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Seasonal Weather at the Lake Lock

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Seasonal Weather at the Lake Lock

Use a class investigation to describe weather patterns.

1. Investigate the Weather

Read how the class collected its weather records. Use the table and graph to answer the questions.

A Weather Station Beside the Lock

A lock helps boats travel between a river and a lake where the water levels are different. A community science class studied weather beside a lock. Students observed from a fenced viewing area. Their teacher helped collect records during school breaks.

Step 1: Before each season began, the class chose 20 observation dates spread through that season. They did this for two years. They chose the dates before checking weather forecasts.

Step 2: On each chosen date, a student or teacher recorded the air temperature at 2 p.m. They used the same shaded thermometer at the same weather station. The season changed, but the place, equipment, and temperature-reading time stayed the same.

Step 3: At the end of each chosen date, the teacher checked the station’s daily rain record. A date counted as a rainy day if rain fell that day, even if the afternoon was dry.

Step 4: The class counted rainy observation days for each season. The teacher also calculated an average afternoon temperature for each season in Year 1. An average combines several readings into one summary number. The class displayed its results below.

Rainy Observation Days
Each count is out of 20 observation days.
Season | Year 1 | Year 2
Winter | 6 | 7
Spring | 11 | 12
Summer | 5 | 4
Fall | 7 | 6
Year 1: Average Afternoon Temperature01020304050607080WinterSpringSummerFallSeasonTemperature (°F)
1.

How many degrees warmer was the average summer afternoon than the average winter afternoon in Year 1? °F

2.
Which pair of seasons had average afternoon temperatures closest to each other?
Question 2 options
3.
Why did the class read the same shaded thermometer at 2 p.m. on each observation date?
Question 3 options
4.
Select the TWO observations that support this claim: Spring had more rainy observation days than summer.

2. Describe Seasonal Patterns

Use the class records to compare seasons. A typical weather description tells what the records suggest is usual, not what happens on each day.

5.
Which description of winter compared with spring is supported by both displays?
Question 5 options
6.
Sort the claims by whether the class records provide enough evidence to support them.
7.

In Year 2, how many more rainy observation days did spring have than winter? days

8.
Arun says, “Spring had more rainy days than summer, so spring was warmer.” What is the mistake in his reasoning?
Question 8 options
9.
Would you describe spring or fall as typically rainier at the lock? Make a claim and support it with rainy-day counts from BOTH years.

3. Use the Patterns

Use the records to make reasonable plans and predictions for the same lake lock.

10.
The class wants to schedule a sketching visit in a season with an average afternoon temperature from 50°F to 70°F and fewer than 8 rainy observation days in each year. Which season fits BOTH conditions?
Question 10 options
11.
Which plan would give the class the strongest new evidence about typical spring weather at the lock?
Question 11 options
12.
It rains during a summer visit. Does that mean the class’s description of summer as the least rainy season was wrong?
Question 12 options
13.
Write a fall weather note for next year’s class. Describe the temperature and rain they might expect. Use evidence from BOTH displays, and explain why they should still check a forecast before a visit.