Teaching Tips: The Effect of Jet Streams on Climate

Here are suggested ways to engage students with this video and with activities related to this topic.

• Viewing the video: Use the following suggestions to guide students’ viewing of the video.
  • Before: Have you ever heard of the jet stream? Can you remember what you heard and who was discussing it?
  • After: Describe how jet streams are generated.
• Doing research projects—groups: Research how the jet stream impacts weather in your town at four points throughout the year. You should focus on the position of the jet stream for each season and how that position affects the weather during that season. To add a challenge, have students complete this task for a town in the opposite hemisphere or in a country that they may not be familiar with.
• Connecting to biology: What would be the consequences on plant and animal life in your region if the polar jet moved to a more southerly position? To a more northerly position?