Abstract:
Weather directly affects our lives every day. The GOES system provides continuous and reliable information which is used to analyze the weather worldwide. With basic weather knowledge and using the latest GOES images the current weather can be observed and future weather can be predicted for your area or for a surrounding area.

Outcome:

• Students will determine when the latest GOES Image was taken.
  
• Students will identify the major weather patterns found across the United States using the latest GOES Image then draw them on a map of the United States.
  
• Students will compare and contrast the latest infrared (IR) GOES Image with the latest visible (VIS) GOES Image for their local area .
  
• Students will compare visual images and channel 2, 3, 4, and 5 infrared images.
  
• Students will observe their local weather using the latest GOES Image and compare their findings with visual observations, a local news paper weather report, and on-line weather sites.
  
• Students will predict the weather for one week, compare their predictions with visual observations, local news paper weather report and on-line weather sites.
  
  

Suggested Grade Level & Duration:
Grades 5-8; 2 fifty-minute periods, 15 minutes for five class periods.

Materials:
Colored Pencils
Internet accessibility
Local newspaper weather map or USA Today Weather map
Student worksheets