GENERAL WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Use these lessons and activities to help your students develop an understanding of weather and climate in their hometown.

What Is It Like Outside Today? (Grades K-1)

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceMathMeasuringTempSeasonsK1.htm Students learn to read a thermometer and color paper thermometers to show temperature. Students also begin to explore how a range of temperatures fit into each of the seasons.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry Content Standard, Earth and Space Science Content Standard, and the Science and Technology Content Standard.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, read the books about seasons from Issue Three's Virtual Bookshelf.

Weather Walks (Grades K-2)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview?LPid=10665 Students will learn about weather by taking walks in various types of conditions: sunny, rainy, windy and snowy. Each type of walk includes language arts and literacy connections.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry Content Standard and Earth and Space Science Content Standard.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try the following:

How Does My Garden Grow? Writing in Science Field Journals (Grades K-2)

http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=846 This lesson involves students in recording observations in a field journal. While the lesson intends for students to keep a journal about a class garden, similar journals could be used during and after the weather walks.

This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12.

Calendar & Weather Book (Grades 1-2)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview?LPid=5721 Students will record and track weather patterns daily throughout the year. This activity is well suited for inclusion in a morning meeting or circle time.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry Content Standard, Earth and Space Science Content Standard, and the Science and Technology Content Standard.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try the following:

I Wonder: Writing Scientific Explanations with Students (Grades K-2)

http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=872 This lesson encourages second-grade students to ask questions about a specific topic, research a particular question using a variety of resources, and write a scientific explanation.

This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12.

Cloud, Rain, and Fog (Grades 1-2)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview?LPid=13664 Students will learn to identify information from a nonfiction book on weather by asking questions and focusing on the text features of the book.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Earth and Space Science Content Standard.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try:

Weather: A Journey in Nonfiction

http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=219 This research project is designed to engage primary students in nonfiction text, in both print and digital format.

This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8.

In grades 3-5, students begin to investigate weather in a more detailed way, learning about the components of weather, weather instruments, and forecasting. The following eight investigations are meant to be used as a comprehensive unit on weather. We've provided a literacy lesson to complement the unit as a whole.

This unit meets the National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry Content Standard, Earth and Space Science Content Standard, and the Science and Technology Content Standard.

Investigation 1: Clouds (Grades 3-5)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=10089 Students observe and record different types of clouds.

Investigation 2: Thermometers (Grades 3-5)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=9840 Students practice using thermometers, make homemade thermometers, and use thermometers to record and graph temperature data.

Investigation 3: Wind (Grades 3-5)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=9844 Students create a wind vane and an anemometer and then use their instruments to observe and record weather data.

Investigation 4: Air Pressure and Barometers (Grades 3-5)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=9843 Students learn about barometric pressure, create a homemade barometer, and observe and record weather data.

Investigation 5: Severe Weather (Grades 3-5)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=10090 Students explore web sites to learn about severe weather. While this lesson plan is written for Utah, it can be easily adapted to any state.

Investigation 6: Collecting Weather Data (Grades 3-5)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=10092 In this investigation, students collect weather data for two weeks. They will start seeing patterns and be able to make predictions.

Investigation 7: Interpreting Weather Data (Grades 3-5)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=10120 Students graph, compare, and interpret the weather data from Investigation 6.

Investigation 8: Weather Forecasts (Grades 3-5)

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=10122 Students will learn how to predict and evaluate weather forecasts.

To further integrate literacy skills into this unit, try:

Weather Detectives: Questioning the Fact and Folklore of Weather Sayings

http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=775 This lesson explores the truth and reliability of weather-related sayings, such as "Mare's tails and mackerel scales make tall ships take in their sails."

This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12.

COMPARING/CONTRASTING WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Use these lessons and activities to help your students compare and contrast the weather and climate of their hometown with other locations (including the polar regions).

How's the Weather - in Africa?! (Grades K-2)

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/gk2/pgafrica1.html In this lesson, students describe and later compare how weather affects human activity in two places on opposite sides of the world. The lesson can be adapted to include other locations.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry Content Standard, Earth and Space Science Content Standard and the Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Content Standard for grades K-4.

How's the Weather Today? (Grades K-2)

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/gk2/weathertoday.html This lesson asks students to think about the weather in their area and introduces them to weather and temperature trends in different latitudes of the United States.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry Content Standard, Earth and Space Science Content Standard, and the Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Content Standard for grades K-4.

Weather Complaints (Grades 3-5)

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/extremeweather.html This lesson asks students to consider the weather and climate where they live and in other places and to think about the ways in which people complain about the weather.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Earth and Space Science Content Standard and the Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Content Standard.

To further integrate literacy skills into these three lessons, try:

Postcard Creator

http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/student_material.asp?id=61 This interactive tool from ReadWriteThink helps students learn the parts of a postcard and create their own cards. A pdf document provides tips for using the tool.

This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12.

Weather Scope (Grades 3-5)

http://www.ciese.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/guidelessons.shtml In this project, students observe and track weather in their hometown and two additional locations (why not the Arctic and Antarctica?) to learn about weather, factors influencing weather and climate, and weather forecasting.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry Content Standard, Earth and Space Science Content Standard, and the Science and Technology Content Standard.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try:

All About Our Town: Using Brochures to Teach Informational Writing

http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=856 This lesson teaches students about informational writing through brochures. The lesson could be modified so that students create their own brochures about the weather and climate of an area they've been tracking.

This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 4, 5, 7, 8, 12.

Creative Climates (Grades K-5)

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/08/climates.html This activity involves creating a climate map to illustrate the world's different climate zones. Modifications and literacy integrations are provided for younger and older students.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Earth and Space Science content standard, and the Science in Personal and Social Perspectives content standard.

POLAR WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Few lessons focus exclusively on the weather of the polar regions. To incorporate this topic into your teaching, begin with this issue's Feature Story and Virtual Bookshelf. We've highlighted an animation and two web sites that provide temperature data for various polar locations. Many of the lessons listed above can be modified to include the Arctic and Antarctica.

British Antarctic Survey

http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/ The home page of this web site lists current temperatures (in Celsius) at various locations in Antarctica.

Arctic Map with Weather Data

http://www.athropolis.com/map2.htm This map shows communities, villages, and research stations throughout the Arctic. Click on a yellow dot to display current weather information for that location.

Interactive Arctic Climate Map

http://www.weather.nps.navy.mil/~psguest/polarmet/climate/arcmap.html Click on labeled points in the Arctic to view a graph of the annual temperature cycle for that geographic location.

Why Is It Cold at the Poles? (Grades 3-5)

http://www.educapoles.org/index.php?/fun_zone/multimedia_animations/why_it_cold_the_poles/&s=7&rs=13&uid=119&lg=en&pg=1&category=34 This animation from the EducaPoles site explains why the poles are colder than other places on earth.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Use these lessons and activities to help your students develop an understanding of climate change and how it is affecting the polar regions. Younger students should be introduced to the basic ideas of global warming (see our Virtual Bookshelf) and resource conservation. Upper-elementary students can begin to investigate the topic in more detail.

Be Energy Wise! (Grades K-2)

http://www.climatechangenorth.ca/section-LP/LP_34_P_S_energywise.html In this lesson students learn how electricity comes into their homes and what household appliances and devices use electricity. They create reminders and posters to help their families remember to turn off lights and reduce hot water use.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Content Standard.

To further integrate literacy skills into this lesson, try:

Teaching Audience Through Interactive Writing

http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=242 This lesson supports students in learning about audience through interactive writing.

This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12.

Modeling the Greenhouse Effect (Grades 3-5)

http://wwwutmsi.zo.utexas.edu/staff/dunton/k12/greenhouse%20-upele.htm In this lesson students will model the greenhouse effect and draw conclusions about global warming.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Content Standard.

People Changing the Atmosphere (Grades 4-5)

http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/space/sp-1.html By keeping a "CO2 Journal," students establish the connection between human activity and global warming, while simultaneously discovering what they can do to reduce global warming.

This lesson meets the National Science Education Standards: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Content Standard.

To further integrate literacy skills into these two lessons, try:

Sing! Sing a Song! (Grades 3-5)

http://climatechangenorth.ca/section-LP/LP_02_I_BMS_singing.htmlAfter learning about climate change, students work in small groups to write, sing, and make a recording of a song.

This lesson meets NCTE/IRA Standards: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12.

Come talk about this article at the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears blog!