Reading Weather Maps · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Reading Weather Maps

Science · Weather & Climate · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A weather map shows an arrow pointing east next to a city. What does the arrow show?

    • The temperature
    • The direction the wind is blowing
    • How much rain fell

  2. On a weather map, what does a sun symbol usually mean?

    • Clear skies
    • Rain is coming
    • Strong wind

  3. The number next to a city on a weather map usually shows the temperature there.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A data table shows the temperature dropped a little each day for five days straight. What does this show?

    • The temperature is trending downward
    • The temperature is staying exactly the same
    • There is no pattern at all

  5. This graph shows rainfall for four months. Which month had the most rain?

    Mar2Apr5May8Jun3
    • March
    • June
    • May

  6. Using this graph, how many more inches of rain fell in May than in March?

    Mar2Apr5May8Jun3

    Answer: ______________

  7. Maya says, "It was sunny today, so it will be sunny all month." Is that a reasonable prediction?

    • No, because sunny days never repeat
    • Yes, one sunny day guarantees a sunny month
    • No, one day isn't a pattern, predictions need more days of data

  8. For four days straight, a map has shown rain-cloud symbols and temperatures dropping a few degrees each day. What's the best prediction for tomorrow?

    • Sunny and much warmer
    • Likely more rain and cool temperatures
    • No way to tell, patterns don't help predict weather
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_3pgTpuetKi-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Reading Weather Maps W1-mt_3pgTpuetKi-s1

  1. The direction the wind is blowing · Arrows on a weather map show wind direction, the way the wind is moving.
  2. Clear skies · A sun symbol shows clear skies, with no rain or snow expected there.
  3. True · Numbers on a weather map usually stand for the temperature at that spot.
  4. The temperature is trending downward · When a value keeps moving the same direction day after day, that's a trend, here a downward one.
  5. May · May's bar is the tallest, so it had the most rainfall.
  6. 6 · May had 8 inches and March had 2 inches, so the difference is 6 inches.
  7. No, one day isn't a pattern, predictions need more days of data · Good predictions come from looking at several days or weeks of data, not just one day.
  8. Likely more rain and cool temperatures · The pattern of rain symbols and falling temperatures over several days points to more of the same tomorrow.
Worksheet · LightMySky