Eastern Illinois University Homepage

Lectures on Weather & Climate

"Sun, Sun, Without the Sun, There is No Weather Fun!"

Ask any of Cameron Craig's past or present Weather & Climate students what the course motto is and you will quickly hear the famous rhyme, "Sun, Sun, Without the Sun, There is No Weather Fun!" Craig created the spontaneous rhyme during a lecture back in 2006 that is used to explain the essence of the entire semester of Weather & Climate. His rhyme has now become the title of a traditional style video lecture series to allow students to revisit difficult concepts.

Standing in front of a chalkboard Craig engages the viewer in joining him in drawing the diagrams so that the concepts are remembered. Analogies that students can relate to are the key component of his teaching style so that students can enjoy science.

The series continues to be posted here so that young students and the young at heart can enjoy learning about the wonderful world of Weather & Climate.

Visit Vimeo.com to watch the video series and learn how fun Weather is With the Sun!

Classroom Essays

"People, Are You Kidding Me? Electronic Devices: The Downfall of Education"

The use of electronic devices in education is discussed and explained in the second installment of "People, Are You Kidding Me?" Read More...

"Blizzard of 2013: Warnings Issued but Sometimes Ignored"

Cameron Craig presents an essay concerning how people take matters into their own hand during a hazardous situation and expect quick help when they have decided unwisely. Read more...

"Don't Get Comfortable, The Drought is Not Over"

Although the region is currently experiencing "normal" precipitation conditions, farmers and residents of central Illinois say with confidence, "the drought is over." Or is it? Read more...

"Climate of 2012: Year of the Drought"

Cameron Craig presents Climate of 2012. Read more...

Classroom Archive

• "People, Are You Kidding Me?" Part 2: Electronic Devices: The Downfall of Education
• "People, Are You Kidding Me?" Part 1: Chemtrails...A Sinister Plot of the Government?
• Broadcast Meteorology Minor: An Exceptional Model of Integrative Learning at EIU
• Don't Get Comfortable, The Drought is Not Over
• Blizzard of 2013: Warnings Issued but Sometimes Ignored
• Climate of 2012: Year of the Drought
• Winter 2012-2013 Outlook
• Climate Review: October 2012
• Climate Review: September 2012
• Climate Review: Summer of 2012
• Recent Rain: The Drought is Not Over
• Droughts: A Threat to Farmers"
• April 25-27, 2011 Tornado Outbreak
• The Great Johnstown Flood of 1889
• The Aurora Borealis
• Mirages: Seeing Things that are not There
• The Great Blizzard of January 25-26, 1978
• Dust Storms: A Dusty Story
• Super Tornado Outbreak of April 3-4, 1974
• Wet and Warm: Climate of 2011
• Base Board Heaters: Reducing Energy Costs and Saving the Planet
• Preparing for the Winter Storm Season
• The Drought of 2011: Central Illinois
• Cloud Classification: Seeing More than just Animals in the Sky
• "Are Tsunamis Created by Weather?"
• Preparing Yourself for Winter Driving
• Climate Summary for October 2010
• Broadcast Meteorology Students begin Winter Magazine Film
• Climate Summary for September 2010
• EIU WeatherCenter at the National Weather Association Conference, 2010
• EIUs Framework of Interactions (Professor Laureate Address)
• Staying Warm on Cold Nights
• Short-term shifts from Sultry to Chilly Conditions
• Important Historical Climate Station returns to EIUs Campus
• Summer Heat and the Automobile
• Flash Flood Dangers: Protecting Yourself and Others
• Questions about Radar Images and What They Indicate
• Protecting Youself and Others from Devastating Heat Waves
• Anatomy and Development of the Supercell Thunderstorm
• Nature's Wrath: Preparing for Severe Weather
• The Images of the February 13, 2007 Snowstorm
• To Wear or Not to Wear Flip-Flops
• El Niño and our 2006-07 Winter
• Know the Dangers of UV Radiation
• EIU WeatherCenter Provides Up-to-the-Minute Local Data
• Watches and Warnings
  

Films for the Classroom

"Full-Length Productions Seen on PBS"

"A Moment in Nature's Realm." Nature Music Videos

"Department Activities and Courses"

"Student Productions"

"Four Rivers Ag Report" a collaboration with WEIU-TV (PBS)

"Under the Four Rivers Skies" from "Four Rivers Ag Report" a collaboration with WEIU-TV (PBS)

Further Information

Be sure to visit our main site for the descriptions of our projects and teaching resources.

If you are interested in completing a documentary project for independent research in Geography, contact Cameron Craig at cdcraig@eiu.edu.

Recent Collaborations

• Department of Geology/Geography
• WEIU-TV
• CATS (Center for Academic Technology Support)