Air Pressure and Weather Systems Lab – Meteorology, Worksheets, Activity

Give your students a hands-on way to see weather in action! In this engaging lab, students build their own simple barometer, track air pressure changes over several days, and connect their data to real-world weather patterns.

They’ll discover that rising air pressure usually brings clear skies while falling pressure signals storms on the way — all through an easy-to-run, NGSS-aligned activity that makes abstract concepts visible.

Perfect for Earth science, weather, or atmospheric systems units!

What’s Included:

• Student Lab Guide: step-by-step instructions, diagrams, data tables, and reflection questions
• Teacher Guide + Answer Key: setup notes, sample data, CER exemplars, and discussion answers
• Differentiation Ideas: supports for emerging learners and challenges for advanced students
• Cross-Curricular Extensions: ELA and math tie-ins, long-term data collection, and real-world applications

Skills Covered:

• Understanding air pressure and its role in weather formation
• Observing, collecting, and interpreting data
• Making evidence-based claims about weather prediction
• Connecting local observations to global weather systems

Materials Needed:

Simple, low-cost supplies — balloon, jar, straw, rubber band, and an index card. No special equipment required!

Time Needed:

• Setup & build: 30 minutes
• Daily observations: 5 minutes per day (for 5–7 days)
• Data analysis & CER writing: 30–40 minutes

Why Teachers Love It:

• Easy prep, big “aha!” moments
• Encourages inquiry and prediction
• Connects directly to real weather changes students can see outside their window
• Perfect blend of science process skills and systems thinking

Make air pressure meaningful and visible — your students will never look at a weather forecast the same way again!

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Thanks for visiting!
Jessica