Weather and Climate NGSS Kindergarten Science

Description

Make teaching science fun with this engaging, hands-on NGSS science unit about weather for your kindergarten science unit. This unit includes a structured framework for completing the lessons using the five E’s of instruction. Quick and easy setup plus clear directions make these activities perfect for teaching the NGSS standards.

Using weather charts and graphs, students use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time. Get your students engaged in understanding weather phenomena. Students will enjoy exploring the weather through STEAM Stations. Then, clarify the NGSS Science and Engineering practices by having students build a weather shelter.

They will also benefit from creating weather charts and graphs to help them understand the Disciplinary Core Ideas of weather and climate and gain practice with patterns when teaching Cross-Cutting Concepts. To deepen their knowledge, encourage students to expand their understanding by creating weather reports, posters, or collages. Finally, assess student knowledge with three performance expectations to ensure they have comprehended the concepts.

Here's what you'll get:

• Engage: Phenomena anchor lesson: Temperature rises during the day and drops at night.
• Explore: 5 Stations (STEAM) to explore the weather.
  • Science: Matching weather events
  • Technology: Sorting weather cards
  • Engineering: Design a wind-powered car
  • Art: Create clouds with cotton balls
  • Math: Create a weather calendar with dice

• Explain:
  • Lesson 1: (SEP) Analyzing and Interpreting Data and (DCI) Weather and Climate, and (CCC) Explore patterns – Create weather charts and graphs used over time to analyze and interpret data, plus explore patterns
  • Bonus Lesson 2: (SEP) Build a weather shelter for an animal
  • Bonus Lesson 3: (CCC) Explore patterns

• Elaborate:
  • Ideas for projects students can complete to show what they’ve learned.

• Evaluate:
  • Performance Expectation #1 – Qualitative Assessment Sorting weather cards
  • Performance Expectation #2 – Quantitative Assessment analyzing data from a weather chart
  • Performance Expectation #3 – Weather Data using Patterns
• Student response sheets
• Answer keys
• Teaching notes
• Digital resources

Your students will love learning about this science concept. They'll be out of their seats, engaged in scientific discussions and exploring earth science concepts.

This earth science unit uses manipulatives and materials readily available in most classrooms.