Storyboard That is a great way for students to organize observations about the weather. In this activity, students will create a weather journal for a full week. This is a great activity to complete and share your results with other schools in your country, or even around the world using some app smashing!
Students can upload their own photos of the weather into the storyboards and describe them, or they can use the scenes and items on Storyboard That. In addition, to create visualizations of what the weather looks like, students can also create illustrations of measurements they have taken. Students can take the following measurements about atmospheric conditions and add them to their diaries.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a weather journal that describes the local weather over a school week.
Link weather journals to other subjects by encouraging students to create poems, write narratives, or make math graphs using their weather data. This helps students see how weather observations connect to real-world skills and other areas of learning.
Encourage students to compare their week’s weather data to historical averages for your area. This builds research skills and deepens understanding of how daily weather fits into broader climate trends.
Lead a discussion on how weather affects daily activities, safety, and local events. Students can brainstorm and share stories, promoting critical thinking and connecting science to their own lives.
Have students create posters, digital slideshows, or short videos summarizing what they learned from their weather journals. This reinforces communication skills and boosts confidence in sharing scientific observations.
Students can create a weather journal by recording daily observations such as temperature, precipitation, and cloud coverage. Using tools like Storyboard That, they can label each day, add measurements, upload photos, and create visual illustrations for each weather element.
A comprehensive weather journal should include air pressure (measured with a barometer), temperature (with a thermometer), amount of precipitation (in millimeters), and cloud coverage (using Okta).
The best way to visualize weather data is by combining charts, illustrations, and photos. Students can use scenes, props, or upload their own images in Storyboard That to clearly show their weather observations and measurements.
Teachers can encourage students to share weather journals digitally by exporting storyboards or using app smashing techniques. Sharing can happen via email, classroom platforms, or collaborative apps with students from other schools locally or globally.
Combining measurements and illustrations helps students better understand weather patterns by connecting data to real-world visuals. This dual approach supports deeper learning and makes weather concepts more accessible and engaging.