What is a Gale?
Blowing in the Wind
4th Grade Science- Standard 2 Objective 1:Observe, measure and record the basic elements of weather. Social Studies- Standard I Objective 1: Identify factors that contributed to the development of the land: e.g., location, natural resources, climate. Background Information: Wind is one of the main elements of weather. It is the movement of air and literally means, “to blow.” It is found everywhere on the earth. Earth is surrounded by a protective blanket of air that is constantly moving. Sometimes the wind bows gently and is refreshing as it cools you off during hot days. Other times it can blow rain, snow and ice and chilly weather. Wind helps warm and cool the earth. It is also helpful in blowing seeds around the earth which will help trees, plants and flowers grow It also can blow trash, dirt and undesirable things into the atmosphere. Wind direction is identified by the direction from which the wind is coming. You can observe the direction of the wind by something as simple as watching the direction leaves may blow in the autumn, or seeing the way a kite is pushed to show one particular direction during the winds of the spring. Tall trees can also bend in the wind in a particular direction. Weather vanes are common decorations or devices that are used to find wind direction. The direction of the wind is important to predict what kind of storm to prepare for. It tells us there is a change in the weather. Typically in Utah, a strong south wind in the autumn, winter and spring tells us that a storm may be approaching and bringing colder temperatures. South Jordan has a unique history that is tied to the wind. In its history, the word “gale” is important. This word also is a type of wind. A gale is defined as “a strong current of air with wind from 32 to 63 miles per hour.” By discussing this information, students will see that weather affect many aspects of people’s lives. This is especially true for settlers who colonized the southwest part of Salt Lake Valley. Materials: Map of South Jordan Picture of the Gale Center Logo (with tree blowing in the wind) Photos of early South Jordan (showing high snowdrifts) Fan 4x6 inch index card Pencil Clay Straight pin Plastic drinking straw Directional compass Fan Books
Instructional Procedure 1. Share the poem below and also in the additional materials. (Suggest you make copies s o that students can have a copy.) Weather Whether the weather be fine Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold Or whether the weather be hot, We’ll weather the weather Whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not. Have students do a choral reading and briefly discuss. Students should discover the message that the weather might have an effect on their behavior and lives, but no matter what it might be, they have to adapt and adjust. That’s what settlers in South Jordan had to do when they first arrived. 2. Ask them: Does the wind seem to blow all the time in South Jordan? Share the background information below while displaying the map of South Jordan. The location of South Jordan at the south west end of the Salt Lake Valley is important in the predication of its weather. Look at the map included in this lesson. The nearby mountains affect the weather and climate of South Jordan. The Oquirrh Mountains protect the area, but because much of South Jordan is located on a flat plain overlooking the Jordan River narrows, no natural features past the Oquirrhs protect against the southwest prevailing winds. The town is right at the place where all the wind that is blowing has to go through a much smaller space than it did before as it blows between two mountain ranges. This makes for a stronger burst of wind power and makes it very windy as it pushes through until it is able to spread out into the Salt Lake Valley. In the evening, the wind will often change direction and blow from the north, depending on other elements of the weather. When this occurs, the same burst of wind will blast through South Jordan as it tries to push through the small space left between the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountains we often call “Point of the Mountain.” 3. Display the logo from the Gale Center of History and Culture. The winds that blow are probably the reason that the original name of South Jordan was GALE. Gale means “strong current of air.” Sometimes a gale can have winds that blow from 32 to 63 mph. Imagine trying to harvest your hay with all that wind. It probably made a real mess before the bales were stacked. Some early pictures of snowstorms in South Jordan show piles of snow that has been blow by the wind that are as high as the telephone poles!! 4. Create an experiment that shows the wind behavior in this area. This can be done as a demonstration, or small groups can create a simple weather vane. Create the weather vane using the following directions: (The base can be deleted, if you wish students to just hold their pencils with the arrow at the top.) • Divide the 4x6 card into a 4x4 inch piece square and another piece 4x2 inches. • Divide the 4x4 card into equal squares and label with directional words. (N,S,E,W) • On the 4x2 inch piece cut an arrowhead on one end. On the other end create an arrow tail.
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Attach the arrowhead and tail to opposite ends of the straw. Set aside. Find the center of the straw by measuring or balancing the straw on finger. Stick the straight pin through the center. • Stick the pin into the eraser head of a pencil. The pencil can either be held in the student’s hand or can be attached to the 4x4 card with small ball of clay in the middle. • If the straw needs to be balanced, paper clips can be added. 4. To use the weather vane, have students identify south as the direction of the wind. Turn the fan towards the north. Use the fan to blow air as if from south to north telling students that this is a model of what the winds would do across land that has no barriers. Observe what happens with the weather vanes. 5. Next, put up some type of barricade on each side of the fan to represent the mountains that surround the Salt Lake Valley. This can be some large books or pieces of cardboard. 6. Have students observe the behavior of the wind vanes. Does it change? How? 7. Discuss how this demonstration helps to show how the winds might blow in South Jordan. 7. The name of South Jordan was changed as the area had more residents. By the 1900’s, it was “south of the Jordan” which evolved into South Jordan. VISIT THE GALE CENTER OF HISTORY AND CULTURE • Notice the tree as you enter the center. It is bending as if there is a “gale.” Also notice the logo (the picture on the sign.) It also has a picture of the tree bending in the wind. The symbol represents the first name of South Jordan City. • Have students visit the display about weather and see the weather station that is set up there. • Notice the weather vane on the top of the building to record weather information. Extensions: Notice the large wind mills that have been set up on the west side of the I15 freeway as you drive south into Utah County. These massive windmills are being used as a clean, renewable source of energy and can be found in Spanish Fork, Toole and other areas of Utah. What areas would be most successful in using these? Research their history and success in Utah and other areas. Resources: resources@uen.org coreacademy@usu.ut.org usoe@ut.us.org