Weather: Unit Overview
Differentiation is the name of the game in this unit on weather. I start with words, lots of words. The unit introduces quite a bit of vocabulary, especially for English Language Learners, so words are key. After gathering words from one of the best weather stories ever written, students use their words to create a weather dictionary or fantastical weather story. This adds a bit of writing to the unit. Then we transition to expressing understanding about weather through coding a weather event using Scratch, Jr. If that were not enough fun, the unit wraps up by “playing with clouds” to paint the water cycle (using shaving cream). The water cycle (aka shaving cream) lesson is one of the children’s all-time favorites and it has an added benefit of getting the tables spotlessly clean at the same time! This unit has bits of literature, writing, art, and technology all bundled up into one. I hope you find it as enjoyable as my students and I do.
Conditions, Weather, and Climate #1: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students “tune in” to their unit on weather. Using a popular story, students collect weather words. Collecting weather-related words requires the kids to be concentrated listeners! You will be surprised at what they come up with and how inspired they are by Judi Barrett’s classic… Read more
Conditions, Weather, and Climate #2: Bookmaking and Weather Words
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students make a book using upcycled or recycled materials. They then fill the book with the weather words they collected in the first lesson. They can choose to write a fiction story similar to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett. Or, they… Read more
Conditions, Weather, and Climate #3: Code a Weather Event Using ScratchJr
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students continue extending what they are learning about weather by using simple coding software to program a weather event. Students will be able to make the sun set or rise, send a tornado spinning across a field, or create a thunderstorm. There is no limit… Read more
Conditions, Weather, and Climate #4: The Water Cycle: Painting with Clouds
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students review the water cycle, learn about a famous painter, and clean their desks all at the same time! Three integrated elements, one class period, and a heck of a good time! Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 3-4 Objective: To review the water cycle through literature… Read more