Students will compare class data to any available local rainfall data. Students will make and interpret graphs, maps, and charts and draw conclusions about rainfall patterns in their area.

Procedure:

1. Have students gather local rainfall data from any available sources (TV, radio, newspaper, internet). Discuss the accuracy of the available data in comparison to your local storms around the school. There is usually tremendous variability in rainfall patterns even within a block or two, so most available data is averages over large areas.

Go to the Community Collaborative Rain and Hail Study (CoCo RaHS) web site at http://www.cocorahs.com to see some of this localized variation on the maps that are printed there.