ESS.2.1.3

Carry out investigations to collect data and compare weather patterns that occur over time and relate observable patterns to time of day and time of year.

District Recommended Resources for 2nd Grade Science

Air & Weather Kit

Kit rental options are available. See your administrator.

Science Phenomena Resources

Other Phenomena Sites

Next Generation Science Standards YouTube Channel

Step 1: Lesson Standards & Learning Goals

NC K-12 Science Supporting Document Grade 2

The weather standards should be taught in the following order: ESS.2.1.1, ESS.2.1.4, ESS.2.1.3, and ESS.2.1.2
This standard focuses on carrying out investigations to collect data. Data should be collected and discussed multiple times over the course of the grading period in order to recognize daily and seasonal patterns.
(Data collection should happen throughout the school year, so that students can observe patterns. Temperature, rainfall, etc. data can be collected/recorded daily.)

Dimension 1:

Science and Engineering Practice: Plan and Carry Out Investigations: Students will plan and conduct an investigation collaboratively to gather data about weather events. Students will make observations (firsthand or from media) and/or measurements to collect data from weather events that can be used to show patterns in weather (NSTA SEP Matrix).

Dimension 2:

Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns, Energy and Matter

Dimension 3:

Disciplinary Core Ideas:

ESS2.D 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 the weather and to notice patterns over time (A Framework for K-12 Science Education).

Sample Essential Questions

How can we collect and compare data to determine weather patterns over time?
How was the weather yesterday/last week/last month compared to today? What do you think may have caused those similarities/changes?
What kind of weather can we expect to see in the spring/summer/autumn/winter? What evidence can you use to justify your answer?
What observable weather patterns can we identify over different times of the day and across different seasons?
How does the collection and analysis of weather data help us understand the relationship between weather events and the time of year?
How can we use the data we collect to predict future weather patterns or events?

Vocabulary

change
climate (introduce)
daily
patterns
seasons
weather

Students will be able to...

Conduct investigations to collect weather data over time.
Make observations and record weather conditions using appropriate tools and methods.
Compare - Finding similarities and differences between two or more objects, events, ideas, problems, or situations
Use data collected from investigations and observations to determine patterns in weather events.
Analyzing and Interpreting Data- Students record information and use observations (firsthand or from media) to describe patterns in weather. (Data collection should happen throughout the school year, so that students can observe patterns. Temperature, rainfall, etc. data can be collected/recorded daily.)
Engaging in Argument from Evidence- Students use data to evaluate claims about a weather-related cause and effect. (e.g., clouds are present when it is raining.)

Students will know...

Patterns can be short-term including how weather changes through the day, or long-term including how weather changes in the seasons.
Introduce: Climate refers to weather patterns over a long period of time, usually 30 years.
Each season is defined by its typical weather pattern.
Some places on Earth do not have four seasons like the US. (Ex. The polar regions and the tropical regions tend to have only two seasons.)

Step 2: Assessment

Formative Assessments

Writing Prompts

Weather Scientist:

Imagine you're a weather scientist who wants to learn more about how the weather changes over time.

How would you collect data about the weather each day?
What tools would you use to measure things like temperature, wind speed, or rainfall?
After collecting data for a month, how could you compare your information to see patterns?

Write a plan that explains the steps you would take to collect, organize, and compare your data to figure out the weather patterns. Don't forget to explain why it's important to study weather patterns and how they can help us in the future!

Weather Patterns:

Weather patterns can tell us a lot about how the climate is changing and help us prepare for different seasons. Imagine you are a meteorologist studying weather patterns over time.

How would you collect data on things like temperature, rainfall, and wind?
What tools or methods would you use to measure these things every day?
Once you've gathered your data for a few weeks or months, how would you organize and compare it to see patterns?

Write a detailed explanation of how you would collect and compare weather data, and why understanding weather patterns is important for our daily lives.

Mini Projects and Investigations

Create Your Own Weather Station STEM Challenge: Students can design and build their own simple weather stations using materials like thermometers, anemometers, rain gauges, and barometers to measure temperature, wind speed, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure. The students will use Consumables and a rubric for creating the station. The students objective is to be able to describe what they have created for their weather station. Students will use the Engineering Design Process and complete EDP template to guide their thinking.

EDP Template to come.

Tynker AI- Weather Simulation

Students can simulate different weathers using controls to show what would happen if certain conditions were to occur. Students will gain knowledge of Computer Science while applying weather skills. https://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/weather-control

https://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/weather-control-guide.pdf

Guiding Inquiry Questions to come.

Scratch Weather Coding

https://scratch.mit.edu/search/projects?q=weather

Students can use computer science to discover different features of science. There are several Scratch projects with weather simulations and reports. EDP Questions available upon request.

Guiding Inquiry Questions to come.

NCDPI Formative Assessment Examples

Grade 2 Samples

Culminating Activity

Create a unit long weather journal to include writing prompts, weather vocabulary, observations, and predictions. You will use Book Creator to collect your information. Using this information, you will take on the role of a meteorologist and create a 30 second to 1 minute weather report.

*Your DTLS contact person will be available to assist with Book Creator and recording the weather reports.