Lacy Brown
ED 505
Summer 2011
Lesson Plan Title: Weather
Grade Level: 1st
Concept/Topic to Teach: Stormy Weather
Standards Addressed
SC(1) 8. Recognize daily changes in weather, including clouds, precipitation, and temperature.
Specific Objects:
-The students will learn about three types of storms; hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms.
-The students will make a tornado and describe their favorite type of storm.
Required Materials:
-graphic organizer
-markers
-paper
-pencils
-rubric
-vocabulary words
Books:
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Technology Resources:
-ELMO
-Mobi
-Computers
-Wiki
Anticipatory Set (Lead In):
The Teacher Will (TTW) have weather pictures on the ELMO. TTW ask the students, “Can you
tell me what these are pictures of?” TTW go through the different pictures and tell the students
what type of storm each picture shows. TTW say. “Today we are going to talk about weather
and different types of storms that are created through weather. Before we start, I am going to
read you a story called, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. After the teacher finishes the story
she will discuss it with the class. TTW say, “In this story, food fell from the sky. When it rains in
real life, does food fall from the sky?” TTW ask more questions such as, “Could this story really
happen? What type of story Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? What are different types of
weather do we see?”
Step-By-Step Procedures for Teaching the Lesson:
TTW have a graphic Organizer displayed on the ELMO. TTW write Tornados, Hurricanes, and
Thunderstorms. TTW ask the students what they know about the three storms. As a class they
will fill out the graphic organizer. TTW then go over weather terms; meteorologist, tornado,
hurricane, thunderstorms, damage, violent, frequent, predict, survive, and gradual. The
class will talk about each word and what it means. TTW talk about meteorologist is and what
they do in their job. TTW will tell the students that they will make predictions about the weather.
TTW then pull up the weather wiki. On the opening pages of the wiki is a weather forecast for
the local area. TTW discuss with the students the current weather and weather for the rest of
the week. TTW will then begin telling students about hurricanes. TTW show a short clip from
the hurricane page. TTW will then discuss hurricanes, how they are made, and how to stay safe
during a hurricane. TTW talk about the different category of hurricanes and how they get their
names. She will give students a chance to ask questions about hurricanes and then move on to
page two of the wiki, thunder and lightning. TTW show a short clip about lightning and then
begin talking about the storm. TTW talk about how frequent we see thunder and lightning and
how it can form out of nowhere. TTW also discuss how lightning is made and how to stay safe in
a thunderstorm. TTW then give students a chance to make lightning strike using the MOBI and
the interactive website located on the wiki. TTW give students a chance to ask questions about
lightning and then move to the last page on tornadoes. TTW show a short video clip on
tornadoes. She will discuss with the class how tornadoes form and how to stay safe during a
tornado. She will also discuss the warnings for a tornado with students. TTW will also talk to the
students about the different sizes a tornado can be and how they are rated. As a class they will
grow an interactive tornado using the link located on the wiki. She will then give students an
opportunity to ask questions about tornadoes.
Guided Practice/Monitoring:
TSW break into three groups. Groups will be formed based on students’ favorite type of storm.
Students will create a poster, brainstorming facts about their storm. TSW then (with the help of
the teacher) edit the wiki. They will find a picture of their storm and give facts they learned
during the weather lesson. Students will then add their facts and picture to the wiki. Students will
be graded on this assignment with a rubric.
Closure (reflect Anticipatory Set):
TTW do a quick review of the lesson. TTW ask, “What are meteorologists? What are tornadoes
and what are they made of? What are hurricanes and what are they made of? What is lightning
and how is it formed? How do you stay safe during a tornado, hurricane, and thunderstorm?
TTW will then go over the weather words again with the class. TSW then present their posters
and edits of the wiki to the class. TSW will be also given a participation grade for presenting
their topic.
Assessment Based on Objectives:
TSW be graded on their wiki page. TTW grade them using a rubric. This will show their
understanding of the lesson about weather. Students will edit the weather wiki with facts about
their storm with 80% accuracy.
Adaptations (For Students with Special Needs):
The ELL student will be assisted by their ELL teacher. Vocabulary words can also presented
with pictures. The ELL students will also be assisted by a peer buddy in their group.
Extensions (For Advanced Students):
TSW can create their own tornado in a jar. They can also be given their own wiki page and
research more in depth facts about the storm.
Possible connections to Other Subjects:
Vocabulary: learning the definitions of the amazing words
Social Studies: Learning about past storms and the damage they left behind.
Math: Students can graph the about of hurricanes and tornados from the year and compare
them.
Art- create a poster of their favorite storm
Reading- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an AR book, and students can take an AR test
on the story.
Language-Adjectives-Students can describe the different types of storms.
Writing-Students can write about their favorite storm and together create a class book.
Reflection:
The students love this lesson. They really enjoyed the wiki and how they could interact with it
and give it their final touch. The students enjoyed the comic relief of Cloudy with a Chance of
Meatballs and talking about what food they would like it to rain. Talking about how the different
storms formed was a little confusing, but the video clips helped them understand better. This
lesson should be followed by more weather lessons in order for students to completely
understand the subject of weather. Talking about how to stay safe was a very important part of
this lesson because these storms affect our area from time to time. It was important to inform
students but not scare them. I believe this was a great lesson and students’ retained a lot of the
information.