Interpret the symbols on a weather map, including high- and low-pressure systems and fronts, to describe expected conditions.
A weather map packs a huge amount of information into a small picture using a shared set of symbols. Large letters "H" and "L" mark centers of high pressure and low pressure. Air sinks and spreads out from a high-pressure center, which usually means clear, calm skies; air rises and flows together into a low-pressure center, which usually means clouds, wind, and a good chance of precipitation.
Fronts are drawn as lines with small shapes attached: solid triangles pointing the direction of travel mark a cold front, solid half-circles mark a warm front, and alternating triangles and half-circles on the same line mark an occluded front, where a cold front has caught up to a warm front. Curved lines connecting places with equal pressure, called isobars, show pressure patterns; where isobars are packed tightly together, winds are stronger.
Mastery looks like: They can read a real weather map and correctly state the likely conditions near a high, a low, and an approaching front.
Common stumbles: Confusing which pressure system, H or L, brings unsettled weather; not noticing which direction a front symbol is pointing, which shows its direction of travel.