LEARN was created to increase middle school science teacher knowledge of and interest in the atmospheric sciences. The original project began in 1991 with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Much of the instructional and science content foundation for the LEARN workshops came from the teaching modules developed by LEARN teachers in collaboration with more than 60 National Center for ... Full description.

This collection of basic definitions and answers to questions about hurricanes and tropical cyclones includes how they form, how they are named, how intensities are measured, and how storms are forecast. Historical information, information on myths surrounding these storms, links to sites displaying real-time storm information, and safety tips are also included. Full description.

This lab activity is part of the Starting Point collection. In this short, serial basic-meteorology lab, students identify different cloud types and estimate cloud cover over a period of several days. This website details learning goals, context for the lab, and teaching notes. A list of teaching materials and links to further resources are also provided. Full description.

The National Hurricane Center contains news of active tropical systems; a hurricane awareness section about the hazards of hurricanes and what you can do to help protect yourself, your family, and your property; links to regional tropical cyclone centers; tropical weather outlooks, marine forecasts, and Sea Surface Temperature analyses; blank hurricane tracking charts; and current season summaries ... Full description.

This activity illustrates how dark land surfaces, light land surfaces and water all heat at different rates. Students determine whether land or water absorbs heat more quickly and how this difference affects weather and climate. Full description.

This instructor guide provides background material for a two-part activity in which students observe convective currents in water and learn that air can behave as as a fluid. Students will understand that temperature changes can cause density changes in water, learn that the same phenomenon happens in air, and understand that temperature-driven density changes will produce currents in a fluid medium. ... Full description.

This resource presents a brief overview of these violent tropical ocean storms. It covers the science, phenomenon, and effects of hurricanes, and includes videos clips that depict how hurricanes form, what they look like, and what kind of damage they can do. Full description.

This resource provides information about the science, phenomenon, and effects of tornadoes. Video clips include an outing with a tornado hunter, an interview with a tornado survivor, and an animation depicting the science of tornado formation. Full description.

In this activity, students observe fluid motion and the formation of convection cells as a solution of soap and water is heated. This procedure can be performed as a demonstration by the teacher, or older students can conduct the experiment themselves. A list of materials, instructions, and a description of the convective process are included. Full description.

In this two-part activity, students observe the phenomenon of convection and the fact that air can behave as a fluid like water, only less dense. They should understand that convection currents are found in many places and on many scales, such as huge convection currents in the atmosphere, oceans, and even in the Earth's interior, or as smaller convection currents that can be found in a cup of hot ... Full description.