Weather Patterns, introduces Kindergarten students to the sun and sunlight as a source of heat on Earth as well as effects caused by this heating, such as weather and weather patterns. Students will learn about effects of sunlight on earth materials, engage in the design process to develop ways to reduce the heating effect of sunlight, learn to identify weather and weather patterns, and predict types of severe weather. Students will further investigate weather, and how different regions experience weather in Grade 3 Unit 4 Weather and Climate. Students will further investigate weather interactions with Earth in Grade 5 Unit 3 Modeling Earth’s Systems.

Students explore and solve problems related to the factors that affect changes in weather.  Students explore concepts that include the following:

• Sunlight from the sun warms Earth’s surface. Different earth materials warm up differently because of sunlight. Areas covered by shade created by shadows are cooler than areas in direct sunlight.
• The effects of sunlight on materials can be reduced by using shade. Engineers build and test models to find out if their designs will work in the real world. Data can be collected and analyzed as part of the testing process. Other engineers can help identify strengths and weaknesses of a design.
• Weather observations recorded over time can be analyzed and used to notice patterns in the weather. Weather data can be observed, collected, and analyzed over months and seasons for use in predicting monthly and seasonal patterns. Daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal weather patterns can be used to forecast weather.
• Weather can be severe. People can respond to severe weather warnings and plan in the event of severe weather.

CKSci is informed by the NGSS, which encourages student learning through hands-on activities and collecting data. This activity-centered approach requires, at times, that schools collect or purchase materials and equipment that will be needed to complete activities.

Complete materials supply list for CKSci Unit 4: Weather Patterns