Air and Weather
Grades K-2
Description
Hands-on activities help students learn the concepts of weather including wind speed, cloud types,
temperature and the water cycle. Students will have the opportunity to use different weather “tools”
ranging from anemometers to simple flags as they compare weather observations between the prairie,
woods, or pond habitats. We’ll also visit our Science on a Sphere to view earth from space as we learn
about Earth, water vapor, clouds and view real time weather satellite images.
Objectives
This program helps meet objectives within the FOSS: Air and Weather Module (Grades 1-2) and Trees
and Weather (Grade K). It also meets other State and National Standards. Please see the next page for
more details.
1. Measure and record air temperature using thermometers in two distinct habitats.
FOSS: Use weather instruments, including a thermometer, to measure air conditions.
Observe weather by using senses and simple tools.
2. Measure wind speed using an anemometer.
FOSS: Use weather instruments, including an anemometer, to measure air conditions.
Observe weather by using senses and simple tools.
3. Be able to describe range and wind speed identified by the Beaufort scale.
FOSS: Discover properties of air by observing interactions of air with objects.
Observe weather by using senses and simple tools.
4. Name one of the three main types of clouds.
FOSS: Observe and describe daily weather; record observations using pictures, words, and data.
5. Explain how regular phenological observations and record keeping such as those kept by Aldo
Leopold and his family at their shack increase our understanding of weather.
Foss: Observe and record seasonal changes to living things.
Vocabulary
*Adapt
*Air
*Anemometer
*Atmosphere
*Beaufort Scale
*Condensation
*Cirrus Clouds
*Cloud
*Cumulus Clouds
*Degrees Celsius
*Degrees Fahrenheit
*Evaporation
*Hibernate
*Hurricane
*Meteorologist
*Migrate
NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards
FOSS: Full Option Science Standards
*Monitor
*Overcast
*Partly Cloudy
*Phenology
*Precipitation
*Stratus Clouds
*System
*Temperature
*Thermometer
*Tornado
*Transpiration
*Water Vapor
*Weather
*Wind
WMAS: Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards
CC: Common Core
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Air and Weather
Grades K-2
Outline
I. Introduction
Naturalists will welcome the students and introduce Aldo Leopold and his connection to the
environment. They will then introduce the topic of air and weather and explain that students will learn
about weather and its effect on nature and everyday life.
II. Water Cycle and the Weather
Naturalists will demonstrate the water cycle and its importance to weather using hands-on
demonstrations. They will also discuss the impact weather has on nature using our study mounts. To
help better students understanding of cloud types, we will also have the students help with a hands-on
demonstration to differentiate between Cirrus, Stratus, and Cumulus clouds.
NGSS: 2-ESS2-3
WMAS: Science - C
III. NOAA Satellite Data Sets
Students will have the opportunity to see Earth’s weather system in action on our NOAA’s Science on a
Sphere. With live weather data images and animated historical data sets, students will learn what
causes the weather and how meteorologists study it.
NGSS: K-PS3-1, K-ESS3-2, 2-ESS2-3
WMAS: Science – A, E
Social Studies – A
CC: RI.K.1, RI.2.1
IV. Weather Observations
Students will go outdoors to use weather recording instruments including an anemometer and
thermometer to observe and record the day’s weather data. They will compare at least two different
habitat’s observations to see what can affect the weather we experience.
NGSS: K-PS3-1, K-ESS2-1
WMAS: Science – C, E
CC: K.CC, K.MD.A.1, K.MD.A.2
V. Conclusion
Naturalists will review with the students why it is important to keep weather records and review
highlights of the trip.
PLEASE NOTE: Some activities may change or be moved indoors due to inclement weather.
Alternate activites may include:
1. Phenology and Aldo Leopold
Students will visit our replica of the Leopold family shack and discuss what the Leopold’s family
phenological records have shown us about our weather and climate.
2. Water Cycle Puppet Show
Naturalists will perform a puppet show that follows a water drop on a journey through the
water cycle. This will help students learn the vocabulary associated with the water cycle.
3. Hands-on Water Cycle
Similar to the Water Cycle and Weather exploration above, stations will be set up for the
students to rotate through and participate in. Each station will show a different aspect of the
water cycle such as Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation and Precipitation. They will then
discuss how these play a part in our weather.
NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards
FOSS: Full Option Science Standards
WMAS: Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards
CC: Common Core
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Air and Weather
Grades K-2
Standards Met
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
K. Weather and Climate
K-PS3-1. Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.
K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over
time.
ESS2.D: Weather and Climate – Weather is the combination of sunlight, wind, snow
or rain, and temperature in a particular region at a particular time. People measure
these conditions to describe and record weather and to notice patterns over time.
K-ESS3-2. Ask questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to
prepare for, and respond to, severe weather.
ESS3.B: Natural Hazards – Some kinds of severe weather are more likely than others in a
given region. Weather scientists forecast severe weather so that the
communities can prepare for and respond to these events.
Science and Engineering Practices:
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations – Make observations to collect data that can
be used to make comparisons.
Analyzing and Interpreting Data – Analyzing data in K-2 builds on prior experiences and
progresses to collecting, recording and sharing observations.
Crosscutting Concepts:
Patterns – Patterns in the natural world can be observed, used to describe phenomena,
and used as evidence.
Cause and Effect – Events have causes that generate observable patterns.
2. Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth
2-ESS2-3: Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid
or liquid.
ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes – Water is found in the ocean,
rivers, lakes and ponds. Water exists as solid ice and in liquid form.
Science and Engineering Practices:
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions – Constructing explanations and
designing solutions in K-2 builds on prior experiences and progresses to the use of
evidence and ideas in constructing evidence-based accounts of natural phenomena and
designing solutions.
NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards
FOSS: Full Option Science Standards
WMAS: Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards
CC: Common Core
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Air and Weather
Grades K-2
(NGSS Continued)
Crosscutting Concepts:
Patterns: Patterns in the natural world can be observed, used to
describe phenomena, and used as evidence.
Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards (WMAS)
Standards for Science
Standard A: Students will understand there are unifying themes: systems, order, organization,
and interactions; evidence, models, and explanations; constancy, change and measurement;
evolution, equilibrium, and energy; form and function among scientific disciplines.
Standard C: Students will investigate using scientific methods and tools, revise their personal
understanding to accommodate knowledge, and communicate these understandings to others.
Standard E: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the structure and systems of earth
and other bodies in the universe and of their interactions.
E.4.5 Describe the weather commonly found in Wisconsin in terms of clouds,
temperature, humidity and forms of precipitation, and the changes that occur over
time, including seasonal changes.
Standards for Social Studies Introduction
Standard A: Geography: People, Places, and Environments – Students will learn about
geography through the relationships among people, places, and environments.
A.4.6. Identify and distinguish between predictable environmental changes, such as
weather patterns and seasons, and unpredictable changes such as floods and droughts,
and describe the social and economic effects of these changes.
Common Core (CC)
ELA/Literacy
RI.K.1: With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
R1.2.1: Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why and how to
demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
Mathematics
K.CC: Counting and Cardinality.
K.MD.A.1: Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight.
K.MD.A.2: Directly compare two objects with measurable attributes in common, to see which
object has more or less of that attribute, and describe the difference.
NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards
FOSS: Full Option Science Standards
WMAS: Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards
CC: Common Core
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