Browse lesson plans

Be the meteorologist

Students use internet data to plot the path of a hurricane over several days. At designated points, students will decide which areas of the coast to put under a hurricane warning and will justify their decisions. This lesson uses real weather data and allows students to "be the meteorologist."

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Science)

Cloudy with a chance of... what?

Students will enjoy reading about a town where no one ever goes hungry because the sky provides food while learning about weather and healthy and unhealthy foods.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 English Language Arts, Healthful Living, and Science)

By BJ Larson and Paula Sharpe.

Coastal weather issues: Planning for a hurricane

The unit is designed for seventh grade students who have been studying Earth and its atmosphere. In this sequence, students are faced with the realistic issue of personal and social decision-making when planning for hurricane strikes, which includes classification, tracking, and monitoring hurricanes, as well as planning for evacuations. The inquiry-based approach involves a WebQuest in which the learner will assume the role of an emergency management team member who must create a preparation plan for the community.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Computer/Technology Skills, Information Skills, and Science)

By Karen Greene.

Meteorology

In The Walking Classroom, page 6

In this lesson plan for fifth grade language arts and science, students learn about meteorology and the forces that create weather patterns.

Format: lesson plan

Project Groundhog

The students will determine the groundhog prediction of either six more weeks of winter or an early spring and see if the prediction was accurate by recording daily weather data for six weeks. Over that six week period the students will be comparing their weekly data with schools around the USA and Canada using the Project Groundhog website.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Mathematics and Science)

By Jane Diamond.

Rainy weather

This is the first lesson in a weather unit. This lesson consists of activities that help students understand the concept of rain.

Format: lesson plan (grade K Science)

By Carol McCrary.

Twisters in a jar

The class will discuss the motion, causes and effects of a tornado. The student will also be able to name the safety steps one should take when a tornado occurs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Science)

By Andrea Allen.

Using K-W-L to confirm what you know

Students will learn to use a K-W-L to activate their prior knowledge and help them set a purpose for reading and recording what they learned. They will also extend their K-W-L chart to confirm the accuracy of their prior knowledge and of what they learn.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Science)

By Kathleen Neff.

Using Venn diagrams to compare and contrast

In order to be able to compare and contrast weather in other places around the country and the world, the students will learn how to use a graphic organizer (Venn diagram) to visualize likeness and differences between two things.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Science)

By Kelly Sharpe, Kathleen Hughes, Ruffin Priest, Sondra Walker, and Sandra McKee.

The Walking Classroom

Lesson plans and podcasts aligned to the fifth grade curriculum.

Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)

Watching the weather

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 3.5

In this lesson for grade seven, students discuss the work that meteorologists do and brainstorm ways to collect data about the weather without using instruments. Students collect weather data over a two-week period.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Science)

By Emma Couch.Adapted by Mitzi Talbert.

Weather activities with Night of the Twisters

While reading the novel Night of the Twisters, students will complete activities related to weather concepts described in the story. Students will complete activities which explore the key concepts of cloud formation, air pressure, and local weather patterns.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Science)

By Melissa Bancroft.

Weather for the day

In this lesson, students will use previous knowledge and classroom resources to determine current weather conditions and temperature.

Format: lesson plan (grade K Science)

By Rhonda Hathcock.

Weather is the word-o

Using an integrated curriculum, this unit plan provides sixteen fun-filled weather activities to familiarize students with sun, rain, snow, and wind. Each of the activities will take approximately 30 minutes over a three week period.

Format: lesson plan (grade K Science)

Weather watchers

This is a week long activity during which the students record the weather, track weather changes, and make predictions about future weather patterns.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Computer/Technology Skills, Information Skills, and Science)

By Virginia Shaddix.

Weathering the water cycle: Condensation

This lesson introduces students to condensation as one phase of the water cycle. Through the use of the four lessons in this series students will learn that the water cycle is a continuous cycle. The other lessons in this series include lessons on evaporation and precipitation as well as a conclusion.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Science)

By Cathie Hill, Jackie Parker, and Karen Neilson.

Weathering the water cycle: Evaporation

Students will learn that evaporation is one of the three stages of the water cycle. The other lessons in this series include lessons on condensation and precipitation as well as a conclusion.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 Science)

By Cathie Hill, Jackie Parker, and Karen Neilson.

Weathering the water cycle: Precipitation

Students will learn that precipitation is one of the three stages of the water cycle and how it relates to the other stages. The other lessons in this series include lessons on evaporation and condensation as well as a conclusion.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 and 5 Mathematics and Science)

By Cathie Hill, Jackie Parker, and Karen Neilson.

Resources on the web

American Field Guide

A collection of online videos that explore many aspects of America's wilderness from animals to earth and space to public policy. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: PBS

ASPIRE: Astrophysics Science Project Integrating Research and Education

Interactive science labs and lessons for teachers and students. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: University of Utah