Observing Weather Factors
Lesson Plans
GradesK, 1, 2Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences
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Provided by PBS
What it is
- This lesson examines different types of weather, how to observe weather, and how weather impacts living beings.
- Students will engage in an outdoor activity that allows them to observe weather conditions, watch videos that enrich their understanding of weather, and complete a handout that challenges them to find "weather clues."
Teaching tips
Positives
- This lesson has numerous extension activities to enrich the learning experience.
- This lesson is multi-faceted, interactive, and student-centered.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers can download the handouts in this lesson as a PDF file.
- The videos will be easier to navigate if you already have a PBS LearningMedia account.
- The links to the interactive lesson on the summary chart do not work, but a working link is under the Media in this Lesson section.
- The links under the Support Materials for Use with Students may take you to a general search page. You can find the correct links dispersed throughout the procedure.
Differentiation
- Teachers can use this lesson as a conceptual introduction to seasonal weather patterns.
- The Hot and Cold video can support a classroom discussion on the importance of trees.
- The Water in the Sky video pairs well with a lesson where students compare and contrast different forms of water.
- ELL students may benefit from having the definitions of some words before beginning the lesson.
- There are many strategies for supporting students with different needs in the Vocabulary Strategies document, such as scaffolds, total physical response, and gamification.
- The website has Spanish, English, and descriptive video options for the four videos in the lesson.
From the scientist review
This resource from PBS engages students in using their senses to learn about the weather. The lesson clearly defines all weather terms, and handouts use pictures and words to help students understand weather factors. The lesson and four short animated videos focus on observation, which is fundamental in all scientific fields. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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