Weather and Climate Unit
Weather and Climate Learning Links:
Weather and Climate Lesson Topics:
What is Weather? Lesson Topics: |
Weather Data Lesson Topics: |
Severe Weather Lesson Topics: |
Climate Lesson Topics: |
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Weather and Climate Unit Extension Activities:
At-Home Activities
Weather Instruments At-Home Activities
Severe Weather At-Home Activities
At-Home Printables
Weather Instruments At-Home Activities
Severe Weather At-Home Activities
At-Home Printables
What is Weather? Lesson Extensions:
Science:
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Arts:
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Language Arts:
- Maintain the Weather and Climate Word Bank
- Write weather poems describing a favorite weather event
- Write a story and make an audio recording about an activity with a dramatic twist involving a change in the weather
Weather Data Lesson Extensions:
Science:
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Language Arts:
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Mathematics:
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Arts:
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Severe Weather Lesson Extensions:
Science:
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Language Arts:
Arts:
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Climate Lesson Extension Activities:
Science:
Language Arts:
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Social Studies:
Mathematics:
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Weather and Climate Big Ideas:
What is Weather? Big Ideas:
- Weather is how the sky looks and the air feels.
- Weather can be described in terms of temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, sunshine, and wind.
Weather Data Big Ideas:
- Weather is how the sky looks and the air feels.
- Scientists use different tools to collect weather data over time.
- Patterns in data can support an explanation.
- Scientists use maps to show what weather is like in different places.
Severe Weather Big Ideas:
- A variety of severe weather results from natural processes.
- Scientists study severe weather so they can predict when it will come and how people should prepare to stay safe.
- We can prepare for severe weather to lessen its effects.
Climate Big Ideas:
- Climate describes the range of an area’s typical weather over long periods of time.
- Scientists can learn what climate was like in the past.
Weather and Climate Vocabulary:
What is Weather? Lesson Cluster Vocabulary:
- Atmosphere - The mixture of gases surrounding Earth or other planets.
- Cloud - A visible collection of immense numbers of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air. The droplets or crystals scatter sunlight and produce the white or gray appearance of clouds.
- Evidence - Facts or observations used to support an explanation.
- Precipitation - Rain, snow, hail, and other forms of condensation that form in clouds and fall to the ground.
- Satellite - An object launched into orbit around Earth. Weather satellites carry instruments high above the earth's surface that report back information about our weather.
- Stratosphere - The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere. It typically starts about 17 km (11 miles) above Earth and ranges to a height of about 50 km (30 miles).
- Troposphere - The bottom layer of the atmosphere. The troposphere is about 17 km (11 miles) thick at the equator. About 75% of all air molecules are found in the troposphere. Clouds are found in the troposphere. (See also stratosphere.)
- Weather - How the sky looks and the air feels. The main components of weather are temperature, sunlight, wind, clouds, and precipitation.
- Wind - The movement of air.
what_is_weather_cluster_vocabulary.pdf |
Weather Data Lesson Cluster Vocabulary:
- Anemometer - A tool that measures wind speed.
- Axis - A reference line drawn on a graph where the scale of the graph is labeled.
- Celsius scale - The metric system temperature measurement.
- Centimeter - A unit of length in metric system measurement.
- Cloud - A big group of tiny water drops or bits of ice that float in the air.
- Data - A fact about something observed.
- Degree - A unit of temperature measurement.
- Fahrenheit scale - A temperature scale that tells how hot or cold something is.
- Graph - A way of representing data that shows the relationship between two things.
- Horizontal axis - A horizontal line on a graph where the scale of the graph is labeled.
- Meters per second - A unit of speed measurement.
- Precipitation - Any moisture that falls to the ground. Rain, snow, hail, and sleet are all precipitation.
- Rain gauge - A tool that measures precipitation.
- Scale - The numbers or values on the horizontal and vertical axes of a graph.
- Temperature - How hot or cold something is.
- Thermometer - A tool that measures temperature.
- Vertical axis - A vertical line on a graph where the scale of the graph is labeled.
- Weather map - A map that displays weather data in different locales.
- Weathervane - A tool that measures wind direction.
- Wind - Air in motion.
- Wind direction - The direction the wind blows from. (For example, if the wind blows from north to south, it is a north wind, or a "northerly.")
- Wind speed - How fast the wind blows.
weather_data_vocabulary___pictures.pdf |
weather_data_cluster_vocabulary.pdf |
Severe Weather Lesson Cluster Vocabulary:
- Blizzard - A long-lasting snowstorm with low temperatures, strong winds (above 56 KPH), and a great deal of either falling or blowing snow.
- Drought - A period of time when the amount of rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation is much less than in a normal year.
- Forecast - To predict.
- Hurricane - A storm with high winds and rain that forms over oceans near the equator.
- Lightning - A powerful discharge of electricity during a thunderstorm.
- Thunder - Sound of a lightning bolt. Occurs as the lightning rapidly heats and expands the air through which it travels.
- Thunderstorm - A storm that includes the presence of lightning and thunder. They often include large amounts of rain, some hail, or even snow.
- Tornado - A violent rotating column of air that can come in contact with the ground and cause great destruction.
severe_weather_cluster_vocabulary.png |
Climate Lesson Cluster Vocabulary:
- Climate - The range of an area's typical weather over long periods of time.
- Climate zone - An area characterized by a certain climate.
- Dendrochronologist - A scientist who studies tree rings to learn about past climate.
- Dendrochronology - The study of past climate using data from tree rings.
- Evidence - Facts or observations to support an explanation.
- Tree ring - The visible growth of a tree over a year, usually seen as a light and dark ring. Also known as a growth ring.
climate_weather_cluster_vocabulary.png |
Weather & Climate Study Focus:
•Weather: how the sky looks & the air feels
•Troposphere: the part of Earth’s atmosphere where weather happens
•Weather Data: air temperature, precipitation, wind speed & direction
•Weather Data Tools: anemometer, thermometer, weathervane, pinwheel, rain gauge
•Severe Weather Events: tornados, hurricanes, blizzards, drought, thunderstorm, etc.
•Satellite: used by meteorologists to track weather systems that form around the world
•Troposphere: the part of Earth’s atmosphere where weather happens
•Weather Data: air temperature, precipitation, wind speed & direction
•Weather Data Tools: anemometer, thermometer, weathervane, pinwheel, rain gauge
•Severe Weather Events: tornados, hurricanes, blizzards, drought, thunderstorm, etc.
•Satellite: used by meteorologists to track weather systems that form around the world
Weather & Climate Teacher Files:
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