P1.25
Weather educational tools to help students and teachers.
Mike J. Arellano, Weather Research Center, Houston, TX; and J. F. Hasling
Developed in 1991 as an idea to introduce and stimulate children to the science of weather, Weather Camp has also helped promote weather safety and the encouragement of children to possible weather-related careers. The first camp had about 35 "campers" and since then, over 100 kids attend each year. Today, a special section for adults has been added and plans are underway to develop a special seminar for science teachers who teach a weather unit to their students.
Weather Camp and the teacher's seminar offer several different topics, depending on the individual interests or class requirements. For example, a session in weather forecasting introduces persons to the skill of making weather observations and preparing weather forecasts. A session in severe weather and/or tropical weather outlines the different types of severe/tropical weather, its origins and how to respond to a threatening weather situation. For the teachers, a quick sampling of all topics is offered to satisfy the weather unit requirements.
The weather camp sessions and seminars are very informal. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and to share stories. The camp is more like a workshop, rather that a classroom - with a meteorlogist present to answer questions and to stimulate interest. In addition to discussions, hands-on experiments help illustrate certain weather processes.
The Internet has also become a valuable tool in learning about weather. Not only are there sites where one can learn about the weather processes and find the latest forecast, but now actual weather data can be obtained for things such as long range weather forecasting and hurricane tracking and prediction.
The combination of weather camps and teacher's weather seminars is just the beginning of new ways of educating the public abount the weather. Better weather education results in people becoming more environmentally conscience, and at the same time, can also result in fewer weather-related injuries and deaths.
Poster Session 1, Educational Outreach Activities
Sunday, 14 January 2001, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM
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