Weather
Introduction
This lesson explores the difference between weather and climate. Because students will need to have a foundational understanding of weather and climate before grasping the concept of what causes climate change and how it has an impact on the world, this would be appropriate for elementary grades 3-4.
Standards
Science Standards:
ESS2.D: Weather and Climate
NGES ESS2.D Climate and Weather
Climate describes patterns of typical weather over
long timescales
Common Core Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.7
Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.8
Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
WYOMING STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE, GRADE 3 3-ESS2-2. Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
I can statements
I can explain that climate is a range of an area’s typical weather conditions and the extent to which those conditions vary over years.
I can explain that weather is a measure of conditions over a short period of time.
I can differentiate between weather and climate.
Activity 1
Have students define the words weather and climate. Add definitions to a classroom Padlet so everyone can see the responses. Students do not need to put their name on the definition they wrote. Once everyone has added their definitions discuss the similarities and differences between them as a whole group. What are the some of the items that are the same within the definitions?
Write down the commonalities and ask students how we might be able to find out the difference between climate and weather. What might we do to answer the questions we have?
ALTERNATIVE: Distribute two sticky notes to each student. Have students define the word weather on one sticky note and the word climate on the other sticky note. Students do not need to put their name on the definition they wrote. Have an anchor chart with two columns - one labeled weather and one labeled climate. Have students add their definitions to each column. Once everyone has added their definitions discuss the similarities and differences between them as a whole group. What are the some of the items that are the same within the definitions?
Write down the commonalities and ask students how we might be able to find out the difference between climate and weather. What might we do to answer the questions we have?
Activity 2
Have students pair up and research the difference between climate and weather. Make sure students have sticky notes or index cards to keep track of the information they find while researching. If your students have not conducted research before this activity, you may want to create list of websites with resources that may help them understand climate and weather, different links or videos. Under Resources (below), you will find some examples of materials for student use.
Students should capture, in their own words, what they found out about the difference between climate and weather and come to an agreement on a definition to share with the class. Students as a team should add their statements to a class Padlet or anchor chart. Once everyone has added their input ask each student to pick one of the descriptions that is not theirs that they think is a good definition. Have students talk with a partner about why they chose this description.
Activity 3
After students have added their findings, as a group they should look at everyone's definitions for climate and weather. What things were common throughout the definitions?
As a group, write a explanation of what is weather and what is climate.
Assessment
Working in groups of two, students will create a two minute video explaining climate and weather. Using apps like Explain Everything , PowToons, or Flip Grid Have student explain the difference between the two topics. Students can also use a camera to record a skit explaining the difference, it doesn't have to be fancy, but does need to have the correct information. Students should be able to identify that climate is an average of conditions over time, while weather is conditions over a short amount of time.
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Content Knowledge | Movie demonstrates understanding that climate describes the range of an area's typical weather and the extent to which those conditions vary over years, while weather is conditions over a short amount of time. | Movie demonstrates understanding that climate describes the range of an area's typical weather and the extent to which those conditions vary over years, but does NOT demonstrate that weather is conditions over a short amount of time. | Movie demonstrates understanding that weather is conditions over a short amount of time, but does NOT demonstrate that climate describes the range of an area's typical weather and the extent to which those conditions vary over years. |
Movie does NOT demonstrate understanding that climate describes the range of an area's typical weather and the extent to which those conditions vary over years, nor that weather is conditions over a short amount of time. |
| Collaboration | All students contributed equally to the video. Students stayed on task at all times. Students worked with each other in a friendly manner. | All students contributed a fair share to the project, though some workloads varied. Students had to be reminded occasionally to stay on task. Students made an effort to include all group members in the process. | Some students contributed a fair share to the project, while some students lacked participation and cooperation. Students had to be reminded to stay on task. Some made an effort to include all group members in the process. | Students needed to be reminded to stay on task frequently. One or two people did all the work. Students argued with one another or left some students out of the process. |
| Time | Video was 2 minutes in length. | Video was 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 minutes in length. | Video was over 30 seconds too short or too long. | * |
Additional Resources
Videos for weather and climate:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/climate-weather-sci
https://youtu.be/wUiwtVSkUwQ
Websites on weather and climate:
http://scijinks.jpl.nasa.gov/weather-v-climate/
http://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-climate/
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/weather-vs-climate