Grade 10 Science Cluster 4Weather Dynamics: Cloud Seeding

The Reigning Rainmaker!

“…there must be research on the changes that the country has undergone, and in the future, it could be used as a lesson for our future actions.” King of Thailand - Bhumibol Adulyadej

Manitoba Curriculum Outcomes

Cluster 0- Overall Skills and Attitudes S2-0-8d Describe examples of how technologies have evolved in response to

changing needs and scientific advances S2-0-8e Discuss how peoples of various cultures have contributed to the

development of science and technology. S2-0-9a Appreciate and respect that science and technology have evolved

from different views held by women and men from a variety of societies and cultural backgrounds.

S2-0-9e Be sensitive and responsible in maintaining a balance between the needs of humans and a sustainable environment.

Cluster 4 – Weather Dynamics S2-4-02 Outline factors influencing the Earth’s radiation budget. S2-4-07 Investigate and evaluate evidence that climate change occurs

naturally and can be influenced by human activities. S2-4-08 Discuss potential consequences of climate change.

Lesson Overview

Purpose & Intent - The goal of this lesson is to challenge: – 1. student understanding and appreciation of the contributions to science

made by other cultures and societies.– 2. to develop a higher level of scientific literacy in the area of weather

dynamics.– 3. students to critically think, read, and write in the field of science.

Teacher Overview– Teachers should adjust and adapt the information and discussion

questions in order to challenging their specific students to think, read, write, and discuss the relevant issues surrounding cloud seeding. As the main goal is to foster critical thinking and literacy skills, teachers should avoid focusing on or introducing the specific details relating to the scientific process of cloud seeding. The presentations lack of scientific content is an intended omission.

Lesson Structure

The lesson is broken up into 3 phases– Activating

a video-prediction activity to stimulate creativity and/or capture the interest of the students.

– Acquiring Thai cultural beliefs regarding water/rain overview of the biography and interests of the King of Thailand basic informative overview of the process of cloud seeding.

– Applying critical thinking and student discussion extension of topics to other areas of science

Activating Activities

Students watch the first 2 minutes of the following video without any sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlX7rJv_m0g&feature=related (science of Super Storms)

Following the silent viewing of the video students make written or oral predictions what they think the lesson will be about.

NOTE: students will most likely have the context of weather from previous days/weeks of activities. Challenge them to be specific.

The King of Thailand

Name: Bhumibol Adulyadej– Born December 5, 1927– Ascended to the throne June 9, 1946

(under 20 years old!) Acted as the head of state for over 60

years!– Longest reigning monarch in the world

– The King is extremely well respected, revered, and loved by all Thai people

Speaking negatively about the Royal Family is illegal and carries extreme consequences

Skills & Interests of the King

Academics has studied Science, Politics, and Law at Swiss University

Music internationally respected jazz musician

– performed and recorded many Jazz concerts

With Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=010wFNXDfNk&feature=related

– (musical monarch video)

Skills & Interests of the King

Athletics Sailor– won a gold medal as an athlete in the

South East Asian Games– designed and built several boats

Humanitarian Royal Development Projects to improve life of Thai people

– Economic projects– Social projects– Scientific projects – Engineering projects

QUOTE FROM THE KING “The important thing for the survival

of the Thai society is that the majority of those who work, both in the government and the private sector, still strive to work in the same direction; this is why the Thai nation still stands.” - Bhumibol Adulyadej

Thai Reverence of the King

Thai people revere and respect the King to the utmost degree– It is illegal to speak negatively about the King in

any respect– THAI movie theatres play a special anthem to

respect the KING before every movie begins All movie goers are quiet, stand, and remove their hats

during entire video/song http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=djwY41a4lsA&feature=related (Thai Royal Anthem)

The Reigning King makes it Rain!

ROYAL RAINMAKING PROJECT– Assisted in setting up the Royal Rain

Making center in 1969– In 1999 the King developed a new

cloud seeding technique (and owns the patent) called “Super-sandwich”

– received international awards for his contributions to the science of artificial rainmaking

– Watch the following video– http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x26

l3f_thai-king-s-artificial-rain-making_shortfilms

Traditional Thai belief Water/Rain

3 Major Thai Holidays/Festivals revolve around Water/Rain– Loy Kratong celebrates the Goddess of Water, the importance

and role of water in the life of Thai people

– Songkran Thai New Years, coincides with the hottest time of the year and the end of the dry season.

– Kor-Fon festival in the northeast of Thailand in the middle of the dry season.

– NOTE: As water/rain has historically been of central importance in Thai life, the Thai King’s influence through the Royal Rainmaking Project resulted in

Basic Processes of Cloud Seeding

Watch the following video (with sound) to see the basics of current cloud seeding

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlX7rJv_m0g&feature=related (Science of Super Storms)

Possible Extension Activities

How has cloud seeding been listed as a potential solution to global warming?

– Watch the video below for more information http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg7J8P-uXqM What problems do you predict with this technique?

How were cloud seeding techniques were used in Beijing to influence the weather during the 2008 Olympics?

Do you think it is environmentally responsible to alter the weather for an athletic competition?

Explain how the “Royal Rainmaking Project” helped make the Thai King even more respected by the Thai people.

Research how water is currently used in the Thai holidays and celebrations (Loy Khratong, Songkran, and Kor-Fon)