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 Site Review: National Weather Service

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Site URL: Weather.Gov

Content: The National Weather Service is a component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and provides weather, water and climate data, along with forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property.

Design: Like most government Web sites, the National Weather Service’s is pretty Spartan. There isn’t a ton of imagery or imagination in the design, but to be fair, the site is meant to emphasize science over décor. The site does function well, with easy-to-follow navigation and plain-English explanations of scientific events.

national Weather ServiceReview: The National Weather Service is much more than a forecasting agency, and the group’s Web site is a solid resource for the creative educator. While there are no resources here created specifically for use in the classroom, teachers can use the material to enhance existing lessons.

The obvious starting place is the weather forecasting area, which allows teachers to craft lessons about weather and how it moves. Additional areas cover the symbiotic relationship between weather and the environment. Visitors will find everything here from marine and aviation weather relationships to the role of space in weather events.

Science teachers also will discover a wealth of information in the National Weather Service’s area dedicated to climate, which can make for unique lessons on non-local environments.

Bottom Line: Seeking classroom-friendly material on more than just the local five-day forecast? The National Weather Service offers that and so much more.

 

Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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