Sunny with a Chance of Scientific Inquiry
“In your opinion, has global warming affected the weather, and if so, how?” “Wow, that’s a big one. My answer is absolutely, yes.” Steve Vilanueva, meteorologist with NBC 4 New York’s weather team, was invited to speak to Grade 5 science students last week and ended up fielding some fairly difficult questions.
“How many weather balloons do you send up per day, and how do you adjust your reports for the west coast?” “Two, and we only provide forecasts regionally.”
“These kids have clearly been paying attention in their science classes” said Vilanueva after his 1-hour presentation and Q & A session. Carol Etzold, Middle School Science Teacher agrees. The students are just completing a weather unit in which they’ve learned about temperature, clouds, precipitation, air pressure, and wind. They’ve also learned how all these factors interact to create weather systems of air masses and weather fronts. Currently, 5th graders are using this information to create their own 24-hour weather predictions. “Meeting Steve Villanueva shows students how professional meteorologists use this information to make the forecasts that we watch in our newscasts,” Etzold said. “One of the objectives of our science program is to relate the concepts learned in class to students’ own lives as often as we can. The more we can make their learning personal, the more the students will remember.”
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
