Stage 1

Title of Unit Curriculu m Area

Wonderful Weather

Grade Level Time Fram e

1st
3 weeks

Science

Stage 1 Identify Desired Results

Content Standards: S1E1. Students will observe, measure, and communicate weather data to see patterns in weather and climate. a. Identify different types of weather and the characteristics of each type. b. Investigate weather by observing, with simple weather instruments (thermometer, wind vane, rain gauge), and recording weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) in a periodic journal or on a calendar seasonally). c. Correlate weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) to seasonal changes. S1E2. Students will observe and record changes in water as it relates to weather. a. Recognize changes in water when it freezes (ice) and when it melts (water). b. Identify forms of precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet, and hailstones as either solid (ice)or liquid (water) c. Determine that the weight of water before freezing, after freezing, and after melting stays the same. d. Determine that water in an open container disappears into the air overtime, but water in a closed container does not.

Understandings
Students will understand
Using tools and gathering data can reveal patterns in weather Each of the four seasons has distinct differences Weather conditions can affect daily activities Seasonal changes also affect animals Weather is the condition of the outside air each day The basic patterns of weather include: temperature, wind, precipitation, and sky conditions (sunny, cloud, etc.) Temperature is the measurement of hot and cold Using simple weather instruments can enrich ones understanding of weather A thermometer is used to measure temperature Wind is observed using a wind vane Wind is air that is moving A rain gauge can help measure precipitation Precipitation is water that falls from the clouds (rain, freezing rain, snow, sleet, hail) There are weather events such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes A thunderstorm is a combination of strong winds and heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightening A tornado is a violent wind that looks like a funnel-shaped cloud; its spinning wind touches the ground Hurricanes are storms that have very strong winds There are four seasons in a year: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Weather changes occur during different seasons Weather affects the way you dress A journal can help document weather at different times of the year Weather is observable Basic types of weather Appropriate dress for types of weather How to graph weather Appropriate tools to measure weather data There are different types of weather How to check/report/graph/read weather daily

Related Misconceptions:
Mother Nature controls the weather changes Rain drops are shaped like tears Snow isnt water The sun is light; a light bulb for the day and serves no other purpose Weather does not change that much

Essential Questions
Overarching Questions: What is weather? How can we measure how much rain falls? How does a forecast help us decide what clothes to wear? What are the four seasons? How does weather give us information about the world around us? How Can You Measure Weather? What are Rain Clouds? What is Weather Like in Spring and Summer? What is Weather Like in Fall and Winter? Why is weather important? How do thermometers work to tell us the temperature? How is weather predicted How does weather affect us How do we describe and measure weather What is spring? What is summer? What is fall? What is winter? How can weather be described? How does weather impact me and my community? Why are there different types of weather and what are their characteristics? How do we measure weather? How do we record weather data? How would you illustrate the four seasons? How would you build a simple weather instrument? What information can I get from building a simple weather instrument? (thermometer, wind vane, or rain gauge) Is weather always the same, why or why not? How does weather affect out daily activities? How would you build a simple weather instrument? What information can I get from building a simple weather instrument? (thermometer, wind vane, or rain gauge) Is weather always the same, why or why not? How does weather affect out daily activities? Topical Questions: 1. How can we measure waters weight; is there only one way to measure the weight of water? 2. How are the different forms of water the same? How are the forms different? (frozen/melted) 3. How do we describe what happens to water left in an open container over time? A closed container? 4. Why is it important to know that water cans take different forms? 5. What different types of tools can we use to measure weather? 6. How do animals survive/thrive during the seasonal changes? 7. How do the seasons affect plants? 8. What information can I get from building a simple weather instrument? (thermometer, wind vane, or rain gauge) 9. What happens to the weight of water when you freeze it? Is it the same as regular water in a bowl or is it different? 10. In what ways can water change its form? 11. How is the weather in the fall similar to the winter? 12. Why is it important to know the different types of weather? 13. How is a tornado like a thunderstorm? How is it different?

Knowledge and Skills Knowledge

Students will know:
Vocabulary: temperature, wind, precipitation, weather events, thunder, tornado, hurricane, thermometer, wind vane, rain gauge, rainbow, sunny, cloudy, winter, spring, summer, fall, seasons Definitions Seasonal detailsdifferences in season and changes that occur Sequence and timelines Activities for certain weather conditions Weather can be communicated to others by observing and collecting data The four seasons have distinct weather patterns The different seasons affect the way we live in our world

Skills
Students will be able to:
Basic skillsarithmetic, averages Communication skillslistening, speaking, writing Thinking skillsread, interpret, and analyze gathered weather data Interpersonal, group skills How to prepare for weather conditions (what to pack on a vacation, outdoor playtime, etc.) Construct wind vane Construct rain gauge Measure temperature Keep class journal Work together to compose poems Understand relationship between weather and seasons Use thermometers to measure and compare temperature Identify the different types of weather and describe characteristics of each Observe weather by using simple weather instruments to record data Construct a weather book