NOTICE and WONDER……
Photo Sheared Mammatus Cloud. Stillwater, Minnesota. October 2019. Copyright Amy Lilienfeld/Circle of Illumination Science Education.
One cannot help but notice and wonder about something like this unusual “sheared mammatus cloud”. But like all clouds it is a phenomenon indicating the incredible things that are going on in our atmosphere.
What secrets do YOU think this cloud is trying to tell us?
But all clouds, in general, are just one element of the highly complex phenomena called “Weather” and “Climate”. Although they operate at vastly different spatial and temporal scales weather and climate are comprised of many of the same elements: air temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind direction and speed, and atmospheric pressure. Each of these elements is constantly changing but is also often interacting with the other variables in a highly complex system. One of the major goals of Circle of Illumination Science Education is to help unpack some of this complexity while emphasizing the big ideas in a way that all teachers, regardless of prior knowledge, will be able to comprehend.
Please see workshop pages for ongoing workshop/webinar offerings (which is constantly being expanded) but see below information about brand NEW workshop being offered in March and April 2026!
SPECIAL SPRING WORKSHOP: TORNADOES in FEBRUARY? IT’s MICHIGAN!!
THE ROLE OF AIR MASSES IN MICHIGAN’s WEATHER ( STANDARD MS-ESS2-5 MI).
The recent forecast by meteorologist Mark Torregrossa, “Michigan’s Next Storm is Closer to Tornadoes Than a Snowstorm” (MLIVE, Feb. 18, 2026), touches upon something we all know too well: the unpredictability of Michigan’s weather. This is attributable to the impact of air masses which often bring about rapid and dramatic changes in temperature and other weather variables that are superimposed over the annual patterns we have come to expect in particular seasons.
In this workshop participants will learn what some of the major factors are behind the seasonality of our weather patterns and how air masses can influence them. Dr. Lilienfeld will also show how she has used some of her favorite “go-to” real-time weather web sites to illustrate concepts. Hands-on activities will be distributed.
For more information on this and other PD workshop offerings see company web site at: https://www.circleofillumination.com. This workshop will be 3 hours long. 3 SCECHES or CEUs awarded to participants.
LOCATION and DATES/TIMES: Am seeking hosts of individual school districts, RESDs or other academic locations on mutually agreeable dates and times for the months of March and April 2026.
Deadlines are flexible but the sooner the better!
PRICING: $350.00 per workshop. Discounts may be available to districts that cannot afford.