Blizzards
Content Introduction/Explanation
What do you like to do in the snow? (ski, snowman, snow angel, shovel, snowboard…)
What happens when there is a lot of snow? Like when you can’t leave?
Create a KWL chart as a class.
What happens when there is a lot of snow? Like when you can’t leave?
Create a KWL chart as a class.
Useful Links
Education World (http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/A-Blizzard-of-Winter-Lessons.shtml)
This link brings the reader to a page called “A Blizzard of Winter Lessons.” It has many lessons and activities about snow, blizzards, and winter.
How To Study a Snowflake? (http://www.sisbrostudios.com/assets/files/studysnowflake.pdf)
This link leads to the introduction of the unit. It is called “How to Study a Snowflake,” and it presents an activity that allows the children to see how different snowflakes are from each other. It also has a another section called “How to measure the snowfall.” This gives another activity a teacher can do with the class that focuses on measuring the snowfall.
Weather Watch (http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/winter_storms/index.htm)
This link provides explanations about blizzards that range from the basics of a storm, to an in-depth analysis, to what experts say. This can be used with students but it is also a great resource for teachers to go to when they have questions about snowfall/ blizzards.
National Weather Service (http://www.weather.gov/bgm/WinterTerms)
This link brings the reader to the National Weather Service website. On this page, it describes different terminology that revolves around winter weather, specifically blizzards and snowstorms.
This link brings the reader to a page called “A Blizzard of Winter Lessons.” It has many lessons and activities about snow, blizzards, and winter.
How To Study a Snowflake? (http://www.sisbrostudios.com/assets/files/studysnowflake.pdf)
This link leads to the introduction of the unit. It is called “How to Study a Snowflake,” and it presents an activity that allows the children to see how different snowflakes are from each other. It also has a another section called “How to measure the snowfall.” This gives another activity a teacher can do with the class that focuses on measuring the snowfall.
Weather Watch (http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/winter_storms/index.htm)
This link provides explanations about blizzards that range from the basics of a storm, to an in-depth analysis, to what experts say. This can be used with students but it is also a great resource for teachers to go to when they have questions about snowfall/ blizzards.
National Weather Service (http://www.weather.gov/bgm/WinterTerms)
This link brings the reader to the National Weather Service website. On this page, it describes different terminology that revolves around winter weather, specifically blizzards and snowstorms.
Words to Know
- Snow: precipitation in forms of ice crystals, formed directly from freezing
- Storm: Any disturbance in the atmosphere, especially affecting the Earth’s surface
- Wind: air in motion relative to the surface of the Earth
- Blowing snow: wind driven snow that causes a person's visibility to be reduced
- Visibility: The distance in which a given object can be seen and identified with an unaided eye
- Freezing: When a substance changes from liquid to solid
- Cold: a low temperature
- Blizzard: a snowstorm with many wind gusts that are 35 mph or more, extremely cold temperatures, visibility is limited
- Winter storm watch: 12-36 hour notice of a possible severe winter storm. The news team is watching the weathers pattern that typically turns into a snowstorm.
- Blizzard warning: When blizzard conditions are expected or beginning to develop
- Winter storm warning: 7 or more inches of snow are expected within the next 24 hours.
- Precipitation: liquid or solid water that falls from the atmosphere that reaches the ground
- Frostbite: human tissue that is damaged because it has been exposed to intense cold
Key Concepts
Location of snowstorms
Types of snowstorms (warnings, watches, etc.)
How to clean up after a blizzard (snow plows, shovel, salt, ice scraper for cars…)
How a blizzard forms
How a blizzard stops
Safety: be prepared to be inside (blankets, food, flashlights, communication, water, snow tires, heat)
Types of snowstorms (warnings, watches, etc.)
How to clean up after a blizzard (snow plows, shovel, salt, ice scraper for cars…)
How a blizzard forms
How a blizzard stops
Safety: be prepared to be inside (blankets, food, flashlights, communication, water, snow tires, heat)
Children's Literature (Fiction)
Children's Literature (Non-Fiction)
Teacher Resources
NSTA Resources
Studying Storms to Understand Weather (http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=53469)
Make Your Own Snow Day! (http://static.nsta.org/files/sc1101_53.pdf)
Precipitation Matters (http://static.nsta.org/files/sc0707_38.pdf)
Make Your Own Snow Day! (http://static.nsta.org/files/sc1101_53.pdf)
Precipitation Matters (http://static.nsta.org/files/sc0707_38.pdf)