Kindergarten
Unit 2: Wild about WEATHER
Essential Question: How does weather affect US?
Project Description: Weather affects our daily lives. We change what we wear and what we do because of the weather. In this project, students observe and record the daily weather and explore ways it affects us. Students ask questions about weather forecasting to one of San Diego's finest meteorologists, Jodi Kodesh. They compare and contrast weather and extreme weather and learn the importance of preparing for weather. Students showcase their learning by performing a live weather forecast for their school community.
Next Generation Science Standards
Performance Expectations
K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time. [Clarification Statement: Examples of qualitative observations could include descriptions of the weather (such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, and warm); examples of quantitative observations could include numbers of sunny, windy, and rainy days in a month. Examples of patterns could include that it is usually cooler in the morning than in the afternoon and the number of sunny days versus cloudy days in different months.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment of quantitative observations limited to whole numbers and relative measures such as warmer/cooler.]
K-ESS3-2. Ask questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather.* [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on local forms of severe weather.]
K-PS3-1. Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface. [Clarification Statement: Examples of Earth’s surface could include sand, soil, rocks, and water] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment of temperature is limited to relative measures such as warmer/cooler.]
K-PS3-2. Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of structures could include umbrellas, canopies, and tents that minimize the warming effect of the sun.
ONLINE Learning Resources
The Calendar and Resource Slides have been adjusted for online learning for the 2020-2021 school year, however detailed lesson plans have not been created for online learning.
*Unit 2 is inspired by CA Science Framework IS3: Weather Patterns.
Written by: Lacy Szuwalski and Zoë Randall