Reading a Rainfall Map

Reading a Rainfall Map builds two skills at once: interpreting a shaded map and turning data into a graph. Students read a color-coded precipitation map, then back up what they see with real rain gauge numbers.

A rainfall legend pairs each shade with an amount, from a pale 0 to 1 inch up to a deep 6-plus inches. Students study a map of four cities in different rainfall zones and answer guided questions: which city got the most rain, which got the least, and how to rank all four from driest to wettest. The colors are chosen to stay distinct even when the page is printed in black and white.

Next, students graph the data. A rain gauge table gives each city's exact total, and learners plot a bar graph on the provided grid, connecting the map's shading to hard numbers. A closing Think Like a Scientist prompt asks them to reason about which city faced the highest flood risk and why.

A full answer key is included with answers in red and a completed reference graph. Aligned to NGSS MS-ESS2-5. Great for data lessons, sub plans, or interactive notebooks. Just print and teach.