Air Masses: a Human Board Game

Assign 4 students to be one each of tropical maritime, tropical continental, polar maritime and polar continental air. Ask them to go and stand on their starting position (bold circles above).

They take it in turns to move one position closer to the UK.

Print each of these statements and distribute them amongst your students. Ask them to give one to the appropriate air mass when they think it is appropriate (you can’t have 2 identical statements join an air mass at the same time):

To start with, I am cold

To start with, I am cold

To start with, I am warm

To start with, I am warm

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have picked up heat

I have picked up heat

I have picked up heat

I have picked up heat

I have picked up heat

I have picked up heat

I have cooled down

I have cooled down

I have cooled down

I have cooled down

I have cooled down

I have cooled down

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have picked up moisture

I have picked up moisture

I have picked up moisture

I have picked up moisture

I have picked up moisture

I have picked up moisture

I have picked up moisture

I have picked up moisture

I have deposited moisture

Convective cloud can form

Convective cloud can form

Convective cloud can form

Convective cloud can form

Layer cloud can form

Layer cloud can form

Layer cloud can form

Layer cloud can form

It is raining in heavy showers

It is raining in heavy showers

It is raining in heavy showers

It is drizzling

It is drizzling

There may be a summer thunderstorm

At the end, have a look at the statements the air masses have ended up with, and discuss whether it looks right.

The statements provided are the correct number, but you could always throw a few extra in for more debate!

Suggested Solution

Tropical maritime

To start with, I am warm

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have cooled down

I have picked up moisture

Layer cloud can form

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have cooled down

I have picked up moisture

Layer cloud can form

It is drizzling

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have cooled down

I have picked up moisture

Layer cloud can form

It is drizzling

Tropical Continental

To start with, I am warm

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have cooled down

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have cooled down

I have picked up moisture

Layer cloud can form

I have travelled North, moving over a colder part of the Earth’s surface

I have cooled down

There may be a summer thunderstorm

I have deposited moisture

Polar Maritime

To start with, I am cold

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have picked up heat

I have picked up moisture

Convective cloud can form

It is raining in heavy showers

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have picked up moisture

I have picked up heat

Convective cloud can form

It is raining in heavy showers

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have picked up heat

I have picked up moisture

Convective cloud can form

It is raining in heavy showers

Polar Continental

To start with, I am cold

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have picked up heat

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have picked up heat

I have travelled South, moving over a warmer part of the Earth’s surface

I have picked up heat

I have picked up moisture

Convective cloud can form

(you could have a heavy showers statement here)