Boy, Girl Scout weather merit badge achievement checklist

We hope you find these materials useful!  See directions below for information about how to run a merit badge workshop using these materials.

Instruction Sheet

Weather Merit Badge Worksheet  

Achievement Checklist

Achievement 1: 

• Define meteorology.
• Explain what weather is and what climate is. 
• Discuss how the weather affects farmers, sailors, aviators, and the outdoor construction industry. Tell why weather forecasts are important to each of these groups. 

Achievement 2:

Name five dangerous weather-related conditions. Give the safety rules for each when outdoors. 

• Dangerous Weather Scavenger Hunt
• Dangerous Weather Condition & Safety Tips: Hurricanes
• Dangerous Weather Condition & Safety Tips: Tornadoes
• Dangerous Weather Condition & Safety Tips: Lightning
• Dangerous Weather Condition & Safety Tips: Floods
• Dangerous Weather Condition & Safety Tips: Winter Storms
• Explain the difference between a severe weather watch and a warning. 
• Discuss the safety rules with your family. 

Achievement 3: 

• Weather Forecasting Session&13;Boy Scout Merit Badge Day, ppt   
• Coriolis video
• Explain the difference between high and low pressure systems in the atmosphere. Tell which is related to good and to poor weather. 
• Draw cross sections of a cold front and a warm front, showing the location and movements of cold and warm air, the frontal slope, the location and types of clouds associated with each type of front, and the location of precipitation. 

Achievement 4:

• Tell what causes wind. 
• Tell why it rains. 
• Tell how lightning is formed. 
• Tell how hail is formed. 

Achievement 5:

• Identify and describe clouds in the low, middle, and upper levels of the atmosphere. Relate these to specific types of weather.  

Achievement 6: 

• Draw a diagram of the water cycle and label its major processes. 
• Explain the water cycle to your counselor (verbal, after they label the diagram)

Achievement 7:

• Define acid rain. Identify which human activities pollute the atmosphere and the effects such pollution can have on people.  

Achievement 8:

Do ONE of the following:

• Make one of the following instruments: wind vane, anemometer, rain gauge, hydrometer. Keep a daily weather log for one week using information from this instrument as well as from other sources such as local radio and television stations or NOAA Weather Radio  , and Internet sources (with your parent's permission). Record the following information at the same time every day: wind direction and speed, temperature, precipitation, and types of clouds. Be sure to make a note of any morning dew or frost. In the log, also list the weather forecasts from radio or television at the same time each day and show how the weather really turned out.

OR

• Visit a National Weather Service office or talk with a local radio or television weathercaster, private meteorologist, local agricultural extension service officer, or university meteorology instructor.
• Find out what type of weather is most dangerous or damaging to your community.
• Determine how severe weather and flood warnings reach the homes in your community.

Achievement 9:

Do ONE of the following [This workshop focuses on the first option only]:

• Give a talk of at least five minutes to a group (such as your unit or a Cub Scout pack) explaining the  outdoor safety rules in the event of lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes. Before your talk, share your outline with your counselor for approval.  handout 9    outline

OR

• Read several articles about acid rain and give a prepared talk of at least five minutes about the articles to a group (such as your unit or a Cub Scout pack). Before your talk, share your outline with your counselor for approval.

Achievement 10:

• Find out about a weather-related career opportunity that interests you. Discuss with and explain to your counselor what training and education are required for such a position, and the responsibilities required of such a position.   

Supplemental Activities and Information

• Weather Experiment 1:  Make Fog in a Jar
• Weather Experiment 2:  Bottled Sea: Catch a Wave
• Weather Experiment 3:  Make Convection Currents
• Hydrologic Cycle Experiments
• Supplemental Weather Information 
• Game:  NOAA Weather Jeopardy!
• Game:  Leon Lightning Safety Game