Background: Integrated STEM approaches are acknowledged as important for making school subjects relevant and engaging for students and are reinforced with the current emphasis on computational thinking. Still, such approaches are rarely realized in schools. This study investigates how the traditional 'grammar of schooling' may prevent realization…

When the road is wet (there is a water layer on the road surface), the road marks become blurred and drivers are distracted. We discuss the contributing processes and identify which processes are dominant to the occurrence of this phenomenon. Modelling and a simple experiment demonstrate that the dominant processes are: (a) refraction of light by…

We experience (perceive, act upon and react to, and conceptualize) dynamical processes in nature as agentive. Expressed differently, we experience events as resulting from activities and interactions of "Forces of Nature" (such as wind, light, heat, fluids, electricity, substances, and motion) that are conceived of as powerful agents…

The author explores the articulations of six social studies student/teachers after a viewing of "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts". The film, a documentary about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the people in and around New Orleans, constitutes an encounter with what Deborah Britzman (1998) calls "difficult…

As part of its National Science and Engineering Week activities in 2009 and 2010, the University of Reading organised two open days for 60 local key stage 4 pupils. The theme of both open days was "How do we predict weather and climate?" Making use of the students' familiarity with weather and climate, several concepts of relevance to secondary…

Discusses the history of weather forecasting from the Babylonians to today's computers and provides information on snow, hail, sleet, fog, winds, clouds, and fronts. Includes possible student outcomes and a student quiz. (JOW)

Introduces Wilson A. Bentley, who studied precipitation. Discusses Bentley's method for measuring the number, size, and shape of raindrops and determining the rate of rainfall. Lists required materials and explains the procedure for students and teachers. Provides scientific background on condensation and precipitation. (YDS)

Discusses the mathematical applications of weather including Fahrenheit-Celsius conversions, temperature cycles, the wind-chill factor, and a temperature-humidity index. (MKR)

Describes seasonal activities that can be used to study the sedimentation process. (ZWH)

This document contains specific exercises designed to help secondary students understand the spatial and temporal characteristics of hurricanes that affect the eastern part of the United States. Selected exercises require students to: (1) use maps; (2) interpret statistics; and (3) perform mathematical calculations. Introductory material is…

Presents ideas and techniques for building a series of photographs with weather as the theme in high school newspapers. (RB)

Describes an activity to learn about meteorology and weather using the internet. Discusses the National Weather Service (NWS) internet site www.weather.gov. Students examine maximum and minimum daily temperatures, wind speed, and direction. (SAH)

Discusses the nature and effects of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation phenomenon. Indicates that new understanding of the phenomenon from current data will provide a global view of climate that has never before been within reach. (JN)

Types of weather phenomena that can be demonstrated in a home bathroom are discussed. For example, if the bathroom is small enough, warm, moist air can be seen accumulating in the upper part of the room after taking a hot shower. (Author/JN)

This booklet presents some activities to measure various weather phenomena. Directions for constructing a weather station are included. Instruments including rain gauges, thermometers, wind vanes, wind speed devices, humidity devices, barometers, atmospheric observations, a dustfall jar, sticky-tape can, detection of gases in the air, and pH of…