The entire weather series of activities from TeachEngineering.org is excellent, but the activity I found especially interesting is "Weather Forecasting," since it helps to illuminate the role of engineering in predicting the weather. What comes to mind first, of course, are modern weather instruments from anemometers to weather balloons and space satellites. But the first device that made a big difference in the ability to predict the weather was the telegraph. Before that invention the only means of forecasting the weather was to look at the sky, and take a best guess based on the current appearance of clouds. The telegraph made it possible to construct the first weather maps by allowing a person in one place to see how the weather was changing in their region, and eventually across the entire country.

For students who might enjoy learning about the history of engineering, assign them to research the history of the telegraph. They may be surprised to learn that the first telegraphs were not electronic at all, but a series buildings on hills within sight of each other. Each had a crew of two. One to send signals using a pole with moveable wooden arms, and the other to look through a telescope to read the signal sent from the next closest telegraph station. A telegraph of this sort gave its name to Telegraph Hill in San Francisco.