This article provides elementary school teachers with background knowledge about science concepts …
This article provides elementary school teachers with background knowledge about science concepts needed to understand the first of seven essential principles of climate literacy--the sun is the primary source of energy for our climate system. Graphs, diagrams, and oneline resources provide more background for the teacher. The article appears in a free online magazine that focuses on the seven essential princples of the climate sciences.
This book list contains children's books that have been screened for accuracy …
This book list contains children's books that have been screened for accuracy in depicting scientific concepts. Each book's content is briefly described and its cover pictured. The topics of the books support learning in Grades K-5 about the issue's theme. The list appears in the free, online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle, which focuses on the essential principles of climate literacy.
Beginning with examples from the polar regions, this article examines the question …
Beginning with examples from the polar regions, this article examines the question Why do we have seasons? Included are links to lesson plans, a list of childrenČs books, and suggested alignments with science, literacy, geography, and climate instruction in K-5 classrooms. The article appears in the free, online magazine Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears.
This classroom activity is aimed at an understanding of different ecosystems by …
This classroom activity is aimed at an understanding of different ecosystems by understanding the influence of temperature and precipitation. Students correlate graphs of vegetation vigor with those of temperature and precipitation data for four diverse ecosystems, ranging from near-equatorial to polar, and spanning both hemispheres to determine which climatic factor is limiting growth.
This animation demonstrates the changing declination of the sun with a time-lapse …
This animation demonstrates the changing declination of the sun with a time-lapse animation. It shows how the shadow of a building changes over the course of a year as the declination of the sun changes.
Though this website focuses on providing tours to Egypt, it offers an …
Though this website focuses on providing tours to Egypt, it offers an extensive list of words in the Egyptian dialect in both Arabic script and in transliteration. The word list includes the kinds of words you might need to know when traveling, such as "Go straight please" and "I need room service." Each word is transliterated and accompanied by an audio file. There is also an article about history of the Arabic language and the Egyptian dialect. Photo galleries on the site could be used as part of classroom instruction.
As an on-going project, students note the position of the sun by …
As an on-going project, students note the position of the sun by mapping a shadow on the classroom floor. They learn about the earth's tilt and the effect of the sun's light on our seasons.
In this lesson, students will investigate how trees change by the season. …
In this lesson, students will investigate how trees change by the season. Includes discussion of techniques for identifying trees, journaling changes that take place over time for the same tree throughout the school year, a list of vocabulary, a field guid to identifying trees, and a tree journal worksheet for students.
NGSS: Partially meets 2-LS4-1
Common Core: W.2.7, W.2.8, 2.MD.D.10
Social Sciences: 3.12, 4.12
Time: 1 hour initially, then 30-40 minute lessons through the seasons
Materials: "The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree" book, My Tree Journal pages (included), pencils, colored pencils, and clipboards.
This list of children's books recommends nonfiction titles that supplement basic information …
This list of children's books recommends nonfiction titles that supplement basic information found in lessons and activities of this themed issue of the online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle. The books are grouped by topic -- water, weather and climate, and atmosphere. Each book is described by its content, reading level, and possible uses in the classroom. Covers are pictured. The online magazine is produced for elementary school teachers and is structured around the essential principles of climate sciences and climate literacy.
This free, standards-based website developed for elementary teachers provides hand-picked, reviewed, on-line …
This free, standards-based website developed for elementary teachers provides hand-picked, reviewed, on-line resources to enhance teacher content knowledge regarding reasons for the seasons.
Four unit plans provide opportunities for in-depth explorations of important foundational climate …
Four unit plans provide opportunities for in-depth explorations of important foundational climate concepts -- weather, water as a solid, liquid and gas, and the water cycle -- that are appropriate for K-2 and 3-5 learners. These unit plans incorporate many of the lessons highlighted in other articles in this issue of the online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle. The magazine is structured around the essential principles of the climate sciences.
In this article, teachers find two unit plans (grades K-2 and 3-5) …
In this article, teachers find two unit plans (grades K-2 and 3-5) that use resources featured in the science and literacy articles in the magazine. The unit plans are modeled after the five key steps in the learning cycle: engage, explore, explain, expand, and assess, or evaluate. The plans are aligned with the science content standards of the National Science Education Standards and the English language arts standards of the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association. The plans appear in the free, online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle.
This webpage presents a list of vocabulary words associated with seasons, days …
This webpage presents a list of vocabulary words associated with seasons, days of the week, months, and the different types of calendars used in the Arabic-speaking world. The words are presented in chart format, and list the word in Arabic, English translation, and English transliteration.
Students will learn about basic shapes in Monet's painting "Wheatstacks, Snow Effect, …
Students will learn about basic shapes in Monet's painting "Wheatstacks, Snow Effect, Morning". They then learn about light and shadows through reading and experimenting with three-dimensional models and flashlights. Students will also learn about time of day and the seasons.
This formative assessment item uncovers student understanding of weather and seasons. It …
This formative assessment item uncovers student understanding of weather and seasons. It uncovers student ideas about differences in seasons depending on whether a person lives in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, or along the Equator. The probe follows along with National Science Education Standards. Resources are available to assist teachers in background information as well as lesson ideas dealing with the seasons of the world.
How does our climate affect us? How do we decide what to …
How does our climate affect us? How do we decide what to wear each day? What factors determine if our clothing choices are comfortable? What is the source of our water? Students explore characteristics that define climatic regions. They learn how tropical, desert, coastal and alpine climates result in different lifestyle, clothing, water source and food options for the people who live there. They learn that a location's latitude, altitude, land features, weather conditions, and distance from large bodies of water, determines its climate. Students discuss how engineers help us adapt to all climates by designing clothing, shelters, weather technologies and clean water systems.
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