Eighth grade students at Mokena Junior High School had the opportunity to meet virtually with members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as an extension to the “Weather and Climate” unit in their science curriculum.
Science teacher Cheryl Baltzer coordinated the virtual visit for all eighth grade students. “It is a great opportunity to get the experts from the field to share firsthand the information about weather to supplement our curriculum,” she said.
During the meeting, students heard from two members of NOAA who provided details about their roles in the organization and the various careers in weather including the skills and education needed.
Students also learned about how weather forecasts are made and common weather systems including the different types of fronts and atmospheric pressure. The members from NOAA also shared more indepth information about thunderstorms, tracking severe weather, and tools used to help monitor severe storms. NOAA provided examples close to home including the role corn plays in our local weather system, tornadoes that have impacted the area, the 2020 derecho, and winter storms. Students were also able to ask questions about their own weather wonderings.
"I learned a lot about this governmental agency and what goes into forecasting,” Logan McGrath, an eighth grade student, shared about the experience.