The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Weather happens in the part of the atmosphere nearest the Earth’s surface.

What is weather?

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. It describes whether the atmosphere is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy, windy or still. Have a look outside the window. Describe what the weather is like now.
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What makes the weather change?

Weather is always changing. For instance, wet weather changes to dry weather. Weather changes because warm and cold air masses move around Earth.

An air mass is a large body of air that moves around the world. It can be warm or cold depending on where it comes from. An air mass from the poles will be cold while an air mass from the equator will be warm.

When an air mass bumps into another one, their boundary is called a front. A front is the transition zone between warm and cold air masses. When a cool air mass bumps into a warm air mass, a cold front is formed. A cold front brings rain followed by clear skies.  On the other hand, when a warm air mass bumps into a cold air mass, a warm front is formed. A warm front brings low clouds, with rain or snow.
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What is a weather station?

A weather station is a facility with instruments for measuring atmospheric conditions. The measurements are used to make weather forecasts and to study weather. The science of studying weather is called meteorology and weather scientists are called meteorologists. Some meteorologists work at weather stations to observe weather conditions and collect data.
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Some Interesting Facts

  • The oldest type of the barometer is the mercury barometer, invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643. His first barometer has tubes that contain water. The tubes were 35 feet (10 meters) in height. To make the tubes smaller, he replaced water using mercury, a silvery liquid that weighs 14 times as much as water.
  • The simplest anemometer was invented by John Robinson in 1845. It has four cups mounted on a vertical shaft. The cups revolve at a rate that was roughly proportional to the average speed of the wind.
  • Weather is the short-term condition of the atmosphere at a particular place. Climate is the condition of the atmosphere over relatively long periods of time. In other words, the climate is the average of weather over time and space.​

All About Weather

Are you looking for fun and engaging weather activities that you can do with your kids? Check out this All About Weather resource that has everything you need for an interactive science unit in your classroom. It includes posters, word cards, nonfiction unit booklet, lap book guide, weather activities, workbook, answer key, graphic organizers, and writing activities. 

This comprehensive packet includes 5 pdf files: Weather Booklet, Posters and Word Cards, Fun Weather Workbook, Lap Book Guide, and Writing Activities Booklet.