Understanding Weather: Print Resources

This is a collection of Print Resources about weather. A separate collection of Electronic Resources is also available.

Most titles below are outstanding and recommended by the National Science Teachers Association that fit this year’s theme for Chemists Celebrate Earth Day. Descriptions are based on reviews from the NSTA or publishers web site.

Key: E = Elementary (K–5), I = Intermediate (6–8), HS = High School (9–12), C = College, G = General Public

Water in the Air

The Drop in My Drink: The Story of Water on Our Planet. Meredith Hooper. NY: Viking, 1998. 32pp. ISBN 0-670-87618-6. (I)
Here is the amazing and ever-changing story of water — where it comes from, how it behaves, why it matters — and the crucial role it has played throughout life on Earth. The eye-catching illustrations are realistic and thought-provoking.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children in 1999
Materials, Materials, Materials: Water. Chris Oxlade. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Ed. Bks., 2002. 32pp. ISBN 1-58810-588-1. (E)
This book is appropriate for primary students studying water, weather, or pollution. It would also be a great book for older students who have lower reading abilities. Water has a simplified text; but it is not simple. The text is large and written in clear, short sentences yet ample information is presented. Key words, such as transparent and dissolving, can be looked up in the glossary. High-quality photographs feature animals, children, and men and women from around the world. Students may find the “Fact File” and “Can You Believe It?” sections fun to read. A table of contents, an index, and a list of other books to read give it the same format as many higher level texts.
Source: NSTA recommends
Rain and the Earth. Nikki Bundey. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2000. 32pp. ISBN 1-57505-469-8. (E)
The focus of this book is on role that rain plays on the Earth, how the water cycle works, and the effects of water on all forms of life. The photographs are one of the series’ most appealing features. The accurate and thorough text covers cloud types, wetlands, and rainforests as well as the conditions caused by lack of rain. Scattered throughout the book are very simple experiments that a student could do independently. There are good diagrams, maps and charts, as well as an index and a glossary all designed to make learning about rain very easy.
Source: NSTA recommends
A Rainy Day. Robin Nelson. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2001. 24pp. ISBN 0-8225-0173-2. (E)
This informational book, along with other titles in this unofficial series (A Cloudy Day, A Windy Day, A Sunny Day, A Snowy Day), are truly appropriate for early primary students. These books each feature 16 pages of full-color weather photographs with one short sentence of first-grade text per page. There are 5 vocabulary words with a picture and sentence glossary and a simple index. Three informational pages in each title cover a related topic (the water cycle and lightening; weather vanes and windy day facts; types of clouds and cloudy day facts; weather, light, and shadows; snowflakes and snow facts) could be used to challenge better readers or be read aloud.
Source: NSTA recommends

Air Masses and Fronts

A Cloudy Day. Robin Nelson. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2001. 24pp. ISBN 0-8225-0172-4. (E)
This informational book, along with other titles in this unofficial series (A Windy Day, A Rainy Day, A Sunny Day, A Snowy Day), are truly appropriate for early primary students. These books each feature 16 pages of full-color weather photographs with one short sentence of first-grade text per page. There are 5 vocabulary words with a picture and sentence glossary and a simple index. Three informational pages in each title cover a related topic (the water cycle and lightening; weather vanes and windy day facts; types of clouds and cloudy day facts; weather, light, and shadows; snowflakes and snow facts) could be used to challenge better readers or be read aloud.
Source: NSTA recommends

Severe Weather

Snow and the Earth. Nikki Bundey. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2000. 32pp. ISBN 1-57505-471-X. (E)
The focus of this book is how snow is formed in the atmosphere, various forms it takes, conditions it creates on the Earth, and its effects on living things. The photographs are one of the book’s most appealing features and include photos of spectacular crystals, snowstorms, glaciers, and snow monkeys. The text covers concepts of precipitation, evaporation, and condensation, as well as how warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals survive in cold climates. This book could be used in an independent center for research or read aloud to younger students. The text is easy to read, with important terms printed in bold and written with plenty of contextual clues that will help young readers’ figure out their definitions. Scattered throughout the book are very simple experiments that a student could do independently. There are good diagrams, maps and charts, as well as an index and a glossary all designed to make learning about snow very easy.
Source: NSTA recommends
Wind and the Earth. Nikki Bundey. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2000. 32pp. ISBN 1-57505-470-1. (E)
The way air moves and affects processes on Earth is exciting stuff, but how can a teacher communicate the influence of wind in a stimulating way for young students? Great pictures, fun activities, and amazing facts are some of the ways that this book educates about the movement of air all over the world. The book begins by defining what air is, why air moves, and how it affects water, rocks, plants, and animals. Written for students in grades 3-6, this book would make an excellent resource for research on weather. Its short chapters, boldfaced vocabulary, glossary, and format make it a perfect introduction on how to use textbooks to gather information for younger students. Some of the activities will be fun for young children but too simple for older students.
Source: NSTA recommends
Hurricanes. Dean Galiano. NY: Rosen, 2000. 48pp. ISBN 0-8239-3095-5. (E, I)
This book examines the development, structure, destructive capabilities, and significance of hurricanes. Topics include: the birth of a hurricane, a hurricane’s anatomy, wind/water destruction, hurricane prediction, and safety during these storms. The book has a glossary of terms, suggestions for further reading, resources, and a topic index. Other features include full-page, full-color pictures; several detailed diagrams; and charts that organize information.
Source: NSTA recommends
Hurricanes: Earth’s Mightiest Storms. Patricia Lauber. NY: Scholastic, 1996. 64pp. ISBN 0-590-47406-5. (I)
Not just another book about “big weather.” Hurricanes is an amazing work that uses narrative very effectively in weaving the story of these powerful storms. Clearly written and relevant text combined with impressive photographs and informative illustrations further enhance this excellent work. Index. Further Reading List.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children in 1997
Lightning. Seymour Simon. NY: Morrow Junior Books, 1997. 32pp. ISBN 0-688-14638-4. (I)
Spectacular photographs accompany this very readable description of different forms of lightning. This book introduces readers to the nature of lightning, to streamers called stepped leaders, and to the main lightning bolt itself. Simon has produced another outstanding book for readers of all ages, but especially for children.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children in 1998
Nature on the Rampage: Ice Storms and Hailstorms. Duncan Scheff. Chicago: Raintree, 2001. 32pp. ISBN 0-7398-4703-1. (E, I)
This book is a real cure for cabin fever. It presents fascinating information about ice, rime, glaze, and sleet in the perfect format to extend children’s informational reading skills. It has large, readable text, well-organized subheadings, and a glossary to support bold print vocabulary. The ice pictures are wonderful; good captions also help students decode the meaning in the text. The reading level is for fifth and sixth grade, but readers at lower grade levels will also enjoy the information and may want to stretch their skills to read it.
Source: NSTA recommends
Restless Planet Series: Storms. Mark Maslin. Austin, TX: Steck-Vaughn, 2000. 48pp. ISBN 0-7398-1330-7. (E, I)
This book offers an exciting look at storms. Photos, diagrams, and maps do a good job illustrating the science information presented in this book. It contains a glossary of terms pertinent to the topic and a page of “Further Information” that includes related books titles, CD-ROM selections, and Internet addresses. It does not contain activities or suggestions for classroom demonstrations. This book meets the National Science Education Standards content standards for the K-4 and 5-8 levels. Independent reading ability is at grades 4-6, but younger audiences will enjoy the pictures and understand most of the content if it is read to them.
Source: NSTA recommends
Taming the Tornado Tube: 50 Weird & Wacky Things You Can Do With a Tornado Tube. Steve Spangler. Englewood, CO: WREN, 1995. 125pp. ISBN 0-964-93531-7. (E, I)
Instructions for using a tornado tube (a device of molded plastic designed to attach to two-liter containers or soda bottles at the neck) usually only show how to create a vortex or model of a tornado. This volume truly goes wild with a collection of experiments and activities that provide hours of off-the-wall fun for students, teachers, and parents. It contains a detailed discussion of the history and development of the tornado tube and a description of tornadoes and hurricanes. Readers are reminded that dust devils and swirling water draining from a sink or bathtub are also common examples of vortices. Activities includes full descriptions of procedures for each activity, a discussion of what to look for, and follow-up explanations.
Source: NSTA recommends
Tornadoes. H. M. Mogil. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2001. 72pp. ISBN 0-89658-522-0. (HS)
Dramatically illustrated with more than 20 full-page photographs, this book provides readers with an awesome introduction to these violent storms. From detailed explanations of funnel cloud formation to entertaining stories of unique storm phenomena, this book is guaranteed to grab the reader’s attention. The reading level is grade 9-10, and some pages of dense text make the concepts most appropriate for mature readers. Because it has no lab activities, this book is strictly for content background, but the glossary and index make it an excellent resource for a research project. Younger children interested in storms would enjoy the pictures and could use the book for reference with the help of a stronger reader.
Source: NSTA recommends
World Records of Weather. Daniel J. Barnekow. Portland, ME: J. Weston Walch, 1997. 116pp. ISBN 0-8251-3259-2. (I)
Recommended for middle school and junior high students, this book deals with the extreme weather phenomena on the Earth like the highest temperature, highest wind speed, largest hailstone, and the worst weather disaster. The book consists of 20 such record-breaking events divided into four sections: temperature, air pressure, precipitation, and disasters. Each has a teacher’s page, objectives, teaching tips, three reproducible activity pages, and extension activities. The activities cover a broad range of standards from writing and reading comprehension to content knowledge. The activities would take one to two periods to complete, depending on the level of the student. The author states that this book could be used as stand-alone text, but it better as an excellent starting point for further discussions and research of weather phenomena.
Source: NSTA recommends

Forecasting the Weather

Project Earth Science: Meteorology (2nd Edition) P. Sean Smith and Brent A. Ford. Arlington, VA: NSTA Press, 1999. 230pp. ISBN 0-87355-123-0. (I, HS)
Educators wanting to promote understanding of weather will appreciate the organization and the range of activities and resources in this book. It features 19 hands-on activities that focus on concepts related to the Earth’s atmosphere, factors that contribute to weather, and the interaction of air masses. Each activity contains background information, lab procedures, and questions and conclusions. The book also includes 10 weather-related readings intended as teacher background, but could be used as supplementary student information. Most of the readings feature sciLINKS, carefully screened and educationally relevant Internet resources. For example, one sciLINK, “Amazing Earth Games: Unleash a Super Storm,” invites students to control the elements of a hurricane and compare their creation to historical storms. Resources listed in the appendix provide a variety of books, resources, and websites.
Source: NSTA recommends
Weather Watch: Forecasting the Weather. Jonathan D.W. Kahl. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 1996. 72pp. ISBN 0-8225-2529-1. (I)
This book takes a straightforward approach to basic weather information. Written by a meteorologist, the text provides a clear, fact-filled survey of methods for observing, analyzing, and forecasting the weather. Includes directions for building a weather station using common objects. Author’s Note. Glossary. Index. Metric Conversion Chart.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children in 1997

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