Science · Unit 4 · Weeks 19–24 · 40–45 min

Weather & Climate

41 points total · Name: ____________________ Date: __________

For the adult

This test covers measuring weather, graphing seasonal weather, climate regions, severe weather and the weather instrument project. You may read every question, table and pictograph aloud. Please do not explain words like climate, arid or criterion, and do not hint. Your child needs a pencil and a ruler for the bar graph in question 3. There are a few small number questions, and your child may use scrap paper for them. Take a break between sections if needed.

Part 1: Measuring & Graphing Weather

12 points

Use the table for questions 3 to 5. Use the pictograph for questions 6 and 7.

1.
On a thermometer, each mark is 2 degrees. The liquid stops 6 marks above 50. What is the temperature?
(1 pt)
2.
Write the tool that measures each one. how much rain fell: ____ how hot or cold the air is: ____ which way the wind blows: ____
(2 pts)
3.
Make a bar graph of the usual high temperature for each month in the table. Give it a title and label both sides.
(3 pts)
4.
How many degrees warmer is River City's usual July high than its usual January high?
(1 pt)
5.
A family is visiting River City in January. What weather should they expect? Use the data to explain what they should pack.
(2 pts)
6.
Pictograph: Usual Rainy Days in River City (each ● = 2 rainy days) March: ●●●● April: ●●●●● May: ●●● How many rainy days does April usually have?
(1 pt)
7.
Using the same pictograph, how many rainy days does River City usually have in March, April and May all together?
(2 pts)

Part 2: Climate Regions

9 points

Use the table for questions 9 and 10.

8.
Write W for weather or C for climate. ___ It is foggy at the bus stop this morning. ___ Winters in our town are usually snowy. ___ It hailed last Tuesday. ___ Most summers in this valley are hot and dry.
(2 pts)
9.
Write the climate type for each place: tropical, arid, temperate or polar. Place 1: ____ Place 2: ____ Place 3: ____ Place 4: ____
(2 pts)
10.
A cactus from a hot desert is planted outdoors. In which place would it survive well? In which place would it not survive at all? Use the table to tell why.
(3 pts)
11.
Mia says, "It snowed in our town on one day in April, so our town has a polar climate." Is she right? Explain.
(2 pts)

Part 3: Severe Weather & Safety Designs

11 points

Read about the two river towns. Use the table for question 12.

12.
Is a levee a good design for reducing flood damage? Make an argument. Claim: ____ Evidence: ____ Reasoning: ____
(6 pts)
13.
What does a lightning rod on a roof do to reduce damage from lightning?
(2 pts)
14.
Which design best protects windows from hurricane winds?
(1 pt)
○ storm shutters○ a bigger driveway○ a rain barrel○ a taller mailbox
15.
You see lightning and count 10 seconds before you hear the thunder. About how far away is the lightning? Should you keep playing outside? Why?
(2 pts)

Part 4: Engineering a Weather Instrument

9 points

Read about Lena's thermometer shelter. Use the table for questions 17 to 19.

16.
Write one criterion and one constraint for Lena's shelter.
(2 pts)
17.
Which shelter gave the reading closest to the weather report? By how many degrees was it off?
(2 pts)
18.
Shelter C read 78°F. Which criterion did it miss, and why did that make the reading too warm?
(2 pts)
19.
Shelter B blew over in the wind. This is a failure point. Name one change Lena could make, and tell how she should test it.
(3 pts)