2nd Grade exploring our weather

Scope and sequence

Suggested Time Frame: 2nd Grade Science Curriculum Map

• 1st Nine Weeks- Consult the 2nd Grade Science Curriculum Map for specific details.

The 2nd Grade Science Curriculum Map outlines the following information:

• 1. Recommended pacing, scope, and sequence for each unit.

  2. Alignment with standards, conceptual understandings, and performance indicators

  3. Links to Unit Concept Storyboard Maps, Content and SEP Support Documents, and Curriculum Guides

  4. Details for Evidence of Understanding, Essential Learning Experiences, and Suggested Learning Engagements

  5. Where appropriate, alignment with specific FOSS, DSM, GEMS, and STC kit Activities and Investigations

Learning goals, skills, and concepts

Learning Goals

• Students will gather local daily weather data and analyze, interpret, and chart their data to describe local weather conditions. Weather data includes but is not limited to:

  • Wind

  • Precipitation

  • Temperature

  • Cloud Cover

  • Sky Conditions

• Students will use their local weather data to look for trends and patterns in order to predict daily and seasonal weather conditions and changes.

• Students will conduct observations of objects affected by wind in order to develop models that compare windy conditions with non-windy conditions.

• Students will gather information about severe weather events in order to describe the events and explain why certain safety precautions are necessary. Severe weather events include but are not limited to:

  • Hurricanes

  • Tornadoes

  • Thunderstorms

  • Floods

Skills and Concepts

• Analyze and Interpret Data- SEP Support Document

• Develop and Use Models- SEP Support Document

• Obtain and Communicate Information- SEP Support Document

• Weather Conditions- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Daily and Seasonal Patterns- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Wind- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Severe Weather- Essential Knowledge Support Document

Science Concept Storyboard

This link will take you to a print-friendly version of the science concept storyboard.

Lessons and activities

Weather Unit Planning Support Doc

Potential Instructional Strategies/Lessons/Examples

• Air and Weather (FOSS Kit) Investigations 1, 2, 3, 4

• Pearson SC Interactive Science Textbook:

  • Inquiry Warm-Up page 4(2.E.2A.1; 2.S.1A.4)

  • Chapter 1, lesson 1 pages 6-11, Quick Lab pg. 7(2.E.2A.1, 2.E.2A.3; 2.S.1A.2,2.S.1A.4)

  • Chapter 1, lesson 2 pages 12-17, Quick Lab pg. 13(2.E.2A.1; 2.S.1A.4)

  • Chapter 1, lesson 3 pages 18-25, Quick Lab pg. 19 (2.E.2A.1, 2.E.2A.2; 2.S.1A.4)

  • Chapter 1, lesson 4 pages 26-33, Quick Lab pg. 27 (2.E.2A.4; 2.S.1A.2, 2.S.1A.8)

  • Lab Investigation pages 34-35 (2.E.2A.1; 2.S.1A.4)

• AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 2nd Grade

  • Watching the Weather

  • Station Precipitation

  • Air Temperature

  • Calendar Connections

  • Weather Windows

  • Watching the Weather

  • Wind Detectives

  • The Wind Blows

  • Which Way?

  • Severe Weather Safety

• What’s the Weather Like? (2.E.2A.1 & 2)

  • This lesson is designed to be used throughout the weather unit as a way for students to observe and record weather data every day. This data collection can be used by students to create a forecast or meteorologist simulation.

Additional Resources

• Severe Weather Resource (2.E.2A.4)

  • This link will take you to a website, www.ready.gov/severe-weather, that has links to various resources and information about various severe weather events. This can be used as part of a learning experience to address the 2nd grade Weather performance indicator 2.E.2A.4: Obtain and Communicate Information about severe weather conditions to explain why certain safety precautions are necessary.

• Disaster Preparedness Activity Book (2.E.2A.4)

  • This link will take you to Disney Mikey and Friends digital book that presents information about different types of natural disasters and what to do about them. This could serve as a model for a class project to create their own Severe Weather Awareness Project (book, PSA, website, infomercial, etc...)

• Young Meteorologist (2.E.2A.4)

  • • This link will take you to an interactive board game where Owlie (a young owl interested in becoming a meteorologist) must navigate a game board with information about different severe weather events.

• Owlie Skywarn's Weather -Ready Kid's Page (2.E.2A.4)

  • This link will take you the National Weather Service kid's page with links to various severe weather games and information sources.

• Weather Wiz Kids (2.E.2A)

  • This link will take you to Weather Wiz Kids, a great site full of weather information presented in student-friendly language. While this should not be the only way students learn about and investigate the weather, it can help add important background knowledge to help them construct explanations using their authentic data. This site also has links to weather-related experiments that might also connect to specific standards.

• Pearson Interactive Science STEM Activity Book

• Pearson Interactive Science Content Leveled Readers

• Pearson Interactive Science REALIZE Online component

  • NBC Learn Videos: https://www.pearsonrealize.com/community/nbclearn/browse

    • Tracking Severe Weather (2.E.2A.4)

    • When Nature Strikes: Tornadoes (2.E.2A.4)

    • When Nature Strikes: Hurricanes (2.E.2A.4)

    • When Nature Strikes: Wildfires (2.E.2A.4)

    • When Nature Strikes: Floods (2.E.2A.4)

    • Earth’s Weather (2.E.2)

    • How to Build a School to Withstand a Tornado (2.E.2A.4)

    • Tips to Manage the Severe Cold (2.E.2A.4)

• BrainPop Jr.

  • Temperature

  • Seasons

• PebbleGo (requires a subscription)

• What’s the weather song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmSKsyJ15yg (2.E.2)

  • This song can be used to inspire children to observe the weather around them.

• Seasons song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZjpI6fgYSY (2.E.2A.2)

  • This video can be used to review their knowledge of seasons and to introduce the different types of weather that can be occur in each season.

• Kid’s Hazard Quiz-http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/kidsquiz/#/ (2.E.2A.4)

  • Students can take this quiz as a pre-assessment to see what they already know about severe weather. It could also be used as a tool for a whole group discussion.

• Miami Museum of Science: How Does a Hurricane Work? www.miamisci.org/hurricane (2.E.2A.3, 2.E.2A.4)

• Field Study ideas

  • Dr. Doug Scary Skies-Be Prepared, Not Scared (Weather) (http://www.bluemarblescience.com/index.php?ID=137)

  • Invite a meteorologist to come in and talk about weather

• Books

  • Seymour Simon Books: Weather, Tornados, Hurricanes

  • The Cloud Book. Tomie de Paola. Holiday House (1985).

  • Cloud Dance. Thomas Locker. Silver Whistle (2000).

  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Judi Barrett. Aladdin (1982).

  • Come on Rain. Karen Hesse. Scholastic Press (1999).

  • Down Comes the Rain. Franklyn M. Branley. HarperTrophy (1997).

  • Feel the Wind. Arthur Dorros. HarperCollins (1989).

  • Flash, Crash, Rumble and Roll. Franklyn M. Branley. HarperTrophy (1999).

  • I Face the Wind. Vicki Cobb. HarperCollins (2003).

  • Thundercake. Patricia Polacco. The Putnam and Grossett Group (1990).

  • Weather series: A Cloudy Day, A Rainy Day, A Snowy Day, A Sunny Day, A Windy Day. Robin Nelson. Lerner Classroom.

  • Weather Words and What They Mean. Gail Gibbons. Scholastic (1990).

  • What Will the Weather Be? Lynda Dewitt. Scott Foresman (1993)

• National Geographic Video Resource:

  • As with any video resource, teachers should carefully preview and vet any videos before showing them to students.