Weather Whatchamacallit!

Elizabeth Tran

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Weather Whiz Kids!

Students will be able to compare and describe day-to-day weather in different locations at the same time, including air temperature, wind direction, and precipitation.

Understanding weather helps us prepare for our day, choose appropriate clothing, and even understand climate change. This lesson will equip students with the skills to observe and compare weather phenomena like real meteorologists!

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

5 sessions, 30 minutes each (150 minutes total)

Approach

Hands-on activities, daily observations, and comparative analysis.

Materials

Daily Weather Observation Chart (Worksheet)](#daily-weather-observation-chart), Weather Tools Matching (Worksheet)](#weather-tools-matching-worksheet), Weather Wonders Slide Deck (Slide Deck)](#weather-wonders-slide-deck), Comparing Forecasts (Worksheet)](#comparing-forecasts-worksheet), Design a Weather Station (Activity)](#design-a-weather-station-activity), Weather Wiz Quiz (Quiz)](#weather-wiz-quiz), and Weather Wiz Quiz Answer Key (Answer Key)](#weather-wiz-quiz-answer-key)

Prep

Teacher Preparation

60 minutes

Review all generated materials: Weather Whiz Kids! Lesson Plan, Weather Wonders Slide Deck, Daily Weather Observation Chart (Worksheet), Weather Tools Matching (Worksheet), Comparing Forecasts (Worksheet), Design a Weather Station (Activity), Weather Wiz Quiz (Quiz), and Weather Wiz Quiz Answer Key (Answer Key).
- Gather necessary supplies for activities (e.g., world map, string, construction paper, markers, thermometers, wind vanes if available, weather apps/websites for different locations).
- Print copies of the worksheets for each student.
- Prepare your classroom for daily weather observation discussions and activities.

Step 1

Day 1: What's the Weather Like Today?

30 minutes

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Begin with the Day 1 Warm-Up: Weather Words to activate prior knowledge about weather.

Introduction to Weather Elements (10 minutes)

Use slides 1-4 of the Weather Wonders Slide Deck to introduce key weather elements: temperature, wind direction, and precipitation.
* Discuss what each element means and how it's measured.
### Local Weather Observation (10 minutes)
Guide students in observing and describing the current local weather. Focus on identifying the elements discussed.
* Distribute the Daily Weather Observation Chart (Worksheet) and instruct students to fill in the 'Local' column for today's weather.
### Cool-Down (5 minutes)
Conclude with the Day 1 Cool-Down: One Weather Word to summarize key learnings.

Step 2

Day 2: Exploring Global Weather

30 minutes

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Start with the Day 2 Warm-Up: Where in the World? to introduce the concept of different locations.
### Introducing Other Locations (10 minutes)
Using slides 5-7 of the Weather Wonders Slide Deck, introduce 2-3 new, distinct locations around the world (e.g., a desert, a polar region, a rainforest city). Show their approximate locations on a world map.
* Discuss how weather might be different in these places.
### Comparing Weather Data (10 minutes)
As a class, look up the current weather (temperature, wind, precipitation) for the chosen global locations using reliable online weather resources (e.g., weather apps/websites).
* Guide students to record this information in their Daily Weather Observation Chart (Worksheet) in the corresponding columns.
### Cool-Down (5 minutes)
Finish with the Day 2 Cool-Down: Different Places, Different Weather to reinforce the idea of varied weather globally.

Step 3

Day 3: Weather Tools & Predictions

30 minutes

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Begin with the Day 3 Warm-Up: How Do We Know? to prompt thinking about weather measurement.
### Weather Tools (10 minutes)
Use slides 8-10 of the Weather Wonders Slide Deck to introduce common weather tools: thermometer (temperature), wind vane/anemometer (wind direction/speed), rain gauge (precipitation).
* Discuss what each tool measures and how.
* Distribute the Weather Tools Matching (Worksheet) for students to complete individually or in pairs.
### Predicting Weather (10 minutes)
Briefly discuss how meteorologists use tools and patterns to predict weather.
* Introduce the Comparing Forecasts (Worksheet). Students will compare a local weather forecast for tomorrow with a forecast for one of the global locations previously studied.
### Cool-Down (5 minutes)
Conclude with the Day 3 Cool-Down: Tool Talk to review weather tools.

Step 4

Day 4: Design Your Own Weather Station

30 minutes

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Start with the Day 4 Warm-Up: Design It! to get students thinking creatively about weather observation.
### Activity: Design a Weather Station (20 minutes)
Introduce the Design a Weather Station (Activity).
* Divide students into small groups. Each group will design a simple weather station that can measure temperature, wind direction, and precipitation.
* Provide construction paper, markers, and other craft supplies. Encourage creativity and label key parts.
### Share and Discuss (5 minutes)
Have groups briefly share their weather station designs and explain how each part works.
### Cool-Down (5 minutes)
Finish with the Day 4 Cool-Down: One Thing I Learned to reflect on the design process.

Step 5

Day 5: Weather Wiz Quiz!

30 minutes

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Begin with the Day 5 Warm-Up: Review Relay to quickly recap key weather concepts.
### Assessment: Weather Wiz Quiz (20 minutes)
Distribute the Weather Wiz Quiz (Quiz) to students.
* Instruct students to complete the quiz individually.
* Collect quizzes for grading using the Weather Wiz Quiz Answer Key (Answer Key).
### Cool-Down (5 minutes)
Conclude with the Day 5 Cool-Down: Future Forecaster to reflect on their learning journey.

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Slide Deck

Welcome, Weather Whizzes!

What is Weather?

The condition of the air around us
Changes all the time!
What kind of weather do you see outside today?

Greet students and introduce the topic of weather. Ask what they think weather is.

Temperature: Hot or Cold?

What is Temperature?

How hot or cold the air is
Measured with a thermometer
We use words like 'warm,' 'cool,' 'freezing,' 'scorching!'

Explain air temperature. Ask students how they know if it's hot or cold. Introduce the thermometer.

Wind: Which Way Does it Blow?

What is Wind Direction?

The direction the wind is blowing FROM
Measured with a wind vane
We use compass directions: North, South, East, West

Explain wind direction. Ask students how they feel the wind. Demonstrate how to tell wind direction (e.g., flag, leaves).

Precipitation: Falling from the Sky!

What is Precipitation?

Any form of water that falls from the clouds
Rain, snow, sleet, hail
Measured with a rain gauge

Explain precipitation. Ask about different forms of precipitation they know.

Weather Around the World!

Is Weather the Same Everywhere?

No way! Different places have different weather.
Think about deserts, mountains, and beaches!

Introduce the idea that weather isn't the same everywhere. Ask students if they've heard about different weather in other places.

Our Global Weather Journey

Let's Explore!

We're here! (Point to local area)
Where else can we go to see different weather?
(Show 2-3 new locations on the map)

Show a world map. Point out the local area and two or three diverse locations (e.g., Sahara Desert, Antarctica, Amazon Rainforest).

What's the Forecast There?

Imagine the Weather!

If it's hot here, is it hot everywhere?
If it's raining here, is it raining everywhere?
Let's find out!

Briefly discuss what kind of weather they might expect in the new locations based on what they know.

Measuring Weather: Our Tools!

How Do We Know?

Meteorologists (weather scientists) use special tools.
These tools help them measure exactly what the weather is doing.

Introduce the concept of measuring weather. Ask students how they think we measure temperature.

The Thermometer: Hot or Cold?

Thermometer

Measures air temperature
Usually has a red line that goes up when it's hotter and down when it's colder.
What temperature does it show?

Explain thermometers and how they work to measure temperature.

Wind Vanes & Rain Gauges

Wind Vane

Shows the direction the wind is blowing from.
Points into the wind!

Rain Gauge

Collects and measures how much rain has fallen.
It's like a special cup for rain!

Explain wind vanes and rain gauges. You can bring in examples or show pictures.

Review: Global Weather Fun!

What We've Learned:

Weather has temperature, wind, and precipitation.
These can be measured with special tools.
Weather is different all over the world!

Reinforce that weather is constantly changing and can be very different across the globe.

Warm Up

Weather Words!

Think about the weather outside right now or your favorite kind of weather.

What are three words you would use to describe it?

Warm Up

Where in the World?

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go, and what kind of weather do you imagine they have there?

My Dream Destination:

Imagined Weather:

Warm Up

How Do We Know?

How do we know if it's hot or cold? What about if it's windy? Or if it rained a lot?

Think about how people measure or tell what the weather is like.

Warm Up

Design It!

If you were a weather scientist, what is one cool tool you would invent to measure or observe the weather?

My Weather Invention:

What it measures:

Warm Up

Review Relay!

Write down one important thing you remember about:

Temperature:
Wind Direction:
Precipitation:

Cool Down

One Weather Word

What is one new weather word you learned or remembered today?

Cool Down

Different Places, Different Weather

Name one thing that was different about the weather in our local area compared to one of the other places we looked at today.

Cool Down

Tool Talk

If you wanted to know how much rain fell, what weather tool would you use?

Cool Down

One Thing I Learned

What is one interesting thing you learned or thought about while designing your weather station today?

Cool Down

Future Forecaster

If you were a weather forecaster, what is one piece of advice you would give people about understanding weather?

Worksheet

Daily Weather Observation Chart

Instructions: Observe and record the weather for our local area and the other locations we discuss in class. Make sure to note the temperature, wind direction, and any precipitation.

Date/Location	Air Temperature (Hot/Warm/Cool/Cold)	Wind Direction (North, South, East, West)	Precipitation (Rain/Snow/None)
Day 1: Local
Day 2: Local
Day 2: Location 1
Day 2: Location 2
Day 3: Local
Day 3: Location 1
Day 3: Location 2

Worksheet

Weather Tools Matching

Instructions: Draw a line to match each weather tool with what it measures.

Weather Tool

Thermometer
Wind Vane
Rain Gauge

What it Measures

How much rain falls
The direction of the wind
How hot or cold the air is

Worksheet

Comparing Forecasts

Instructions: Look at the weather forecast for tomorrow for our local area and for one of our global locations. Write down the forecast for each category.

Our Local Area Forecast for Tomorrow

Air Temperature:
Wind Direction:
Precipitation:

Global Location Forecast for Tomorrow

Location Name:
Air Temperature:
Wind Direction:
Precipitation:

Compare!

What is one big difference you see between our local forecast and the global location forecast?

Activity

Design a Weather Station!

Goal: Work with your group to design a weather station that can measure air temperature, wind direction, and precipitation.

Instructions:

Brainstorm (5 minutes): Talk with your group about how you could make tools for each weather element using simple materials.
Design (10 minutes): On a piece of paper, draw your weather station. Label each part and explain what it measures.
- How will you show temperature?
- How will you show wind direction?
- How will you collect and measure precipitation?
Prepare to Share (5 minutes): Get ready to tell the class about your awesome weather station!

Quiz

Weather Wiz Quiz

Answer Key

Weather Wiz Quiz Answer Key

What does a thermometer measure?
- Correct Answer: Air temperature
- Reasoning: Thermometers are specifically designed to measure how hot or cold the air is.
If a wind vane is pointing East, which direction is the wind blowing from?
- Correct Answer: East
- Reasoning: A wind vane always points into the direction the wind is coming from.
Which of these is NOT a form of precipitation?
- Correct Answer: Fog
- Reasoning: Precipitation is water falling from clouds (rain, snow, sleet, hail). Fog is a cloud that is very close to the ground; it doesn't fall.
Describe two differences you might observe in the weather between our local town and a very cold, snowy place at the same time.
- Expected Answer: Students should identify two distinct differences. Examples include:
  - Temperature: Our town might be warm/mild, while the snowy place is cold/freezing.
  - Precipitation: Our town might have rain or no precipitation, while the snowy place has snow.
  - Wind: Wind could be different in terms of speed or direction due to local conditions.
- Reasoning: Different geographical locations can experience vastly different weather conditions simultaneously due to factors like latitude, altitude, and proximity to large bodies of water.
If you want to know how much rain fell last night, what weather tool would you use and how does it work?
- Expected Answer: A rain gauge. It works by collecting any rain that falls into a container, and then you can read the amount of collected water using markings on the side.
- Reasoning: A rain gauge is the specific tool used by meteorologists and weather enthusiasts to quantify the amount of liquid precipitation over a period.