Weather Whys

Read Across America

Wednesday, March 3 was a special day for over 550 students in Cedar Rapids. The National Education Association sponsored “Read Across America Day” at Theatre Cedar Rapids. Everyone got a free red and white stove pipe hat! The Cat In The Hat was there! Thing 1 and Thing 2 were there! There was reading, singing and a fun time for all. Maybe the best part was a nice big check given to area schools…and each school (Cleveland, Harrison, Taylor and Wilson elementary) got a $1,000 cash grant.

Lots of young readers!

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Dr. Seuss books are the best

Nice hat!

Time for some music...

The Cat In The Hat gave some money to the school libraries

Cleveland, Harrison, Taylor and Wilson Elementary each received $1,000

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This post was written by jkennedy on March 6, 2010
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Kids Against Hunger

Franklin School in Cedar Rapids was a busy place on Wednesday, February 24. The Cedar Rapids chapter of Kids Against Hunger had an assembly line set up in the school auditorium. Between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM the goal was to package about 4,000 meals for the people of Haiti. I got to go cover the story for “Your Eastern Iowa”. Mr. Joe O’Leary was in charge of distributing the food once it was packaged. Joe said that food scientists had developed the special mixture that was being sent to Haiti…and that when mixed with water it would make a nutritious meal. Nice going, everyone!

Franklin School in Cedar Rapids

Franklin students hard at work!

Mr. Joe O Leary with Kids Against Hunger

The finished product!

Putting food packs in boxes

Sealing the food bags

The Assembly Line

Raw materials ready to be mixed and put into smaller food bags

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This post was written by jkennedy on March 1, 2010
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Jeff’s trip to Parkersburg

Many thanks to the folks in Parkersburg! I got to visit with the 3rd graders at Parkersburg Elementary on Tuesday, February 23. We looked at pictures of the solar system and saw how the Earth looks pretty small when compared to Jupiter and the Sun. We talked about how important the Sun is when it comes to our weather. We also looked “behind the scenes” at KWWL and saw how the newscast happens every day.

It was COLD in Parkersburg!

Parkersburg Elementary School

There is snow high and low in Parkersburg!

Welcome to Parkersburg!

Watch the Parkersburg students!

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This post was written by jkennedy on February 28, 2010
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Jeff’s Trip to Waukon

I got to make a road trip to Allamakee County on Monday, February 22. Mr. Joe O’Neill teaches 5th grade at East Elementary in Waukon. I have been a guest in his classroom for about 5 straight years, and Mr. O’Neill always has a good group of students. We learned about our planet’s place in the solar system, and saw how the Earth is much bigger than a couple planets…much smaller than some others. We also saw how our Sun is quite a small star when compared to some of the big stars like Betelguese and Antares. We saw how important the Sun is when it comes to the weather here on Earth! The students had some really good questions, too. After class I got free school lunch! Burgers and criss-cut fries…Yum…can’t beat it. Thanks to the folks in Waukon for a nice visit.

East Elementary in Waukon

Look at all the snow in Waukon!

No wonder it was so cold!

Looks like Winter in Waukon!Waukon wlecomes you...

Click here to see the Waukon 5th graders…

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This post was written by jkennedy on February 24, 2010
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Where can I get trained to be a storm spotter?

This is dangerous!

Don’t get caught off-guard like this woman! Learn about severe local storms and tornadoes! Attend a training class near you! Each year the National Weather Service holds classes to teach the public about the dangers of spring and summer weather.

Here are some useful links…you can find a class near you.

Click here for Classes in Southeastern Iowa, Western Illinois and Northern Missouri

Click here for Classes in Central Iowa

Click here for Classes in Northeastern Iowa, Southwestern Wisconsin and Southern Minnesota

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This post was written by jkennedy on February 17, 2010
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Jeff’s visit to St. Edward’s

The sixth graders at St. Edward’s School in Waterloo have been studying weather for quite some time now. I got to visit with them on Wednesday. We talked about the Earth and how it compares in size to the other planets. We also saw how our Sun is quite small when compared to other stars. We learned how the Sun is the “engine” that runs the weather. We also saw how the Earth/Sun relaionships cause our seasons to change.

It was sunny, but COLD at school!

A beautiful church...a Waterloo landmark

St. Edward’s Take 1

St. Edward’s Take 2

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This post was written by jkennedy on February 13, 2010
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Jeff’s trip to Brooklyn

It was a nice sunny day when I visited BGM school in Brooklyn. The 5th graders at BGM have been studying weather and they had some good questions for me. While at school we learned about how we put the newscast on the air each day. We also talked about storms and some of the tools that I get to use when I make my weather forecast. Thanks, BGM!

Jeff with some of the BGM 5th graders

BGM School

Beautiful downtown Brooklyn

Brooklyn is The Community of Flags

Flags from each state in the US

Blue sky over Brooklyn

Click here to see the BGM 5th graders!

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This post was written by jkennedy on February 6, 2010
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Jeff’s visit to New Hampton

Thanks to the fine folks in New Hampton! I got to spend the day with the Talented and Gifted students at New Hampton Elementary and Middle School. We took a slideshow behind-the-scenes tour of KWWL…saw how we put the newscasts on TV every day…and looked at some of the tools that I get to use to help me forecast the weather. Ms. Burgart, the TAG teacher, also treated me to school lunch…fish sticks, mashed potatoes, fruit, peanut butter sandwich and chocolate milk. Mmm, mmm.

New Hampton welcomes you...

Some of the best students go to school here

The Chickasaws play here...

Click here to see some of the New Hamptons students!

Click here to see the rest of the New Hampton students!

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This post was written by jkennedy on January 30, 2010
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Big storm hits Australia

Tropical Cyclone Magda moved across The Western part of Australia with wind gusts around 75 mph. You might notice by looking at the photo below…in the Southern Hemisphere storms rotate the opposite direction! Storms here spin counter-clockwise…while down under they spin clockwise!

Tropical Cyclone Magda

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This post was written by jkennedy on January 24, 2010
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Jeff’s trip to Cascade

Many thanks to the folks at Aquin Elementary in Cascade! I had a nice time visiting with the 2nd graders. We looked at pictures of clouds and talked about storms. The entire school was having a penny war to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The object of a penny war is to put money in the jars of the other classes. Looks like a lot of pennies for a good cause.