary:

This short animation from the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network shows how decision makers use a variety of data and in-person reports to assess the drought conditions across the United States.

Water Falls: Getting the Big Picture

Primary Topic:

Technology

Subtopics:

Water Cycle, Precipitation, Weather, Climate, Satellites, Remote Sensing, Data

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, Formal, General

Standards:

ESS2.D, ETS2.A

Keywords:

active sensing, passive sensing

Summary:

The second spinoff video for the Science on a Sphere film "Water Falls." This video looks at the uses and advantages of remote sensing.

Models of Landforms and Bodies of Water

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Societal Applications, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Lesson Plan

Audience:

Formal, K - 5

Standards:

ESS2.A

Keywords:

landforms, bodies of water, models

Summary:

The purpose of this lesson is to provide students with experience creating models of landforms and bodies of water. Students review the characteristics of landforms and bodies of water in an active game, and then make models of these.

The Water Cycle - Animation

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, General

Standards:

ESS2.C

Keywords:

evaporation, condensation, groundwater, animations

Summary:

This animation shows the entire process of the water cycle throughout the course of a day.

Identifying Landforms and Bodies of Water on a Map

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Remote Sensing, Data, Societal Applications

Type:

Lesson Plan

Audience:

Formal, K - 5

Standards:

ESS2.C

Keywords:

landforms, maps, bodies of water

Summary:

The purpose of this lesson is to expose elementary level students to the practice of “developing and using models” as students explore and identify landforms and bodies of water on a map of the world. It is anticipated that this lesson will take one hour.

The Data Downpour

Primary Topic:

Technology

Subtopics:

Precipitation, Weather, Satellites, Remote Sensing, Data

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8, General

Standards:

ESS2.C, ESS2.D

Keywords:

global rain map, data processing, constellation

Summary:

A video describing how the GPM constellation turns observed radiances and reflectivities of global precipitation into data products.

Exploring Climate Science: A Snow Study

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Water Cycle, Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems, Weather, Climate, Human Impact, Data, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Lesson Plan

Audience:

Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5

Standards:

ESS3.C

Keywords:

watershed, snow pack, snow water equivalent, stream flow

Summary:

This curriculum for 5th grade was designed to help students measure basic snow properties through science techniques, and focus on the connection between snowfall in the Sierra Nevada and water availability in the rest of California ...

Climate Science in Focus: A Streamflow River Study

http://www.nps.gov/depo/forteachers/classrooms/upload/Entire-5th-Grade-Curriculum-Unit-3.pdf

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Water Cycle, Earth Systems, Water & Life, Weather, Climate, Human Impact, Data, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Lesson Plan

Audience:

Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Keywords:

watershed, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere

Summary:

This curriculum for 9th grade was designed to help students develop and understanding of climate change, how scientists study climate change, and what can be done locally to address climate change issues.