Published: March 13, 2008 10:15 am            

Meteorologist John Belski teaches lessons on weather to Galena students

About 65 third-graders sat on the floor at Galena Elementary School, watching and listening intently as John Belski, meteorologist for WAVE-TV, explained weather topics, such as tornadoes.

Belski got the children involved Wednesday by leading the playing of games, where students named as many weather words as they could, looked at pictures and decided whether they were real or fake, and more.

“It really adds on to our weather unit we’re teaching,” said Bev Sprecher, third-grade teacher.

After not being able to reserve Belski for the past two years, this time she set up the visit in the summer.

“Look at their faces,” she said, smiling as she pointed at various students. “You know they’re into it.”

Belski talked a lot about the history of tornadoes in this area and what to do if there is a warning. The students also watched videos that caught tornadoes on tape.

“I’m a little bit more scared now, because now I see how scary it is to be there,” Jenna Hall, 9, said.

“And I’m not scared anymore, because I know what to do, like get in a ditch,” Melissa Moberly, 9, answered back.

Hall said the weather unit helped prepare her for Wednesday’s lesson.

“It makes us understand more,” she said.

Those students who were interviewed said they did not watch the news; therefore, did not recognize Belski. However, they thought it was neat meeting someone who works on TV.

“It’s exciting,” Luke Nance, 9, said. “It’s not every day you get to see a weatherman come to your school and talk.”



So you know

• John Belski has been a member of the WAVE-TV weather team since 1988. Prior to that, he worked at WLKY-TV and also stations in St. Louis and Columbia, Mo. Over the years, he has spoken to more than 1,000 classes at schools across Kentucky and Indiana, according to his profile on the WAVE Web site. His weather book, “Backyard Weather Folklore” sold thousands of copies locally. Also, Belski was the winner of the 2005 World Dainty Championship held in the Schnitzelburg neighborhood in Louisville. A dainty is a small 5-inch piece of wood which contestants hit with a broomstick to get it up in the air and the hit it again for distance. His winning hit was 101 feet.

        

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