Grade 5 · Science · Unit 10 of 10
Weather Patterns & Impacts
Wind, fronts, storms and staying safe
What your child practises
How the Sun's heat moves air and water, high and low pressure, fronts, the water cycle, severe prairie weather (blizzards, hail, tornadoes, drought, floods), and how forecasts and technology help people stay safe.
Saskatchewan Curriculum outcome: WE5.2, WE5.3 · how air movement and solar energy create weather, and the impact of weather on society and the environment
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Does it describe a high pressure or a low pressure system? Tap an item, then tap its basket.
Sort into: ☀️ high pressure · 🌧️ low pressure
- 🌙cool, clear nights
- ☀️usually clear skies
- ⬇️air sinks
- ☁️clouds and precipitation
- 💨windy conditions
- ⛈️stormy weather
Show answer
☀️ high pressure: cool, clear nights, usually clear skies, air sinks · 🌧️ low pressure: clouds and precipitation, windy conditions, stormy weather
Hint: High pressure usually brings clear skies. Low pressure usually brings clouds and precipitation.
Question 2
Why is it unsafe to be outside during a thunderstorm?
⚡- the wind turns off
- lightning can strike
- rain is not allowed
- thunder is too loud only
Show answer
lightning can strike
Hint: “When thunder roars, go indoors.”
Question 3
A heat wave is…
🥵- a cold front
- a long storm of snow
- a stretch of unusually hot weather
- a type of cloud
Show answer
a stretch of unusually hot weather
Hint: Heat waves can be unsafe, so people should drink water and stay cool.
Question 4
What is wind?
💨- a kind of rain
- a type of cloud
- a solid
- air that is moving
Show answer
air that is moving
Hint: Air moves from areas of high pressure to low pressure.
Question 5
Put the steps of the water cycle in order.
- ☁️Clouds form (condensation)
- 🌧️Rain or snow falls (precipitation)
- 🏞️Water collects in rivers and lakes
- ⬆️Water vapour rises and cools
- ☀️Water evaporates from lakes and oceans
Show answer
Water evaporates from lakes and oceans → Water vapour rises and cools → Clouds form (condensation) → Rain or snow falls (precipitation) → Water collects in rivers and lakes
Hint: Water evaporates, rises and condenses into clouds, then falls as precipitation and collects again.
Question 6
How does the water cycle connect to weather?
♻️- it only happens in oceans
- it has nothing to do with weather
- evaporation and condensation move water and form clouds and precipitation
- it stops in winter
Show answer
evaporation and condensation move water and form clouds and precipitation
Hint: The Sun powers the water cycle, which makes clouds and precipitation.