Go outside, and chalk the outline of the world’s continents on a suitable surface
Add board game style places to the map, as shown below:

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)