The document outlines a series of lesson plans for a 2nd-grade science unit on weather, detailing activities like weather observations, temperature experiments, water cycle modeling, and building rain gauges. Each lesson is designed to meet specific student objectives, standards, and includes implementation procedures along with assessments for student participation and journal entries. The overall aim is to engage students in hands-on learning about weather patterns and related scientific concepts over several weeks.

1. Name: Caila Bishop
Date: 1-9-12
Grade Level/Subject: 2nd grade/ Science/ Weather Unit
Activity: Weather Observations
Prerequisite Knowledge: Students should be familiar with charts and how to read them.
Approximate Time: 50 minutes to introduce the lesson, 5 minutes (3 weeks)
Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:
Students will practice
-Describing observed events
-Collecting data
-Recording data
-Arranging data
-Comparing observations of individual and group results.
Students will know and observe that
-The weather changes from day to day and season to season
-Some patterns of weather are repeated often and these can help us predict the weather.
Content Standards:
- SCI.K-3.11.A.1e - [Benchmark] - Arrange data into logical patterns and describe the patterns.
- SCI.K-3.11.A.1a - [Benchmark] - Describe an observed event.
Materials/Resources/Technology:
-newspaper (everyday)
-weather journals
-electronic whiteboard
Implementation:
Opening of the lesson:
Tell students that they will be making and recording weather observations every day for the next 2-3 weeks.
Ask students for input on what kind of information they think they should observe and record.
Procedure:
Scan the weather section/map out of the news-Gazette paper and print in into smartboard. Pull up the weather
map on the electronic whiteboard. Ask students to discuss the different things the see. Ask students if they can
find the temperature, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation and cloud information about yesterday’s
weather. Make sure that you tell students that the map contains information about what today’s weather will be
like and the information on the side of the math tells them about yesterday’s weather. Tell students that there is
no way that when the paper comes out at five o’clock in the morning they already recorded the amount of
precipitation we have received for the whole day. Review the term precipitation with the students. Have the

2. students write the definition down in their weather journal vocabulary page. Use the electronic whiteboards
highlighter to highlight the temperature, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation and clouds so that the
students can see it better. Fill out one day in the weather chart with the students. Model how students should fill
out the chart. Tell students that you will post out in the hall the weather map from the newspaper everyday. Tell
students that you will also highlight where they need to look to get the information. (Make sure that when you
post the newspaper clippings in the hall you arrange the data in order.)
Assessment:
You may ask students to share some of their observations each day, if desired, or you can wait until the end of
the observation period. It is likely that there will be some discrepancies in the data. Students will be assessed on
how well they recorded their weather observations in the journal and whether or not they filled out all of the
boxes in the chart.

3. Name: Caila Bishop
Date: 1-17-12
Grade Level/Subject: 2nd grade/ Science/ Weather Unit – Temperature/Thermometers
Activity- Water Temperature Experiment
Prerequisite Knowledge: Students should be familiar with how to read a thermometer. Students should know
that each line on their thermometer represents 2 degrees
Approximate Time: 50 minute lesson
Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:
-Students will observe and know that temperature is a term we can use to talk about how “hot” or how
“cold”
something is.
- Students will know that when we talk about temperature related to weather, we are talking about the
temperature
in the air outside.
-Students will know that a thermometer is used to measure temperature.
-Students will know that the higher numbers on a thermometer correspond to hotter temperatures and the
lower
numbers on the thermometer correspond to colder temperatures
Content Standards:
-SCI.K-3.11.B.1d - [Benchmark] - Test the device and record results using given instruments,
techniques
and measurement methods.
-SCI.K-3.13.B.1a - [Benchmark] - Explain the uses of common scientific instruments (e.g., ruler,
thermometer, balance, probe, computer).
-SCI.K-3.13.B.1b - [Benchmark] - Explain how using measuring tools improves the accuracy of
estimates.
Materials/Resources/Technology:
-3 cups per group
-thermometer per group
-hot water
-cold water
-weather journal
-sticky note per group
-electronic whiteboard

4. Implementation:
Opening of lesson: Introduce the lesson by reviewing with students what they know about thermometers. Make
sure that students know that each number on a thermometer is a degree and is used to measure temperature.
Make sure that students know that the tube on the thermometer is filled with a liquid that that goes higher when
it is warmer and goes lower when it’s colder. Also make sure that students know the higher numbers on the
thermometers refers to hotter temperatures if it is above 0 degrees and the lower numbers means colder.
Accommodations: I handed a thermometer to each of my students. As I discussed the different parts of the
thermometer I had the students point to the different parts that I was describing. This helped my visual learners
and my student who was cognitively disabled.
Procedure:
1. Tell the student that today they will be doing a water temperature experiment.
2. Break the students up into groups of two
3. Give each group 3 cups and 1 sticky note
4. Tell students that today they will be recording the temperature of hot water, cold water and both the
5. hot and cold water mixed together.
6. Have students guess on their yellow sticky note what they think the hot temperature, cold
temperature
and mixed temperature would be (this is one way I enhanced the lesson for the students)
7. Have students draw a line next to their prediction and tell them that once they have measured the
temperature of all three water cups they will write down what their thermometer read.
8. After students have recorded their temperatures have them clear off their desks.
9. Have students open their journal to the water temperature experiment page.
10. Have them record in their journal the procedure they followed to conduct the experiment.
11. Next have the students draw their observations
12. Last have the students write what they learned
Accommodations: During this lesson I used the electronic whiteboard to model for the students how they
would conduct the experiment. I drew three cups on the whiteboard and labeled them cold water, hot water
and mixed water. I then drew a thermometer in each cup and read the temperature.
Another thing I did to assist the students during this experiment was model how to write out the procedure.
Together me and the students wrote down the first step, second step, third step…etc. that we followed to
conduct our experiment.
Assessment: Students will be assessed on how well they worked in their groups. Students will also be
assessed on their journal entry.

5. Name: Caila Bishop
Date: 1-19-12
Grade Level/Subject: 2nd grade/ Science/ Weather Unit – Water and Weather
Activity- Making a Model
Prerequisite Knowledge: None required
Approximate Time: 45 minute lesson (1-2 days)
Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:
-Students will observe and know that the movement of water from one place to another affects the
weather.
-Water moves from the ground (on or in it) into the air, forms clouds high in the air, and then falls back
to the ground as some form of precipitation ( usually rain or snow).
-Temperature affects the movement of water.
-Water is collected in the ground, ocean, rivers, streams, trees
-Water packs together in the clouds (condensation)
Content Standards:
-SCI.K-3.11.A.1a - [Benchmark] - Describe an observed event.
-SCI.K-3.11.A.1b - [Benchmark] - Develop questions on scientific topics.
-SCI.K-3.11.B.1d - [Benchmark] - Test the device and record results using given
instruments,
techniques and measurement methods.
Materials/Resources/Technology:
- Heavy duty plastic wrap
- Transparent Tape
- 4 Washers
- Blue Food Coloring
- 1 Small, Heavy Bowl
- 1 Large, Clear Plastic Bowl
- Sunny window or heated lamp
Implementation:
Opening of lesson: Introduce the lesson by asking student questions about water and weather. Discuss with
students where precipitation comes from. Introduce the idea that water moves from one place to another, but it
can’t just appear from nowhere. Make sure students understand what a cycle is. Tell students that a cycle is
changing and it returns to its original starting point.

6. Procedure:
-Tell students that you will make a model that will demonstrate the water cycle process
-Tell students that when the sun hits the land it heats up the water that is collected in the ground, river, ocean,
and lakes. The sun causes some of the water to rise and evaporate up into the air where it is cooler. Tell
students that they cannot see water in the air but water is all around them however it is in its evaporated form.
This means that you cannot see the water around you. Then tell students that once the water rises in the air
these small pieces of water start to get cooler and stick together and form even bigger pieces. Tell students that
this is condensation. When the bigger pieces of water get heavy it begins to rain or snow, this is called
precipitation. When it rain/ snows the water falls back to the earth and the cycle changes all over again.
- Once you have explained the cycle draw a picture on the electronic whiteboard of the cycle. Make sure that
you label each part. (I also showed the class a poster board with the water cycle on it. This helped the
students a lot). Repeat the cycle over with your students about three times. Then start to call on students to
have them repeat the cycle back to you.
- Show the students the following three videos:
- http://youtu.be/UDyPkjQxkas
- http://youtu.be/StPobH5ODTw
- http://youtu.be/8KbbSL43CN8
Procedure for making the model:
Put together the model while the students are watching, so they can easily see exactly what’s done and won’t
view this as having set up a magic trick in advance.
1. Put the small heavy bowl inside the larger bowl.
2. Add water to the larger bowl so that it comes to within about ½ inch of the edge of the
smaller bowl. You don’t want to get any water in the smaller bowl at this point. Mark the
side of the bowl with tape to show the starting water level.
3. Add a drop or two of food coloring to the water
4. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Tape down the edges of the plastic wrap to the
bowl. You want this fairly air-tight, so that most of the water remains in the bowl.
5. Place two stacked washers on the top of the plastic wrap, directly above the small bowl so
that the plastic wrap slants down some toward the middle.
6. Have students draw the model in their journals. Under their drawings write “Model of Water
Movement.” Accuracy is not important but students should realize that there is water in the
large bowl and not in the small bowl
7. Carefully place the model in the direct sunlight and leave it there for at least two days.
8. Students should observe the model twice each day and record any changes they see.
Discussion
-Ask students for their ideas about what happened?
-How did the water get into the small bowl?
-Use student ideas, if possible to lead to the explanation of evaporation.
Assessment:
Have students complete the water cycle page in their journal. This is one way to assess the students.

7. Name: Caila Bishop
Date: 1-24-12
Grade Level/Subject: 2nd grade/ Science/ Weather Unit – Water and Weather
Activity- Making a rain gauge
Prerequisite Knowledge: None required
Approximate Time: 50 minutes lesson (2 days)
Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:
Given the problem of formulating solutions students will
-formulate possible solutions
-Design a device that will be useful in solving the problem
-Build the device using the materials and tools provided
-Test the device and record results using the given instruments, techniques, and measurement
methods.
-Report the design, the test process and the results in solving the problem.
Content Standards:
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1a - [Benchmark] - Given a simple design problem formulates possible
solutions.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1b - [Benchmark] - Design a device that will be useful in solving the
problem.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1c - [Benchmark] - Build the device using the materials and tools provided.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1d - [Benchmark] - Test the device and record results using given
instruments,
techniques and measurement methods.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1e - [Benchmark] - Report the design of the device, the test process and the
results in solving a given problem.
Materials/Resources/Technology:
-cups
-variety of containers (several sizes-clear, opaque, paper)
-Rulers
-Masking Tape
-Glue
-Anything the students want to bring from home
Implementation:
Opening of the lesson: Ask the student if they have ever heard people talking about “how much” rain or
snow has fallen during a particular time period, like a day or a month. Then ask students how think
someone would get this information. For example how they would measure rain or snow. Also ask why
they think this information might be useful to people (floods, plant growth, water to drink, etc). After
your discussion tells students that a rain gauge is used to measure the amount of rain that has fallen over
a particular time period. Pull up pictures on the web of different types of rain gauges.

8. Procedure:
Day One: Tell students that they will be making a rain gauge. Ask students what type of things they need
to consider when they are creating their rain gauge. Draw on the electronic whiteboard a simple picture
of a rain gauge. Label the different parts of your rain gauge (cup, ruler, tape, etc.). Discuss the
procedure you would follow to put it together. Put students into partners of two. Tell students that today
they will be drawing the rain gauge they are going to create. Show students the different types of
materials you have in the box. Also tell students that they can bring materials from home. Tell students
that when they create their drawing you want them to write on the side of their drawing the different
materials they will need and will be bringing from home. After you have given directions allow students
to get into groups and begin discussing their rain gauge and the materials they will need.
Day Two: Have students assemble their rain gauge. Once the gauges are assembled, you will want to
check each one, and suggest modifications or let the students try the gauge as is. Take a picture of each
group along with their completed assembled rain gauge. Have students present their rain gauge to the
class and discuss how they assembled their rain gauge and why they assembled it that way using the
different materials. Next, the students will need to select a place to put their rain gauges, somewhere by
the school where they won’t be disturbed. Have students write in their journal the procedure they
followed to assemble their rain gauge. Model how to write the procedure on the electronic whiteboard.
Also have students draw a picture of their rain gauge in their journal. The next time there is
precipitation, the students will check their gauges and write in their journal about how well the gauge
worked and how much precipitation was collected.
Assessment: Students will be assessed on their group participation. Students will also be assessed on
their journal entry.

9. Name: Caila Bishop
Date: 1-26-12
Grade Level/Subject: 2nd grade/ Science/ Weather Unit – Water and Weather
Activity: Wind
Prerequisite Knowledge: None required
Approximate Time: 50 minutes lesson (2 days)
Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:
Given the problem of formulating solutions students will
-formulate possible solutions
-Design a device that will be useful in solving the problem
-Build the device using the materials and tools provided
-Test the device and record results using the given instruments, techniques, and measurement
methods.
-Report the design, the test process and the results in solving the problem.
Students will know and observe:
-wind has direction and force
-wind comes from different directions at different times
-wind has force (can push things) and the amount of force is different at different times.
-observation of things that are blowing in the wind can tell us things about wind direction and
force
-knowing about wind direction and force can help predict weather.
Content Standards:
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1a - [Benchmark] - Given a simple design problem formulates possible
solutions.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1b - [Benchmark] - Design a device that will be useful in solving the
problem.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1c - [Benchmark] - Build the device using the materials and tools provided.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1d - [Benchmark] - Test the device and record results using given
instruments,
techniques and measurement methods.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1e - [Benchmark] - Report the design of the device, the test process and the
results in solving a given problem.
Materials/Resources/Technology:
- 1 thin wooden dowel
-String
-Masking tape
-Fabric scraps of different sizes and weights
-Tissue paper or crepe paper
-Paper reinforcements

10. -compasses (optional)
-scissors
-electronic whiteboard
-computer with internet access
-weather journals
Implementation:
Opening of the lesson:
Ask students the following questions dealing with wind:
1. Describe the wind
2. How do you know that there is wind?
3. Can you hear wind?
4. Are you able to feel it?
5. Can the wind be seen and can you see things that are being moved by the wind
6. How do you know when the wind is blowing slightly or very hard?
7. Does the wind always blow things in the same direction?
8. Why would scientists be interested in wind direction and force?
9. Have you noticed wind being different in different kinds of weather?
Procedure:
Day One: Pair students up into groups of two or three. Tell students that they are going to design a device that
measures wind speed and direction. Show students the materials you have for them to use. Ask students to view
the materials and think about why they are important. Draw a picture on the electronic whiteboard of a wind
device and label the device of the materials that you used to make it (draw something similar to a flag). Allow
students time to ask you questions. Show students pictures of wind vanes on the internet. Have students go back
to their seats with their group members. Tell students that before they begin they must draw a picture of the
wind device they are going to create. They must also label the materials they are going to use. In addition to
labeling the materials students will have to write the procedure they are going to follow the next day to create
their wind vane.
Day Two: Have students assemble their wind devices. Allow students to go outside and test out their wind
devices. When students are outside have them read their compass. Point in the direction of the north, east,
south and west for the students. Ask students what direction the wind is moving. Ask them if the wind is strong?
If it is strong how do they know?
Bring students back inside. Have them draw a picture of their wind device in their weather journal and have
them write what they learned. Make sure that students state how they would have created their wind vane
differently or what they would do next time. Have students come to the carpet ask students to share their
findings. If there are discrepancies, discuss why these discrepancies occurred.
Assessment: Students will be assessed on their group participation. Students will also be assessed on their
journal entry.

11. Additional Lesson
Name: Caila Bishop
Date: 1-23-12
Grade Level/Subject: 2nd grade/ Science/ Weather Unit – Water and Weather
Activity: Water Cycle Packet
Prerequisite Knowledge: Students should be familiar with the water cycle. They should be able to discuss how
the water cycle works. They should know the meaning of the following words: Evaporation, Precipitation,
Collection, and Condensation
Approximate Time: 50 minutes lesson
Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:
-Students will observe and know that the movement of water from one place to another affects the
weather.
-Water moves from the ground (on or in it) into the air, forms clouds high in the air, and then falls back
to
the ground as some form of precipitation (usually rain or snow).
-Temperature affects the movement of water.
-Water is collected in the ground, ocean, rivers, streams, trees
-Water packs together in the clouds (condensation)
Content Standards:
- SCI.K-3.12.E.1a - [Benchmark] - Identify components and describe diverse features of the Earth's
land, water
and atmospheric systems.
- SCI.K-3.12.E.1b - [Benchmark] - Identify and describe patterns of weather and seasonal change.
Materials/Resources/Technology:
-chart that shows the weather cycle
-water cycle packet (per student)
Implementation:
Opening of the lesson:
Review the water cycle with the students. Call on random students and have them come up and tell the class
how the cycle works. Cover up the words collection, evaporation, condensation, and precipitation on the
weather chart. Have students guess which part of the cycle each pictures represents.
Procedure:

12. Introduce the water cycle packet to the students. Call on students to discuss what is occurring in each picture.
Make sure students are using the correct vocabulary. After introducing the packet, tell students that they are
going to work independently on the packet. They are going to look at each picture and write what is occurring
and what part of the water cycle it represents. Students are allowed to use their weather journal vocabulary
page to assist them in this activity.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed on the water cycle packet. They will be assessed on whether they understood what
was occurring in the pictures. They will also be assessed on whether or not they used the correct vocabulary
(collection, evaporation, and condensation, precipitation) to describe what was occurring.

13. Additional Lesson
Name: Caila Bishop
Date: 1-28-12
Grade Level/Subject: 2nd grade/ Science/ Weather Unit – Water and Weather
Activity: Critiquing rain gauges
Prerequisite Knowledge: Students should know how to observe devices. Students should know how to offer
suggestions appropriately. Students should know how to be respectful to their classmates.
Approximate Time: 50 minutes
Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:
-Students will discuss the different rain gauges that their classmates designed.
-Students will be able to participate in a group discussion.
-Students will give appropriate feedback.
-Students will critique the rain gauges and offer suggestions or recommendations for improvements.
Content Standards:
- SCI.K-3.13.A.1c - [Benchmark] - Explain how knowledge can be gained by careful observation.
- SCI.K-3.11.B.1e - [Benchmark] - Report the design of the device, the test process and the results in
solving a
given problem.
- SCI.K-3.11.A.1f - [Benchmark] - Compare observations of individual and group results.
Materials/Resources/Technology:
-pictures of each group rain gauges
-sticky notes for each group
-electronic whiteboard
Implementation:
Opening of the lesson: Have students get into their rain gauges group. Give each group a sticky note. Have
each group write on their sticky note the amount of rain fall their rain gauge collected.
Procedure: Call students to the carpet. Have them bring their sticky note. Have each group put their sticky note
on the board. Tell students that you will call on them to arrange the sticky notes in ascending order. Once
students have arranged the sticky notes in ascending discuss with students how to find the median of the data
(this tied in perfectly to the math unit I was teaching my students). Once you have found the median tell students
that the majority of group collected rainfall that was close to that number. Pull up the pictures that you had
taken of the students on the electronic whiteboard. Tell students that you are going to look at their devices and
discuss any potential improvements you would make next time. Also discuss with students why some of their
rain gauges collected more water and some of them collected less. Also discuss why different rain gauges
worked better than others.

14. Assessment: Students will be assessed on how well they participate in the class discussion.