Weather and Nature

Curriculum Area and Level

Subject: Social Studies
Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Standard Alignment:

• C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards: Geography – D2.Geo.2.K-2. Describe how natural events and the environment affect people’s lives.
• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): ESS2.D – Weather and climate variability can impact the environment and human activities.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of the 30-minute lesson, students will:

1. Understand how natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and oceans, influence weather patterns.
2. Learn to connect weather changes to the natural environment around them.
3. Collaborate to create a simplified physical map that explains the relationship between natural features and weather.

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Materials Needed

• A large world map or US map with natural features highlighted (teacher-provided or printed)
• Colored markers and scratch paper
• 4 bowls, 4 small bottles of water (for a quick experiment)
• A fan (to simulate wind)
• Index cards with three key natural features written on them: mountains, oceans, forests

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Lesson Plan

1. Warm-Up Activity (5 minutes)

• Objective: Activate prior knowledge about weather and nature.
• Show students pictures of different landscapes in the US (mountains, beaches, forests).
• Ask open questions:
  • “What kind of weather would you expect near the ocean?”
  • “Do you think snow could fall near a beach? Why or why not?”
• Briefly reinforce the idea that where we live in nature might change the weather we experience.

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2. Mini-Lesson with Hands-On Experiment (10 minutes)

Step 1: Explain the Concept

• Visuals: Use the map to identify three natural features (mountains, oceans, forests).
• Give simple weather connections:
  • Mountains: Block wind, create more rain or snow on one side (windward) and less on the other (leeward).
  • Oceans: Warm water can bring rain; coastal areas often stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
  • Forests: Keep the air cool and humid, and can affect how much rain falls nearby.

Step 2: Hands-On Demonstration

• Mountain Example: Place a bowl and fan together. Put a lightweight object behind the bowl (e.g., a tissue or napkin). Explain how the “bowl mountain” blocks the “wind” (from the fan). Talk about how rain happens on one side and less on the other.
• Ocean Example: Pour a little water on a paper napkin to explain rain. Show how water in the ocean affects clouds and rain.
• After each demo, ask, "How do you think this makes the weather feel?"

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3. Group Map-Building Activity (10 minutes)

• Divide the class into pairs (2 students each).
• Give each team a section of the map and an index card with a natural feature (mountain, ocean, forest).
• Students will:
  1. Use colored markers to draw the natural feature on the map.
  2. Use simple weather symbols (e.g., raindrops, snowflakes, wind swirls, or sunshine) to label the kind of weather expected near their feature.
  3. Present their map section to their peers in 1-2 minutes.

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4. Wrap-Up Reflection (5 minutes)

• Bring the class together and look at their combined map.
• Ask:
  • “What surprised you about how mountains, oceans, or forests change weather?”
  • “How could knowing this help you plan your day outside?”
• Allow each student to share one thing they learned in their own words.
• End with a fun chant: “Mountains, oceans, forests too—weather's changing ’cause of you!”

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Differentiation Strategies

• For students who need extra support: Provide prepared examples of labeled maps for reference during the activity.
• For students ready for a challenge: Ask them to create a story about a specific weather event caused by one natural feature (e.g., a rainy day near the ocean).

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Assessment

• Formative: Observe student participation during the map activity.
• Summative: Assess each group’s map section for accuracy in connecting natural features to weather.

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Homework (Optional, Parent Involvement Suggested)

• Ask students to observe the weather outside their home for the next two days.
• Students should draw or describe one natural feature near where they live and guess how it might be influencing the weather there.

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This detailed, interactive lesson encourages second graders to connect natural features with weather patterns, engage with hands-on learning, and apply their newfound knowledge creatively.