Earth NullSchool - now available as an app

Earth NullSchool is probably in the top five websites I've used in my teaching over the years, alongside sites like Digimap for Schools and Google Earth.

It is now available as an app for iOS and Android.

It works perfectly in landscape or portrait format on your device, and has all the same features as the desktop / web browser version.

Explaining the Jet Stream

A useful Met Office video. 

Is the UK hot right now?

Thanks to Ed Hawkins for the link to this website via LinkedIn.

He explains all about the website here in this blog post. 

Every hour a global set of automatic weather stations openly report temperature and other weather measurements - these are called ‘synops’. For the UK, you can now see the latest temperature observations in the context of the past few decades.

What is 'normal’? For this website we use the temperature observed at the same time of day and time of year, averaged over the 1991-2020 period, as ‘normal’. We would love to use a time period that was longer ago, but the hourly observations required were not taken in enough places. Nevertheless, this tool allows anyone to see how hot (or cold) it currently is near where they live, relative to recent experience.

Is the UK hotter than normal at the moment?

Site built by Dan Harris, supported by Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water.

10th anniversary of Earth Null School

It's the 10th anniversary of Earth Null School: a site I've been using for most of that time. Thanks to Cameron for his creation which is one of my most useful classroom tools.

https://t.co/lKuNGo0V0M was launched 10 years ago today! 🎉 At the time, I couldn’t have imagined the longevity and impact this project would have. To all the users and fans over the years: thank you.

And with this anniversary, an announcement: https://t.co/qU7htPLEKX pic.twitter.com/xw9GjHgzYI

— Cameron Beccario (@cambecc) December 9, 2023

I’ve decided to dedicate myself full time to https://t.co/lKuNGo1sQk. There is much work to do! In particular, I’m going to explore ways for the site to help fight climate change. More on this in the near future.

It’s been an amazing 10 years. Here’s hoping for 10 more. 🎉 pic.twitter.com/jtw28p4js5

— Cameron Beccario (@cambecc) December 9, 2023

RMetS Heatwaves Scheme

The Royal Meteorological Society has been working with the Young People's Trust for the Environment on a new 4 lesson scheme of work about Heatwaves. This is timely given the first amber alert which has been announced for the southern half of the UK this coming weekend and into next week.

Heatwaves are now being graded on a four point scale. This is part of the Heat Health Alert Service.

Details are here.

All of the materials are available to download from the RMetS website

This package of lesson plans consists of 4 lessons:

Lesson 1: What are heatwaves?
Lesson 2: Why are heatwaves dangerous?
Lesson 3: How can schools prepare for a heatwave?
Lesson 4: What is your school like during a heatwave and how could it be improved?

By the end, students should be able to show which places in the school are most affected by extreme heat, understand what measures could be put in place to reduce the impact of extreme heat and be able to present their learning and research.

The lessons have been designed to support learners in Key Stage 2 (or equivalent) with understanding more about heatwaves, the reasons why we are likely to face more of them in the future and some steps that schools can take to protect young people during these events. 

The lessons can be adapted to suit other age groups by modifying the information given in the linked notes.

UK Food Security

We have spent some time as before this year exploring geographies of food.

Check out the latest warnings of salad shortages in The Guardian.

A dry year

We had wet break on Thursday on the week before half term.... this is becoming a rarity now...

With little over 60% of the average rainfall for the year-to-date, and a deficit of ~3½ months' worth of rain, this year is currently on track to be one of the driest on record in East Anglia 🏜️ pic.twitter.com/qOD0tnLiab

— Dan Holley (@danholley_) October 22, 2022

New Weather and Climate Resource from RMetS

A huge effort has gone into the creation of a 20 session scheme of work, with lesson plans and resources and a teacher guide, which are the work of the Royal Meteorological Society, particularly Dr Sylvia Knight. 

This has now been made available online, and a printed copy of the guide will also be sent to all GA and SAGT members.

The 20 unit explore weather and climate, and are certainly worth considering slotting into any curriculum updates being planned for the next academic year - as many colleagues will be considering.

It's part of the relaunch of Metlink.

This is well worth checking out.

Also keep an eye out for the Metmark award that schools can apply for.