We have been having fun learning all about weather in kindergarten.  Weather is all around us.  It is something that is easy for young learners to relate to because they can see different types of weather.  I wanted to share with you how we are using the Next Generation Science Standards with our students to teach about weather.  

  These are the Next Generation Science Standards that we have been focusing on with our students:

K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.

K-ESS3-2. Ask questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather.

K-PS3-1. Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.  

Some of the science lessons we have done are:

*tracking temperature in the morning and afternoon

*tracking the weather each day

*reading books and poems about weather

*watching information about weather online

*recording weather observations in our "Notebook of Learning"
*severe weather posters
*vocabulary cards 
*online resources 
 

Tracking the Temperature

During our calendar routines, we record the morning temperature.  Then, in the afternoon, we record the temperature.  We do this during our science lesson.  I just use the weather channel app to get the temperature.  I love that this shows my students how to use technology to help us.  

 

We also keep track of the temperatures on a chart.  We talk about if the temperature went up or down and what we are noticing about the temperatures in the morning and afternoon.  This allows for some really great discussions with my students about the patterns they are noticing with the weather.  The first chart is when we started tracking temperature later in September and the second chart is for October temperatures.

I made the pieces for this chart as a FREEBIE for you.  Just click the image below to grab it!  I included the months for the school year, so that you could use it at any point during the year.  
 

Tracking the Weather

I have a meteorologist who records the weather on our weather graph each day.  We include this as part of our calendar routines.  They report the weather to the class and then color a box on our graph.  Then we discuss what we notice about the graph.

I sometimes have my students get a dry erase board and show a way to record what they see on the graph.  I love how these activities integrate science and math.

Weather Books

These are some of the weather books we have been reading.  I always try to have a mix of fiction and non-fiction for our units.

I made this little book, from my Weather Pack, for my students and I also put it on chart paper to read.  They put the book in their book baskets for independent reading.

Recording Weather Observations

I have talked on my blog before about how I use a Notebook of Learning with my students.  We record across all subject areas in this one notebook.  We have been able to go outside and draw the weather in our Notebook of Learning. 

We also have been noticing that since there is less sunlight outside during fall, the leaves are starting to change color.  This is an easy way for students to see the effects of the sun on the Earth's surface.

Severe Weather Posters
I have a lot of non-fiction books that focus on severe weather.  I use those as part of my instruction and then we made a "can/have/are" chart for the different types of severe weather.  

Vocabulary Cards
I made these posters and they are included in my Weather Pack.  I printed them 4 to a page, put magnets on the back, and put them on the side of my desk.  My students helped me to arrange them and we get the card that matches the weather each morning during calendar.  My students can also use them while they are writing.

  
Online Resources
National Geographic Young Explorer is a great online resource.  They have the most current issue available online, as well as previous issues.  I love this website because it reads the article to students and the articles are very kid friendly.  Just click the images to go to the magazine issues online. 

There is an article about storms in this issue that begins on page 12.

On page 19 of this issue you will find an article to read about what happens to a gecko when the sun heats up the sand.


The first article in this issue is about rain.


This issue has an article on meerkats that fits perfectly with the effects of the sun on the Earth's surface.  The article begins on page 16. 

Page 10 of this issue has a "Weather Watchers" article.

PebbleGo is a great online resource.  If you use Next Generation Science Standards, it would definitely be something for you to try to get your school to purchase a subscription for.
 

Do you use Next Generation Science Standards with your students?  I'd love to hear about it if you are!  

 

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Recipe for Teaching

As a Kindergarten teacher, I know that I am really setting the foundation for the years to come regarding math instruction.  It is so important to build a strong knowledge of number sense with our youngest learners.  I love using Math Chats to talk about math with my students and really begin building that strong number sense.

  We just recently did our very first Math Chat and the kids LOVED it.  I like to use Math Chats as warm-ups to my math lessons.  Math Chats are great because you can use them all week and continue extending upon them throughout the week.  As the year goes on, you are really able to have more in depth discussions with your students about what they see. 

Day 1: I displayed the Math Chat to my students and had them think about what they noticed.  We used our inflatable microphones to share our ideas with a friend.  After they shared their ideas with a friend, I recorded their ideas. *Vickie from Primary Press had shared how she uses inflatable microphones in a blog post and I knew I just had to have some inflatable microphones too!  

Day 2: We reviewed the Math Chat (do this each day).  Then I had my students close their eyes and listen to me drop counters into a bucket.  They had to count the drops they heard.  After they opened their eyes, we found which picture on the Math Chat was the same as the number of drops they heard.  For example, when they heard two counters drop, it was the same as the two crayons.  They loved this!  

Day 3: We used ten frames to represent the number of each picture on the Math Chat.  For example, they showed me four counters on the ten frame when I asked them to show me the number of buses.  We used "Gator Tweezers" for this and they are awesome!   *Tara over at Little Minds at Work shared about Gator Tweezers in one of her blog posts!!  

 Day 4: I introduced Rekenreks to my students.  I did the same activity as Thursday, only the Rekenrek is a different tool for them to use.  It is definitely important to expose your students to a variety of math tools so they are able to eventually choose appropriate tools to help them with their math, which goes perfectly with Math Practice 5.

 

Day 5: I had my students use their Notebook of Learning to record something from the Math Chat.  If they were able to write the number along with their picture, I definitely encouraged them to do so.  This friend noticed that he could use the Math Chat to help him write his idea!!   If you want to try a sample of my Math Chats Pack, just click the picture to download the Back to School Math Chat I shared in this post!  I'd love to hear back from you if you use this with your students!

If you would like to try Math Chats in your classroom, my Math Chats Pack has Math Chats that you could use with your class throughout the school year.  Click the image to check it out!

 

 

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Recipe for Teaching