Rockaway Township Public Schools
Science Literacy Unit Plan
Earth System Science: Grade 1 - Weather
Unit Title:
Weather Patterns
21st Century Theme:
Time Frame:
1st Marking Period
9.1 - Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Communication
Standard:
5.1 Science Practices: Science is both a body of knowledge and an evidence-based, model-building enterprise that continually
extends, refines, and revises knowledge. The four Science Practices strands encompass the knowledge and reasoning skills that
students must acquire to be proficient in science.
5.4 Earth System Science: The Earth operates as a set of complex and dynamic interconnected systems, and is a part of the all
encompassing system of the Universe.
Strands:
(5.1) A. Understand Scientific Explanations:
Students understand core concepts and principles of
science and use measurement and observation tools
to assist in categorizing, representing, and
interpreting the natural and designed world.
(5.1) B. Generate Scientific Evidence Through
Active Investigations: Students master the
conceptual, mathematical, physical, and
computational tools that need to be applied when
constructing and evaluating claims.
(5.1) C. Reflect on Scientific Knowledge: Scientific
knowledge builds on itself over time.
(5.1) D. Participate Productively in Science: The
growth of scientific knowledge involves critique and
communication, which are social practices that are
governed by a core set of values and norms.
(5.4) F. Weather and Climate: Earth’s weather and
climate system are the result of complex
interactions between land, ocean, ice and
atmosphere.
Cumulative Progress Indicator Number(s):
5.1.4.A.2 - Use outcomes of investigations to build and refine
questions, models, and explanations.
5.1.4.C.1 - Monitor and reflect on one’s own knowledge regarding
how ideas change over time.
5.1.4.D.1 - Actively participate in discussions about student data,
questions, and understandings.
5.1.4.D.4 - Handle and treat organisms humanely, responsibly, and
ethically.
5.4.2.F.1- Observe and document daily weather conditions and
discuss how the weather influences your activities for the day.
Rockaway Township Public Schools
Science Literacy Unit Plan
Earth System Science: Grade 1 - Weather
Rockaway Township Goals:
Current weather conditions include air movement, clouds, and precipitation.
Weather conditions affect our daily lives.
Essential Question
How do changes in one part of an Earth system
affect other parts of the system?
Unit Learning Targets:
The Students will be able to…
Describe current weather conditions and
recognize how those conditions affect our daily
lives.
Describe daily and seasonal changes and
patterns in the weather.
Observe features of the natural world in their
local environment.
Develop an interest in air and weather.
Experience air as a material that takes up space
and can be compressed into a smaller space.
Observe and describe changes that occur in
weather over time.
Become familiar with instruments used by
meteorologists to monitor air and weather
conditions.
Compare daily and seasonal weather conditions
using bar graphs.
Enduring Understandings
Earth’s components form systems. These systems continually interact at
different rates of time, affecting the Earth regionally and globally.
Suggested Activities:
Including Differentiated Strategies (DI)
FOSS: Air and Weather Kit
Investigation 1, Part 1
Investigation 2, Parts 1-4
Investigation 4, Part 1
* Note: Investigation 4 will be continued and completed in the
Astronomy unit.
Use a thermometer to measure temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
Describe how hot or cold an object or weather event feels by using a
thermometer.
Organize weather data on graphs and on long-term data collections
charts (could be monthly or weekly).
Rockaway Township Public Schools
Science Literacy Unit Plan
Earth System Science: Grade 1 - Weather
Resource Materials:
Assessments:
Discovery Education –
www.discoveryeducation.com
FOSS: Air and Weather Kit
Houghton Mifflin Science Module: Unit D
*Note: To be used to assess students after completing specified investigations
from the FOSS: Air & Weather Kit.
Sandra and Jan were flying to New Jersey from China. They looked
down, as they were about to land and observed the clouds pictured
below. (Located in NJCCCS Classroom Applications Document)
1. Will they need to use their umbrellas to get to their cars? Explain
why or why not.
source: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov
District Assessment to be developed in year 2 of the 5 year cycle
Rockaway Township Public Schools
Science Literacy Unit Plan
Earth System Science: Grade 1 - Weather
Technology Integration:
Interactive websites
New unit (September 2011) as per new NJCCCS
District Assessment to be developed in year 2 of
the 5 year cycle
Related Literature:
FOSS Science Stories
Vocabulary:
air
air resistance
breezes
cirrus
cold
cool
cumulus
degrees
Fahrenheit
direction
east
fall
freezing
gentle
graph
hot
instrument
meteorologist
moderate
monitor
north
overcast
partly cloudy
precipitation
rain gauge
rainy
season
snowy
south
spring
stratus
strong
summer
sun
sunny
symbol
temperature
thermometer
tools
warm
weather
west
wind vane
winter