FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2013 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN A11

MAP CORNER

This special Newspaper In Education initiative is made possible through The St. Louis American Foundation and its NIE Corporate Partners:

The St. Louis American is proud to partner with Normandy School District, the St. Louis Public School District and the Saint Louis Science Center to provide this classroom tool for STEM education for students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, with content based on Missouri Learning Standards.

METEroLogiST AND EDuCATor—

June Bacon-Bercey June Bacon-Bercey is famous for her work in meteorology. She was born oct. 23, 1932, in Wichita, Kansas. As a child, she was very interested in science. in 1954, she graduated with honors from university of California, Los Angeles (uCLA), with degrees in math and meteorology.

Bacon-Bercey worked for the National Weather Service

in Washington, D.C. Her weather forecasting charts were put into use worldwide. She also worked as a consultant with the Sperry rand Corporation, the National oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NoAA) and the National Broadcast Company (NBC), and worked as a TV weathercaster in New York. Her expertise put her in high demand. She was the first African American woman to be given the National Weather Association’s “seal of approval” for excellence in television weathercasting.

Since 1990, Bacon-Bercey has been focusing on education. She has developed science lessons for textbook companies. it is her goal to attract women and minorities to study science, and she has developed a scholarship to make their education possible.

Learn more about June Bacon-Bercey and her Accomplishments: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Substitute-Science-Teacher-is-a-Meteorology-3240651.php

Learning Standards: i can read a biography to learn about accomplishments in math, science, and technology.

INVENTORS & INVENTIONS

DID YOU KNOW?

stlamerican.com

MATH CONNECTIONMeteorologists must have a strong grasp of patterns. For this activity, you will collect data about the weather for one week. You will use this data to answer some questions.

A rain gauge measures the amount of rainfall. Although you can purchase a rain gauge, you can also make your own.

Materials Needed: 1 Clear Jar (at least one quart) Clear Waterproof Tape A Ruler

Process:q Place the ruler inside the jar. Be

sure the ruler is even with the bottom of the jar and the inch markings are visible from the outside.

w Tape the ruler securely inside the jar.

e Place the rain gauge outside in an open area.

SCIENCE CORNER

Ms. Stovall’s 5th Grade Class Gateway Elementary MST SLPSadfjalkdj asdkfla wejecvzwm woomv p aokw pofak pofpf’ f’k paefpa wef kfkfk pef aefefkawpf kepk pfakpak ‘ pkpok k e f ‘;d epoff awoe ;flp oek paekf wpowek afk;l wpe ek a,, eok aofke;f wekoe kaw ekaoka fa’f e’ fkpe ek . Photo by Wiley PriceTeachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: kjones@stlamerican.com

CLASSOOM SPOTLIGHT

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Have you ever watched a weather forecast and wondered what the meteorologist was really saying? read on to learn about some of the terms used in a weather forecast.

Front: A front is a line of separation between a warm and cold air mass. it usually results in stormy weather

and temperature changes. When there is a cold front, the cold air replaces the warmer air, and the temperature drops. When there is a warm front, the warmer air replaces the cooler air and the temperature rises.

Doppler radar: The Doppler radar can detect precipitation, wind direction and speed. Weather forecasters use the Doppler radar to detect severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Humidity: Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air.

Cont

ent—

Jenn

ifer

Wirt

hwei

n •

Desi

gn—

Beth

Sha

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good writers must be able to see situations from many different perspectives. This is called a point of view. in this activity, you will consider a situation from three different perspectives.

in the winter, outside recess time is sometimes shortened (or eliminated) at school due to the temperature. Consider this decision from the point of view of the parent, the teacher, and yourself (the student). Now, pretend you are the parent and write a letter to your teacher explaining why your child should have a full or shortened outside recess. Next, pretend you are the teacher. Write a paragraph explaining why you would or would not give your students a full-length outdoor recess. Finally, write a paragraph from your perspective. Should your outdoor recess time last the full amount? Should it be

shortened or eliminated? Why?

In the News: Select an article in the newspaper. Discuss the perspective of the author. Would the article change if it was written from another person’s point of

view?

Learning Standards: i can use point of view in a writing sample. i can write for a specific purpose and audience.

Which day had the highest temperature? _______________ Which day had the

lowest temperature? ________________ Which day had the biggest span in the

temperature range?________________ What was the average high temperature of the week? _________________ What was the average low temperature of the week?_________________

Learning Standards: i can add, subtract, multiply and divide to solve a problem. i can collect data and analyze patterns.

Weekly Weather Data

Just Exactly What Is Meterology?High Pressure System: A high pressure system is a whirling mass of dry, light air that usually brings mild weather and light winds.

Low Pressure System: A low pressure system is a whirling mass of warm, moist air that usually brings stormy weather and strong winds.

Barometer: A barometer is used to measure

pressure in the atmosphere.

Want to learn more weather terminology and symbols? Check out: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-forecasting.htm

Learning Standards: i can read a nonfiction article to learn new vocabulary.

r Check the rain gauge every day at the same time and record the amount of rainfall.

t Empty the rain gauge daily.

record your observations in your notebook. Compare your results with the class.

Note: it is fun to have a rain gauge at home and at school. You can compare the amount of rainfall at each location. Try placing the rain gauge in different locations and see how it

impacts the amount of rain collected.

Learning Standards:i can follow directions to complete a project. i can

compare and analyze results.

One of the science textbooks Bacon-Bercey has published.

Build Your Own Rain gauge!

National Weather Service Radar Mosaic from Feb. 2, 2013.

Winter Storms Dump

Up to 3 Feet On Parts

of New England!

Waterproof

4 in the 1960s, computers made it possible for meteorologists to calculate weather changes faster, more accurately, and for longer periods.

4 360 BC, the greek philosopher Aristotle wrote “Meteorologica,” the first book on meteorology.

4 in 1959, the first weather satellite was placed into orbit.

Date: High Temperature Low Temperature Difference of the Day of the DayExample 76 degrees 43 degrees 33 degreesMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday

Dear Ms. Matthews,

I am the parent of

Akesha in your

4th

grade class.

I know it is winter and

hard for children to b

e

outside to exercise, bu

t

Akesha does bett

er with

some physical activ

ity

during the day.

I am hoping you will

consider adding some

exercise to the

schedule

if possible.

Thanks, Rhonda Wright

Ms. Buford’s5th Grade ClassJefferson ElementaryNormandy School District

Students Reginald Jeffrey, Jack Douglass, Tamia Pruitt and Alia Perkins work on a science projectto learn how electricity is con-ducted between two points.

Photo by Wiley Price