CoCoRaHS: Content Resources for Teachers

Although some of the resources in this guide offer guidance for classroom instruction and student materials, these resources are primarily intended for teacher use. If shared with students, some of this information may short circuit their sensemaking opportunities in the monthly engagements.

Weather vs. Climate

Weather describes local conditions (e.g., sunlight, wind, precipitation, temperature) at a particular time.

Climate describes the ranges of an area’s typical weather conditions and the extent to which those conditions vary over years to centuries.

Weather & Climate in North Carolina

You can learn more about North Carolina’s climate from the NCSU Climate Office.

State Library of North Carolina. (2015, May 29). Exploring North Carolina: Geography, Geology, & Climate. NCPEDIA.

Reference material suitable for teachers and students.
Collection of articles exploring geographic features of all regions of North Carolina.
Some weather and climate articles describing processes in the context of North Carolina.

Clouds

Additional information on clouds, including how clouds form, the four main categories, and tips for further identifying different cloud types.

This resource also includes guidance for engaging students in learning about clouds.

Project WET

Project WET has expanded their professional development opportunities to include virtual trainings and resources for working with students.

This resource also includes guidance for engaging students in learning about water.

Topographic Maps

How to Read a Topographic Map
- Video overview from REI
- PDF from the USDA
USGS PDF of symbols found topographic on maps
Additional USGS Resources

CoCoRaHS Webinar Resources

CoCoRaHS WxTalk Webinar #3: Who Uses Weather and Climate Data and How Do They Do It? (2012, February 17).

Explanation of how weather and climate data is compiled and used across different organizations.

CoCoRaHS WxTalk Webinar #9: Extreme Rainfall, How We Analyze It. (2012, August 23).

Exploration of how weather events generating significant rainfall can be documented and analyzed.

CoCoRaHS WxTalk Webinar #40: The history and uses of volunteer weather observation. (2015, September 17).

Good introduction to the benefits of contributions of citizen science
A discussion on the contributions and accomplishments of volunteer weather observations over time
The History and Uses of Volunteer Weather Observations in the U.S. [Slides].

CoCoRaHS WxTalk Webinar #44: Weather Underground. (2016, January 29).

Exploration of the Weather Underground project, network, and structure.