Lesson and Lab Ideas for 4th Grade Weather
1. Keep a class weather chart of the temperature, barometer reading, humidity, cloud
type, precipitation. Much of this information can be graphed to show change over time.
Ask students to analyze this data and determine what their prediction is for the next
day’s weather. Do this regularly as students learn more about how the tools and
processes of weather work. In doing this, students cover many of the indicators in the
standard.
2. Build weather tools. As you have students build the tools, process with them how
these tools work and why they are important for weather prediction. Use the materials
on weather tools handed out in SETS class to inform your discussions.
3. Students design a weather report format and record each other forecasting the
weather. Each team takes a different day. Compare student forecasts to professional
forecasts. Keep a chart of outcomes and lead a discussion as to why professional
forecasts might be more accurate.
4. Observe clouds and have students keep photos or pictures they have drawn of
different cloud types. Discuss the relative height of different types of clouds. Students
will need to memorize the names and relative heights of different cloud types.
5. Create a cloud in a jar to show how particles in the air help in cloud formation. An
inquiry approach to this might be to ask students what types of particles they might find
in the air and challenge them to create a cloud in a bottle using their best guess particle.
Some choices might be dust, smoke, leaf bits, or other tiny particles.
6. Challenge students to come up with a demonstration that shows that air is a
substance, it takes up space, moves from one place to another, and can be measured.
Discuss the different ways we measure air such as its temperature, speed and direction
of movement, humidity, and density.
7. Create a table with data on different types of weather which includes degrees of
severity. (Examples below – note this isn’t every weather type you could list, nor the
only way you could design your table.)
Type of Weather
rain
snow
no rain
Mild
shower, drizzle
snow flurries
a few days of no
rain
Moderate
rainstorm
snowstorm
several weeks of
little rain
Severe
thunderstorm
blizzard
months or years of
little rain
8. Lead a discussion of how weather affects our lives and how it affects the world
around us. Include how knowing what the weather is likely to be can mitigate these
effects.
Videos you might like to use:
Note: many videos, including the Bill Nye series and the Magic School Bus are only
available from UIMC+ eMedia. You can reach them through your UEN page. If you
don’t have a UEN page, you can get on easily by visiting UEN.org. Follow the links to
create your page. The UIMC+ eMedia link is at the bottom of your personal page.
Weather (UIMC+ eMedia)
Weather on the Move (Digital Science Online through your UEN page)
Weather Around Us (Digital Science Online through your UEN page)
Bill Nye Wind (UIMC+ eMedia)
Bill Nye Storms (UIMC+ eMedia)
Bill Nye Water Cycle (a good review and good information about how the water cycle is
driven by weather and the sun’s heat.) (UIMC+ eMedia)