The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project
What Will the Weather Be?
What Will the Weather Be?
A Kindergarten STEM lesson
Kristen Mezulis
April 24, 2023
Notes for teachers
Each lesson will follow the 3 E’s: Engage, Explore, and Explain.
In the Engage part of the lesson, you will find a recommended STEM read aloud title and a brief synopsis of the book.
In the Explore part of the lesson, students will participate in an engineering challenge or STEM activity that connects to the read aloud and to the standard. A list of suggested materials will also be included.
In the Explain part of the lesson, students will reflect on their learning through writing and drawing, responding to designated prompts.
List of Materials
Standards
K.E1U1.3
Observe, record, and ask questions about temperature, precipitation, and other weather data to identify patterns or changes in local weather.
K.E1U1.4
Observe, describe, ask questions, and predict seasonal weather patterns; and how those patterns impact plants and animals (including humans).
Standards
K-ESS3-2 Earth and Human Activity
Ask questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather.
Objective:
Today I can ask questions to learn about weather forecasting.
Intro
Engage:
We are going to learn about weather this week.
• What kinds of weather do we already know about? (sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy)
• Sometimes our weather can be extreme. This is called severe weather. Can you think
of any types of severe weather? (hurricanes, tornados, floods, blizzards)
• Show students a video of severe weather.
Then read, What Will the Weather Be? By Linda Dewitt. Use the connections and questions to engage
the students in a discussion.
Story Connection and Questions:
• The weather forecast called for an inch or two of snow. What does that mean? How much is an inch or two?
• It says that airports and schools had to close. Does that happen where we live? How much is 8 inches of snow?
• The weather forecast was wrong, and people weren’t prepared. What does that mean?
• What do you predict is going to happen when the water vapor rises in the clouds?
• The author says that the rain could turn to snow. How do we know when that will happen? How cold do you think it needs to be in order to snow?
• Meteorologists have a big job. What are some of the things they measure?
Hands-on Activity Instructions
Explore (STEM Challenge):
Show the video How Do We Know When It Will Rain? (SciShow Kids-link in the resource section).
This week, we are going to explore the weather forecast. Each day, we will determine whether the forecast matches our weather or not.
Students will observe the weather outside and determine the type of weather for the day. They can write or draw something that they like to do in that type of weather. Then, use a newspaper or local news website to check the weather forecast for the following day.
Students will record the weather for the following day. Each day, they will revisit the forecast from the previous day to see if the meteorologist was correct.
*Make 5 copies of the template for each student.
Explain:
At the end of the week, students will review their predictions.
Students will turn and talk with a partner or table group to share what they thought about the week’s weather. Then groups should think about some questions that they have about the information.
Conduct a whole-class discussion about the weather forecast investigation. Create a class chart to document student questions about weather forecasting, severe weather, and weather preparedness.
Resources:
https://safeshare.tv/x/ss63bd9ecbd2bef
https://safeshare.tv/x/isVIWKI31UY
https://safeshare.tv/x/ss63c0472b09daa
Assessment
Differentiation
Remediation
Extension/Enrichment
Allow students time to explore and create solutions to problems with space and freedom.