UNT Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Subject Area:
Kathryn Jones
Earth Science
Date:11/13/12
Grade Level:
District:
4 Unit Title:
School: Ginnings
Lesson Title: Weather and
Climate
TEKS:

(8) Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among the Sun,
Earth, and Moon system. The student is expected to:
o (A) differentiate between weather and climate;
Big Idea
 Students will be able to explain the difference between weather and climate.
Learning Objective(s):
Working individually the learner will be able to explain the difference between weather and climate with 100% accuracy.
Working individually the learner will be able to create a model of a climate with 100% accuracy.
Assessment:


Models of Climates
Quiz
Engage
5 E Teaching Model:
Teacher writes the TEK on the board along with some essential questions.
What is weather?
What is climate?
What is precipitation?
How are weather and climate related?
Teacher will show a video clip of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGGjhg2k7t0
Teacher will lead a class discussion of the video. Teacher will ask students, “What was happening in the movie?”,
“What was falling from the sky?”, “Could that really happen?”
Together as a class we will create a KWL (Know-Want to know-Learned) Chart. Students will make the same chart
in their Science Journals. The chart will be done on the board so all the students can see. Students can bring their
journals and move to the carpet to see. We will fill in the K and W sections.
Explore
Weather
Students will collect and record the local weather for a week. Students will collect data every hour while at school.
Students will fill in information into collection chart. Students will use this information the following week to create
charts of their data. Charts will be handed out on the first day. Students are responsible for keeping up with their
chart. Teacher will show example of chart and explain how students are to fill it in.
Climate
1. Graph the Climate Data: In your Weather Learning Log, you are going to create a comparison chart that
displays both the average monthly temperature over one year in the form of a Line graph and average
monthly precipitation over one year in the form of a Bar graph. Label the axis as shown in this example.
When you graph the data, use the monthly averages of the temperature and precipitation from the links
below:
(NOTE: If you have access to a spreadsheet program like Excel, you can copy and paste the data directly
into the document)
o www.weather.com --> Enter your city --> Select "Averages and Records".
2. Temperature
o Did the average temperature you recorded in Activity 3 fall within the range of averages for the
month?
o Which month had the highest temperature? The lowest?
o What was the average temperature for the year?
o How does the line graph for the annual temperature compare with the temperature line graph you
made in Activity 4? Be specific.
3. Precipitation
o Was the total amount of precipitation you recorded during Activity 3 representative of the average for
that month?
o Which month had the most precipitation? The least?
o What was the total precipitation for the year?
o How does the bar graph for the annual precipitation compare with the precipitation bar graph you
made in Activity 4? Be specific.
Explain
The teacher has the class circle up on the carpet. The teacher asks the questions that were written on the board in
the Engage Section. The teacher asks the questions and waits the appropriate wait time before calling on students
to answer. Call on 2-3 students for each question. “Do you agree with what _____ said?” “Why or why not?”
“Would you like to add anything?”
What is weather? The current conditions of a place (rain, temp, humidity, wind, etc.)
What is climate? Is the continuous conditions of a place that happen over years
What is precipitation? Snow, sleet, rain, hail
How are weather and climate related? Climate is the weather of a place over a long period of time (years)
Teacher will show a short PowerPoint about weather and climate to students
Together we will talk about weather and climate and fill in the last section of our chart from the Engage section of
the lesson.
Elaborate
Students will create a map of the world that is colored and labeled with appropriate climates. Students will have all
continents and oceans labeled and a key for climate colors. Students will pick 3 cities outside the U.S. and 1 in the
U.S. other than the city we live in to research their climate and report on how the weather is in those cities.
Students will need to be prepared to share this with the class.
Evaluate
Students will take a short quiz. Teacher will pass out the quiz after explaining what the students are to do when
they have completed their quiz. Students will not talk until the last quiz has been turned in. After the quiz students
will be working on creating their model of a particular climate. Not all students will have the same climate. Teacher
will walk students through the rubric, explaining each section requirements. Teacher will have rubrics available after
the quiz.
Language Modification(s):
Bigger print on handouts, Spanish Science Dictionary (Spanish speakers), materials labeled, subtitles on video, and
translate if needed.
Special Needs Modifications:
Notes/directions printed out ahead of time for students, bigger font or certain colors used for text, partners, longer time
to finish, and multiple choice on short answer questions on the quiz.
Materials and Resources:
Computer(s), internet, Smartboard, speakers, construction paper, markers, pencils, colored pencils, glue, scissors, tape,
quizzes, climate books, notebook paper, Science journals.
Technology:
Computer, internet, Smartboard, Excel and speakers.
Name:__________________________
Class:________________
Weather and Climate Quiz
1. How are weather and climate related?
2. What is the difference between a weather and climate?
3. Name 3 types of weather.
4. List the different climates
5. Bonus: How does a food web change in different climates?
Date:__________________
Weather and Climate Quiz ANSWER KEY
1. How are weather and climate related?
The climate of an area is affected by the weather. Ex: a Dessert has very little rain and is hot and dry.
2. What is the difference between a weather and climate?
Weather is the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc.
Climate is the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air
pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a
series of years.
3. Name 3 types of precipitation.
Rain, snow, sleet, hail
4. List the different climates
Tundra, Savannah, Dessert, Grasslands, Rainforest, Forest
5. Bonus: How does a food web change in different climates?
There are different animals and plants that live in different climates creating different food webs.
Scientific Drawings : Climate Model
Teacher Name: Ms. Jones
Student Name:
CATEGORY
________________________________________
Weight for Each Category
4
3
2
1
Title
X1 (up to 4 pts available)
Title is informative,
centered, and larger than
other text.
Title is informative Title is informative The title is
and larger than
and centered.
incomplete and
other text.
does not clearly
indicate what
organism is
pictured.
Model Accuracy
X3 (up to 12 points available)
95% or more of the assigned
structures are drawn or
constructed accurately and
are recognizable. All
assigned structures are
labeled accurately.
94-85% of the
assigned structures
are drawn or
constructed
accurately and are
recognizable. All
assigned structures
are labeled
accurately.
94-85% of the
assigned structures
are drawn or
constructed
accurately and are
recognizable. 9485% of the
assigned structures
are labeled
accurately.
Less than 85% of
the assigned
structures are
drawn AND/OR
labeled
accurately.
Knowledge Gained X3 (up to 12 points available)
When asked about 10 items
in an unlabeled drawing of
the same plant or animal, the
student can identify all of
them accurately.
When asked about
10 items in an
unlabeled drawing
of the same plant or
animal, the student
can identify 8-9 of
them accurately.
When asked about
10 items in an
unlabeled drawing
of the same plant or
animal, the student
can identify 6-7 of
them accurately.
When asked
about 10 items in
an unlabeled
drawing of the
same plant or
animal, the
student can
identify 5 or less
of them
accurately.
Spelling
X2 (up to 8 points available)
All words are spelled
correctly in the title, labels
and caption/description.
All common words
are spelled
correctly in the
title, labels and
description. 1-2
scientific words
may be misspelled.
75% of the words
are spelled
correctly in the
title, labels, and
description.
Fewer than 80%
of the words are
spelled correctly
in the title,
labels, and
description.
Name:_Ms. Jones______
Weather Collection Chart
Date: 11/21/12
8 am
Temperature
50
Precip.
None
Wind
5 mph
Observations
Ex: Cloudy, Sunny,
etc
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
Date: 11/21/12
8 am
Temperature
50
Precip.
None
Wind
5 mph
Observations
Ex: Cloudy, Sunny,
etc
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
Date: 11/21/12
8 am
Temperature
50
Precip.
None
Wind
5 mph
Observations
Ex: Cloudy, Sunny,
etc
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
Date: 11/21/12
8 am
Temperature
50
Precip.
None
Wind
5 mph
Observations
Ex: Cloudy, Sunny,
etc
Temperature
50
Precip.
None
Wind
5 mph
Observations
Ex: Cloudy, Sunny,
etc
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
Date: 11/21/12
8 am
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm