Weather and seasonal cycles
Initial Publication Date: July 23, 2008
Summary
The first graders will be introduced to the four seasons and weather cycles within the year. Students will go outside and make observations of the weather, and will record their findings in their weather journal weekly. Students will note patterns they see, and check with the newspaper and website reports on what the weather was like throughout the weeks. Through this year plan, students will graph the weather/season patterns and compare the weeks to see how things change throughout the year.
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Learning Goals
This activity is designed for students to connect the weather to the different seasons. They will be guided through inquiry learning where they can predict the weather in the following days or seasons. When asked why or how- the children will work together to answer their questions about the weather. Students will be able to graph their obsercations and compare date throughout the months and from the past years!
Concepts: What is temperature? What is weather? What is a season?
Vocabulary: Season, wind, temperature, rain guage, climate.
Concepts: What is temperature? What is weather? What is a season?
Vocabulary: Season, wind, temperature, rain guage, climate.
Context for Use
-24 first graders
-500 students in Chanhassen Elementary, K-5th grade.
-This is a long project that will go through the year.
-I would leave at least 2 hours/week to observe and discuss results.
-The children will need a computer/internet to compare their findings with the news reports on the weather.
-We will use our science curriculum to educate the children on the weather and seasons.
-500 students in Chanhassen Elementary, K-5th grade.
-This is a long project that will go through the year.
-I would leave at least 2 hours/week to observe and discuss results.
-The children will need a computer/internet to compare their findings with the news reports on the weather.
-We will use our science curriculum to educate the children on the weather and seasons.
Description and Teaching Materials
Set: Have clothes work your round out for children to see. Ask the children to classify and sort the clothes into groups of when they are worn throughout the year. Ask questions about the activity: when do you wear these clothes? In what time of year? ETC.
Intro:
1. Have students see different pictures of seasons. Ask them to match the pictures with the clothes you would wear during that season. Discuss.
2. Have kids stand by the season they like. Have them describe what is feels like during that season (hot, cold, windy, etc.).
3. Teacher will read science book on weather and seasons (Scott-Foresman). Discuss.
4. When done, write down vocabulary words we will learn (temperature, wind, seasons, rain gauge, climate).
5. Students will then go outside with a piece of paper (8.5 x 11) that is folded into fourths. Kids are asked to observe the weather and draw/write what they see/feel.
6. They will report to class and graph what they see using Journey North's weather graph. The children will also visit weather.com or newspaper. Compare observations with class.
8. Students will take their date from the year and make a line graph that shows weather trends throughout the year. Connect this to seasons, and why they are that way.
9. Students will pick 1-4 seasons and draw what the weather/climate was during that time of year. Hang these projects in the hall to show our data and graphs!
Intro:
1. Have students see different pictures of seasons. Ask them to match the pictures with the clothes you would wear during that season. Discuss.
2. Have kids stand by the season they like. Have them describe what is feels like during that season (hot, cold, windy, etc.).
3. Teacher will read science book on weather and seasons (Scott-Foresman). Discuss.
4. When done, write down vocabulary words we will learn (temperature, wind, seasons, rain gauge, climate).
5. Students will then go outside with a piece of paper (8.5 x 11) that is folded into fourths. Kids are asked to observe the weather and draw/write what they see/feel.
6. They will report to class and graph what they see using Journey North's weather graph. The children will also visit weather.com or newspaper. Compare observations with class.
8. Students will take their date from the year and make a line graph that shows weather trends throughout the year. Connect this to seasons, and why they are that way.
9. Students will pick 1-4 seasons and draw what the weather/climate was during that time of year. Hang these projects in the hall to show our data and graphs!
Teaching Notes and Tips
I would go over how one observes, walks out in nature, and pay attention to detail.
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Assessment
Have students choose a season and put weather or climate in their picture.
Standards
Earth and Science standard:
A. weather: investigate weather cycles
Weather changes daily and seasonally. Record daily and seasonal weather changes and describe cycles.
A. weather: investigate weather cycles
Weather changes daily and seasonally. Record daily and seasonal weather changes and describe cycles.