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6th grade · Science · Unit 7 of 10

Weather Systems

How the sun drives the water cycle, and reading weather data to predict storms.

What your child practices

Your child explains how the sun's energy moves water through the water cycle and uses weather data to predict changes and severe weather, such as Alabama's tornadoes and hurricanes.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 6.8; 6.9 · how the sun drives the water cycle, and using data to predict weather and severe weather

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The sun drives the water cycle and warms air, which rises because it is less dense.
  2. Falling pressure and rising wind mean a storm is likely.
  3. A cold front meeting warm, moist air often makes thunderstorms. A warm front brings long, light rain.
  4. A tornado warning means take shelter now.

Example: Air pressure is falling fast and the wind is picking up. What should the forecast say? Falling pressure is a sign of stormy weather. Answer: a storm is likely coming

Weather Systems in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 7 of 10 in 6th grade Science, after Managing Resources and before Climate & Climate Change.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What drives the water cycle?

    • Energy from the sun and gravity
    • Earth's magnetism
    • The moon only
    • Wind only

  2. Question 2

    Hot, dry Santa Ana winds blow toward the coast from…

    • the deserts inland
    • a lake
    • the ocean
    • the North Pole

  3. Question 3

    Air pressure is falling fast and the wind is picking up. The forecast should be…

    • no change
    • a long dry spell
    • a storm is likely coming
    • clear and calm

  4. Question 4

    Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets a cold front over Alabama. What often forms?

    • Thunderstorms, sometimes with tornadoes
    • Clear, calm skies for days
    • A blizzard
    • A heat wave

  5. Question 5

    Which instrument measures air pressure?

    • Anemometer
    • Thermometer
    • Rain gauge
    • Barometer

  6. Question 6

    High air pressure usually brings…

    • storms
    • heavy rain
    • clear, calm weather
    • hurricanes

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