Exploring Weather

Curriculum Alignment

Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Science Standard: NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)
Performance Expectations:

• ESS2.D: Weather and Climate: Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
• SEP (Science and Engineering Practice): Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information.

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Lesson Objective

By the end of the lesson:

1. Students will be able to explain what weather is.
2. Students will be able to identify and describe different weather conditions.

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Materials Needed

1. Picture cards or flashcards of different weather conditions (sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, snowy, stormy).
2. A classroom globe or map of the United States.
3. Cotton balls, colored tissue paper, and glue for a craft activity.
4. Dry erase board or chart paper and markers.
5. Simple weather journal printouts for each student (1 sheet each).
6. A small handheld fan for a wind simulation.

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Lesson Structure (30 Minutes)

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Introduction (5 Minutes)

Teacher Does:

1. Begin with an engaging question:

   • Who has ever played outside while it was snowing? What about when it was sunny or windy?
   • Encourage quick answers to build excitement.

2. Say: "Today, we’re going to learn all about weather! But before we start, let’s imagine — if today was a sunny, warm day, how would you feel? What would you do outdoors?"

3. Write the word "Weather" in big letters on the dry erase board.

   • Explain: "Weather tells us what the air is like outside. Is it hot or cold, dry or wet, calm or super windy?"

4. Quickly reference the classroom globe or map of the United States and say:

   • "Weather is different in each part of the country, and it changes every day!"

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Main Activity (20 Minutes)

Step 1: What is Weather? (5 Minutes)

Teacher Does:

1. Write this question on the board: "What is weather?"
2. Explain: "Weather is the state of the air outside. It changes every day. When you wake up and see sunny skies, that’s weather! When you see raindrops falling, that’s weather, too!"
3. Say: "People watch the weather to decide what clothes to wear or if they need an umbrella. Let’s talk about some of the different types of weather!"

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Step 2: Types of Weather (5 Minutes)

Teacher Does:

1. Hold up the picture cards of sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, snowy, and stormy one at a time.

   • Ask: "Who can describe what sunny weather is? How does it look and feel?"
   • Build on their answers by explaining it briefly and clearly.

2. Use the handheld fan to simulate wind for windy weather.

   • Explain: "Wind is when air is moving around us – sometimes it’s soft and gentle, and other times, it’s really strong, like in a storm!"

3. Talk about rainy or stormy weather and simulate raindrops by gently tapping your fingers on a desk for sound effects.

   • Use descriptive words like "wet," "pitter-patter," "boom" (for thunder).

4. Mention snowy weather and its connection to cold areas. If your classroom is in a warmer part of the US, explain that some kids in other states build snowmen in the winter!

Students Do:

• Students take turns describing what they think about when they hear each type of weather (e.g., wearing warm clothes for snow or using sunscreen when it’s sunny).

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Step 3: Weather Craft (7 Minutes)

Teacher Does:

1. Say: "Now, you’re going to create your own weather collages. Each of you will choose one type of weather and make a little weather picture out of craft materials."
2. Show an example: For cloudy, use cotton balls. For snowy, use white tissue paper torn into small flakes.
3. Pass out cotton balls, colored tissue paper, glue, and construction paper to each student.

Students Do:

• Each student picks one type of weather (their favorite or one they know well) to illustrate using the craft supplies.
• While students work, walk around and ask them to describe their chosen weather in their own words.
  • Example prompts: "What kind of clothes do people wear during this weather? Can you tell me what sounds you might hear outside?"

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Step 4: Sharing and Discussion (3 Minutes)

Teacher Does:

1. Once the students finish their weather collages, ask each one to share their picture and describe it in 1-2 sentences.
   • Example: "This is my snowy day picture. I used white tissue paper for snowflakes because snow is cold and fluffy!"

Students Do:

• Each student takes turns showing their collage and stating their weather type.

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Closing (5 Minutes)

Teacher Does:

1. Say: "Weather is so important because it tells us about our day. Let’s do a quick recap. What are the types of weather we talked about today?"

2. List each weather type on the whiteboard as students call them out:

   • Sunny, Cloudy, Rainy, Windy, Snowy, Stormy.

3. Hand out simple weather journal printouts. Explain:

   • "For homework, look outside tomorrow morning and draw a picture of the weather you see. Write one sentence about it—just like we talked about today!"

Students Do:

• Answer the recap question and take their journals home for homework.

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Assessment of Learning

1. Observe students’ explanations during the craft sharing activity to assess their understanding of weather types.
2. Review their homework weather journal the next day to see if they can identify and describe the weather.

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Extension Ideas

• Set up a simple weather station in the classroom to track the daily weather for a week.
• Watch kid-friendly videos with visuals of extreme weather like hurricanes or tornadoes (with parental consent).

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This hands-on, creative approach will engage students while building foundational knowledge in weather observation and description!