While weather is introduced in 2nd grade, (VA Sci. SOL 2.6) it is further investigated in 4th grade (VA Sci. SOL 4.6). Students focus on weather conditions and a more technical understanding of tools and methods of weather forecasting and weather phenomena. Students also learn about weather measurements and meteorological tools. The resources below are intended to activate prior knowledge and create interest in the topic of weather. They are aimed at 4th grade students.
Text Annotations-
Weather Forecasting
by Gail Gibbons
This book takes place at a weather station. As times passes and the seasons change, the weather station records the weather and encounters different weather phenomena. This is a good informative book on the topic of weather and gives the reader new scientific vocabulary. The pictures are also colorful and appealing to the eye.
The Kids’ Book of Weather Forecasting
by Mark Breen & Kathleen Friesta, Illustrated by Michael Kline
This book is from the Kids Can series. It offers hands on experiments, observations, activities that children can do. It is written by a meteorologist and offers insight into weather forecasting and phenomena. This is a great good book with lots of real hands on things students can do to learn about weather.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
by Judi Barrett, Illustrated by Ron Barrett
The weather was different in the tiny town of Chewandswallow. It rained soup and juice, snowed mashed potatoes, and the wind blew storms of hamburgers. Life was delicious until the weather took a turn for the worse. This book does a great job of introducing the concept of weather phenomena and makes a fun and silly read-aloud for the class.
The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane
by Joanna Cole, Illustrated by Bruce Degen
With Mrs. Frizzle, the whole class, and help from the Magic School Bus, you journey inside a hurricane. You are able to see water droplets forming rain and storm fronts converging. Students also learn to be prepared and what to do if a storm happens in their area. This is a great book for students to read and investigate weather further.
Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today?
by Tish Rabe, Illustrated by Aristides Ruiz
Along with The Cat in the Hat, the reader travels through different weather phenomena, learning new things about them along the way. This book has great pictures and a rhyming text in the Dr. Seuss style. This would make a great read-aloud for the whole class.
Web Annotations-
The Weather Wizard from National Geographic
This is an interactive game where students are in the driver’s seat of a storm chase vehicle. They answer questions and each correct answer bring them closer and closer to the tornado.
The Scholastic Interactive Weather Maker
This is an interactive flash program where students decide the weather for the day. They are able to change conditions and create weather phenomenons such as blizzards, tornadoes, and thunderstorms.
Create your own Hurricane
In this program students are in the create-a-cane lab where they are able to choose wind speed, latitude, and moisture levels to create a hurricane.
Edheads Weather Activities
This website has different activities where students can report and predict the weather. There is also a link to a very informative weather glossary.
Web Weather for Kids- Clouds
This site provides a good overview on the types of clouds. There is a description of each type of cloud and it shows real pictures as examples. There is also an interactive game where you match the type of cloud to the picture.
Teacher Resources-
The Franklin Institute Weather Activities
This website has a wealth of information on teaching Science. It has a list of interactive weather activities including making your own weather and musical meteorology.
Web Weather for Kids Teacher’s Tips
This site is from Web Weather for Kids. There are tips, suggestions, and lesson plans on teaching weather in the classroom.
The Weather Channel Kids Teacher Resources
This comes from the Weather Channel for Kids website. There are links to lesson plans and activities for students to further explore weather.
Scholastic Weather Watch
This is an interactive website with articles, video, and research on severe weather. There are links where you are able to follow steps to observe, gather data, investigate, and analyze weather.