Air Masses & Fronts Station Lab

This modular, student-led activity about air masses and fronts keeps your middle school class engaged and learning throughout this Earth science lesson. These comprehensive materials will save you a TON of prep time while giving students a chance to direct their own learning.

In this station lab, students will learn to identify how global patterns of atmospheric movement influence local weather using weather maps that show high and low pressures and fronts.

The station lab activities are also included in the Weather Maps and Air Pressure 5E Lesson Plan, which includes teaching and virtual learning presentations, PowerPoints, note templates, interactive notebook activities, student projects, assessments, engagement activities, and more for your middle school science curriculum.

Texas teachers: This station lab aligns with the 2017 TEKS. It will not be updated for the new 2021 TEKS. 

DIFFERENTIATED, MODULAR, STUDENT-LED

Each station lab has eight differentiated activities that help the student create a personalized learning experience, with a ninth challenge station for early finishers. In this student-centered approach, the teacher facilitates student learning rather than directing it.

The nine modular stations include all signage, literature, resources, and task cards for the students to complete independently or in small groups. The Explore It! station may require a few materials that you likely already have in your lab.

Ready for in-class or virtual learning!

Station labs have been created so that students can use them on campus or in a virtual learning environment.

THE STATIONS

INPUT Stations offer multimodal ways to encounter new concepts about air masses and fronts.

Explore It! – This station is a hands-on demonstration that allows the student to connect information through application. In the digital version, students manipulate images and text in PowerPoint or Google Slides.

Read It! – At this station, students read a short passage about air masses and fronts and answer questions about the reading and vocabulary terms. There are differentiated passages, in Spanish and English, for readers that need a shorter, easier text.

Research It! – This station uses a website where students will learn more information about air masses and fronts. Students will perform tasks and answer related questions on their lab sheets.

Watch It! – Students watch a short video at this station and answer questions about air masses and fronts. 

OUTPUT Stations provide multiple ways for students to show what they have learned about air masses and fronts.

Organize It! – At this station, the students work hands-on with manipulatives. In the digital version, students manipulate images and text in PowerPoint or Google Slides.

Illustrate It! – At this station, the student sketches or draws models depicting air masses and fronts. This visual learning activity helps the student recall and retain new information.

Write It! – At this station, the students respond to short answer prompts that allow them to communicate their knowledge using complete sentences.

Assess It! – The students demonstrate their knowledge of air masses and fronts using a series of task cards with questions and a paragraph that uses vocabulary in context.

Bonus Station - Challenge It! – Early finishers and advanced students will love the extension activities in this station. Expand their learning through crosswords, games, and mini-projects.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.