Winter Weather on Sunday Mountain

In January, 5^th graders began their weather and forecasting unit with a trip to Sunday Mountain, a gradual 2-mile climb on the Rivendell Trail. The students received a short power point presentation that introduced basic weather concepts such as barometric pressure, temperature and wind speed, and learned about some of the strategies and tools meteorologists use to predict weather. The students then spent some time exploring weather websites and determining the most favorable day for a winter hike the following week. They forecasted that the best day would be Friday, January 22^nd, and on that morning, students were bused to Sunday Mountain with the appropriate layers of winter clothing, handheld weather instruments, water and a snack. In groups, they took readings with barometers, anemometers and thermometers at the base and again near the summit. The students were very excited about being able to forecast their own field trip date, and were all excellent hikers and enthusiastic meteorologists.