In this unit, students explore cloud formation, water’s role in the atmosphere, and weather phenomena through hands-on activities and experiments, investigating evaporation, condensation, intermolecular interactions, and key concepts like dew point, relative humidity, and the effects of temperature and water vapor on atmospheric conditions, while connecting their findings to real-world weather systems and climate processes.
Grade Levels: 6-12
Standard:
NGSS: MS-ESS2-4 MS-ESS2-5 MS-ESS2-6
HS-ESS2-4 HS-ESS2-5 HS-ESS3-5
Topics: Climatology, Meteorology, physics, environmental science, Earth Science
Contributor: Joe Bartin, Kirkwood High School
Acknowledgements: The contents of this curriculum were co-developed with Dr. Jian Wang at McKelvey School of Engineering at WashU and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (New Particle Formation in the Marine Boundary Layer: The Frequency, Mechanism, and Impact on Cloud Condensation Nuclei, AGS-2147747). These contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.