LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Temperature Graphs

In the following lesson students will locate and record daily high temperatures for several major cities. This data will then be displayed on line graphs. Students will choose one city, and based on its high temperatures, write a paragraph describing appropriate clothing and activities for that location. They will draw a picture of themselves dressed in the clothing and participating in an activity they described.

A lesson plan for grade 3 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Mathematics

By Kaye Clark

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • relate temperatures to everyday situations.
  • gather, organize, and display data.
  • use graphs to make predictions.
  • organize and write a paragraph on a specific topic.
  • demonstrate creativity and skill in drawing.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

3 hours

Materials/resources

daily newspaper (for at least 7 days)
graph/grid paper
drawing paper
crayons, colored pencils

Technology resources

No computers are needed for the basic activities of this lesson. If internet connection is available, the web sites listed below can be used to locate data. You can use a graphing program, such as MECC Graph, to display data, and a word processing program, such as ClarisWorks, for the accompanying paragraph. (Illustrations could also be done on ClarisWorks.)

Pre-activities

none

Activities

  1. Students record the daily high temperatures for 5 major world cities for one week.
  2. Students graph the different temperatures.
  3. Students will choose a favorite city and decide what clothing and activities would be appropriate for that location based on their temperature graphs. (Each student can choose his/her own city.)
  4. Students write a paragraph describing what they would wear and what activities they would do in their city, based on the high temperatures they found.
  5. Students draw themselves dressed appropriately and participating in the activity they described.

Assessment

Evaluate graphs-sufficient data collected, correctly displayed and labeled?

Paragraphs and illustrations should match location chosen.

Supplemental information

None

Related websites

http://www.wral-tv.com
http://www.weather.com

Comments

This activity is a good one to use after students have had experience reading and recording various temperatures ,using both Fahrenheit and Celsius thermometers. Previous discussions on what temperatures would be considered “hot” or “warm” or “cold” would be helpful. Map skills can also be incorporated as students locate their cities on a world and/or U.S. map.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Visual Arts Education (2001)

Grade 3

  • Goal 1: The learner will develop critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness necessary for understanding and producing art.
    • Objective 1.02: Apply knowledge and concepts gained across the curriculum as a source of ideas for art.
    • Objective 1.06: Refine images of self, pets, family, friends, and environment.

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, or viewing by:
      • setting a purpose.
      • previewing the text.
      • making predictions.
      • asking questions.
      • locating information for specific purposes.
      • making connections.
      • using story structure and text organization to comprehend.
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
      • present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
      • discuss.
      • sustain conversation on a topic.
      • share information and ideas.
      • recount or narrate.
      • answer open-ended questions.
      • report information on a topic.
      • explain own learning.

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will recognize and use standard units of metric and customary measurement.
    • Objective 2.02: Estimate and measure using appropriate units.
      • Capacity (cups, pints, quarts, gallons, liters).
      • Length (miles, kilometers).
      • Mass (ounces, pounds, grams, kilograms).
      • Temperature (Fahrenheit, Celsius).
  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including circle graphs and tables) to solve problems.