Weekly Weather Chart

1. Prior to the opening of this lesson, prepare several copies of a weather chart for student groups to use when documenting weather conditions. A 12 by 18 inch piece of Crayola® Construction Paper makes a great weather mat for children.
2. Open the lesson by asking students what they know about the weather. Use Crayola Dry Erase Markers to record student contributions on a classroom white board.
3. Once the discussion has drawn to a close, invite students to provide terms that are specific to weather, such as rain, sun, snow, etc. Write these words on the white board for all students to view while working on their weather charts.
4. Ask students to take a copy of the weather chart and write a title on the line provided. The title should include their first names and identify the work as a weather chart.
5. Allow student to provide the name of each day of the week. As they contribute, write the days on the classroom white board. Ask student to copy these names onto their weather charts, titling each column with a different day of the week. Provide assistance with writing as needed.
6. Inform students that on each day of the week, they will be talking with their peers about that weather of the day. What is the temperature? Is it windy? Are there clouds in the sky? Students will then write descriptive words or create illustrations to record their observations.
7. Provide time in the school day to discuss what students have observed and documented. Are there any patterns emerging? Why do we watch the weather?

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade level reading and content.

LA: Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.

SCI: Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.

VA: Students will investigate, plan and work through materials and ideas to make works of art and design.