Cara Hunt
Lesson Plan Template
Topic: Weather Measurements and Tools
Date: September 30, 2009
NSES:
Grade level: 4
 Content Standard D: As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop understanding of changes of earth and
the sky
 Content Standard G: As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop understanding of science as a human
endeavor
SOL:
Subject: Science
 4.1:The student will plan and conduct investigations in which
a) distinctions are made among observations, conclusions, inferences, and predictions
 4.6: The student will investigate and understand how weather conditions and phenomena occur and can be predicted. Key
concepts include
a) weather measurements and meteorological tools (air pressure – barometer, wind speed --anemometer, rainfall – rain gauge,
and temperature – thermometer); and
b) weather phenomena (fronts, clouds, and storms).
Daily Question: What is weather, and how do we measure weather phenomena?
Procedures for Learning Experience
Guiding Questions
*Engagement: Read Cloudy With A Chance
of Meatballs and discuss what is weather
*Exploration: Go outside and observe
weather daily: record temperature,
wind/rain/sun/clouds/storms
What is weather?
What is today’s weather
like? What do you notice
about today’s weather
compared with the day
before?
**Template is attached
Materials
Needed
Book for read
loud
Science
journal,
pencil
Evaluation
(Assessment)
None
Approximate
Time Needed
10-15 minutes
Check for
completion
10-15 minutes
daily
2
*Explanation: Present the four properties of
weather (air pressure, humidity, wind, and
temperature) with definitions and tools used
to measure each of these aspects
What is weather? What can Weather tools Daily observations
we observe and measure
in science journals,
about weather?
worksheet
45 minutes
Extension: Use weather tools to actively
measure the properties of weather in groups
of 4. Students receive a thermometer,
barometer, anemometer, and rain gauge (we
will leave these outside if it is a rainy day)
How do you measure
weather?
45 minutes
Science
journals,
pencil
Recorded
observations and
measurements in
Science journals
Notes: This lesson is an introduction to a unit on weather. By explaining the properties of weather and how to observe and measure
these properties, students have a concrete and abstract understanding of what weather really is. After these initial lessons, students will
continue to record weather observations in their Science journals without weather tools. Follow up lessons will include lessons about
types of clouds and weather phenomena. To account for differentiation, I will assign students to groups based on need- higher ability
students will be placed with students who need more support and guidance. These students will help each other understand how to use
tools and new ways to perceive weather as each student has his/her own perspective. In addition, the opportunity to use weather tools
provides a connection from the abstract to the concrete, which will help engrain the concept of weather properties and tools in students
of beyond level, average, and approaching level learners. Hands-on activities are useful for all students.