Rationale

This unit is titled Weather and is designed for a first grade classroom. There will be an
integration of different academic disciplines like reading, writing, and art within this science
unit. Students will be learning about the water cycle, clouds, precipitation, a general overview of
the four seasons, and natural disasters.
In the first lesson students will be introduced to the concept of weather through the water
cycle. This process will occur through the creation of a water cycle model and explicit
instruction by the educator. Next, focusing in on four specific cloud types, the students will learn
the characteristics of the clouds through literature information and creation of a class made
bulletin board. For the exploration of precipitation, the third lesson, students will be a part of an
inquiry experiment. With the overview of the four seasons, students will be participating in a
game about what to wear in certain temperatures and also by doing an inquiry. Lastly, the unit
will be closed with the topic of natural disasters and how to prepare for them by working
together in groups and using technology.
Standards:
With the use of the standards from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, students will be
collecting data and recording as they explore the different aspects of weather. They will also be
describing the changing and effects made with the seasons. They will be answering, and asking
questions about texts and discussions.
S.K-2.D.2.1.1: Identify weather variables (i.e., temperature, wind speed, wind direction, 6and
precipitation).
3.2.1.A1: Observe and describe the properties of liquids and solids. Investigate what happens
when solids are mixed with water and other liquids are mixed with water.
4.1.1 .E Describe the seasons and describe how the change of the seasons affects living
things.
4.2.1 .A Explain the path water takes as it moves through the water cycle.
C C 1.2.1 .A Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
S.K-2.D.1.3.2: Describe natural events that alter Earths surface (e.g., volcanic eruptions,
floods, hurricanes, earthquakes).
S.K-2.D.1.3.1: Identify features on Earths surface (e.g., lakes, rivers, oceans, mountains,
plains, volcanoes).
S.K-2.D.2.1.2: Identify how weather conditions affect daily life.

C C 1.5.1 B Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or

through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting
clarification if something is not understood.
This unit will help students better to understand the different aspects of weather. By the end of
the unit the students will be able to comprehend and describe the characteristics of the water
cycle, the four types of clouds, types of precipitation, the four seasons, and also natural disasters.
This information will help them recognize the world around them.