Unit Plan 22 (Grade 6 Science): Weather Mapping & Forecasting
Analyze weather maps, fronts, and pressure systems to explain air mass interactions, identify severe weather patterns, and create evidence-based short-term forecasts.
Focus: Analyze weather maps, fronts, high/low pressure systems, and severe weather patterns to explain and forecast weather conditions caused by interacting air masses.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Science (Earth & Space Science — Weather & Climate)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students become weather map detectives. Building on their understanding of air masses and fronts, they learn how to read weather maps, including front symbols, highs and lows, isobars, and precipitation patterns. They examine map sequences and sample severe weather models (storms, fronts, pressure systems) to see how interacting air masses cause specific weather conditions. By the end of the week, students use real or sample data to create a simple weather forecast, aligned with MS-ESS2-5.
Essential Questions
- How do weather maps show the movement and interaction of air masses?
- What information can we get from fronts, high- and low-pressure systems, and precipitation patterns on a map?
- How can map sequences and data help us predict short-term weather changes?
- How are severe weather events (storm lines, squall lines, heavy rain/snow) connected to air mass interactions?
- What does it mean to use evidence from data and maps to make a weather forecast?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify and interpret basic weather map symbols, including cold fronts, warm fronts, stationary fronts, high (H) and low (L) pressure systems, and precipitation areas.
- Explain how fronts and high/low pressure systems represent the interaction of air masses and are linked to specific weather conditions.
- Analyze sequences of weather maps over several days to identify patterns in the movement of fronts and pressure systems.
- Use weather maps and local data (temperature, wind direction, precipitation) to explain past weather in terms of air mass interaction.
- Develop a short-term weather forecast for a region, using maps and data as evidence to justify predictions.
- Communicate a Weather Mapping & Forecasting Brief that connects air masses, fronts, pressure systems, and resulting weather conditions, aligned with MS-ESS2-5.
Standards Alignment — 6th Grade (NGSS-based custom)
- MS-ESS2-5 — Collect data to provide evidence for how air masses interact to cause weather conditions.
- In this unit: students interpret weather maps, front and pressure system locations, and local/sampled weather data to show that air mass interactions at fronts and around pressure systems cause the observed and forecast weather patterns.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can read a basic weather map with fronts, H/L symbols, and precipitation areas.
- I can explain how cold fronts, warm fronts, and pressure systems are related to air masses and weather conditions.
- I can look at a series of maps and describe how the weather is likely to change as fronts move.
- I can use data (temperature, wind, precipitation) and maps together to explain why a certain weather event happened.
- I can create a simple forecast and explain my evidence from maps and data.