5th Grade Weather Systems Study Guide
Weather Systems 5.E.1.1, 5.E.1.2, 5.E.1.3, 5.P.2.1, 5.P.3.1, 5.P.3.
Content Understandings and Skills:
 Be able to explain the difference between weather and climate.
 Be able to explain how the sun affects weather on Earth.
 Be able to draw the water cycle and explain. (Include evaporation,
condensation, precipitation, collection, runoff, and transpiration)
 Be able to identify the levels of the Earth’s atmosphere and explain what
happens in each layer.
 What ways can you describe conduction? Give examples.
 How is convection at work in the world around you? Give examples.
 What are some natural examples of each type of heat transfer?
 How would you explain processes of radiation? Give examples.
 Be able to illustrate Jet Stream, Trade Winds, Polar Easterlies, and
Prevailing Westerlies and where they can be found.
Jet Stream
Trade Winds
Prevailing Westerlies
Polar Easterlies
 What global wind systems impact our weather in Raleigh, NC? How?
 What are differences between local and global wind?
 Be able to describe what happens in warm and cold fronts
Warm Fronts
Cold Fronts
 Be able to identify 4 main clouds. You will need to illustrate each, identify
the level in the sky, describe each and what they contain, and explain what
type of weather each cloud produces.
Stratus
Cumulus
Cirrus
Cumulonimbus
Illustration
Level
Description
Composition
Type of
Weather
 How do mountain ranges affect wind currents?
 Describe each climate and give one example.
Climate
Description & Example
Polar
Temperate
Desert
Tropical
 How does altitude affect temperature?
 Describe what each weather instrument is used for.
Weather Instruments
What does it measure?
Thermometer
Anemometer
Wind Vane
Rain Gauge
Hygrometer
Barometer