4th Grade - Weather and Climate
Directions are written in black. Info for students to write in their Science notebook is printed in green.
According to the RHSD Curriculum Map, this unit should be taught during Q2.
It may take the entire quarter, or the time may be split with Social Studies.
To find this unit's vocabulary list and pre/post test, please click here, then scroll to 4th grade Weather.
According to the RHSD Curriculum Map, this unit should be taught during Q2.
It may take the entire quarter, or the time may be split with Social Studies.
To find this unit's vocabulary list and pre/post test, please click here, then scroll to 4th grade Weather.
Click the weather map to watch today's forecast on WCNC out of Charlotte, NC. You will probably see a commercial before you see the forecast.
Students, as you watch the forecast each day, what familiar words do you hear? Keep a list of these words along with their definitions. |
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What are some different ways to describe the weather? Think beyond "sunny" or "rainy." How can you describe the weather? With a partner, compete with another set of partners as to who can develop the longest list. |
Start thinking about the weather!
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What role does the sun play in causing our weather? What is the difference between weather and climate? Give an example. |
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Watch the video. As you watch, copy and answer the following questions in your Science notebook.
1. What exactly is weather? 2. What factors impact weather? 3. What is climate? 4. Why do terms like raining, sunny, snowing, and thunderstorm refer to weather, not climate? Explain. |
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Click here to watch the second video about severe weather.
 This gif is from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke140nuy15E&feature=youtu.be
Watch as a weather balloon is launched. |
Rarely do we go outside and find the air still. If we do, that won't last long. Soon a breeze will flow. The earth is in constant motion, and although we may not be experiencing daylight, the sun is shining on some part of the earth, heating the air and as air is heated it moves.
Notice in the figure, that there appears to be a ring around the earth. This is the earth's atmosphere. There are 5 layers to earth atmosphere: the Troposphere, the Stratosphere, the Mesosphere, the Exosphere, and the Magnetosphere. The troposphere is shown in the picture. We live and breathe in this layer and weather takes place here. The troposphere is made of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% water vapor. Draw a diagram of the earth, with all 5 layers of the atmosphere labeled. Research what happens in each layer and include this info on your diagram. |
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Questions to Answer After the Video:
1. What does it mean, "The water cycle is the way the earth recycles water." 2. What is evaporation? 3. How does the sun cause evaporation? 4. What are clouds? 5. What is condensation? 6. What is precipitation? 7. What is collection? |
Draw a diagram of the water cycle. -Use color. -Label the following: sun, heat, evaporation, clouds, condensation, precipitation, collection, runoff. -Beneath your diagram, write a short paragraph to describe what the water cycle is, and why it is important. |
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A 4th grade student did the project using his knowledge of the water cycle. How could you do something like this? Click here.
How is the water cycle involved in the formation of the salt crystals? 
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A 4th grade student did this water cycle experiment. Could you do this? Read to understand what she did.
What could you learn about the water cycle with this experiment? 
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Someone who studies weather is a meteorologist.
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Measuring Temperature
Meteorologists use many different instruments to do their work. Click here to see some of their instruments.
Meteorologists measure air temperature using a thermometer. In the USA, we report weather in degrees Fahrenheit, but the rest of the world uses degrees Celsius. 
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Students can also calculate Celsius and Fahrenheit temperatures themselves!
°Celsius to °Fahrenheit: Multiply by 9, then divide by 5, then add 32 °Fahrenheit to °Celsius: Subtract 32, then multiply by 5, then divide by 9 #1: Suppose you wanted to convert your dog's body temperature to degrees Celsius. His temperature is 101degrees Fahrenheit. Calculate it in degrees Celsius. #2 Suppose you are packing for a trip to London. The weather report says the average temperature will be 29 degrees Celsius. What is this temperature in degrees Fahrenheit? How should you pack? |
Measuring Rainfall
When you watch the weather report after a rainfall, the meteorologist may report the depth of the rain in inches or milliliters. Try to read the rain gauges below? NOTE: Each rain gauge is numbered slightly differently. As you look at each one, you must try to figure out what each little line means. Watch this video if you need help.
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How could you make your own rain gauge? Click here for instructions.
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Measuring the Wind
Can you Read a Weather Map?
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Reading weather maps is important as you plan your day or as you plan a trip. What do the symbols mean? Click here to read about the symbols used on weather maps. Complete the chart in your Science notebook. 
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Reading from a Chart
Sometimes, the weather forecast will include the windchill. Windchill is what the temperature feels like based on the actual air temperature and the speed of the wind. Study the chart.
To use the chart, find the wind speed (mph) on the left, and the air temperature (Fahrenheit) at the top and see where the two intersect in the chart. That is what the temperature feels like. For example, if the wind is blowing at 5mph and the air temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature feels like 36 degrees Fahrenheit (which is cold, close to freezing). What happens as the wind speed increases, but the actual temperature remains 40 degrees Fahrenheit? If you're interested, the National Weather Service provides information on windchill, frostbite, and hypothermia. |
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A) On Dec. 1, the forecast was for winds of 15mph and a temperature of 25 degrees F. What would be the windchill?
B) On Halloween, the windspeed was 30mph and the temperature was 30 degrees F. What was the windchill?
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C) At school, the rule is that if the windchill is less than 32, students must have indoor recess.
If the wind is blowing at 10mph and the temperature is 35 degrees F, will the students be allowed outside for recess? |
D) In Alaska, on a day in which the windspeed is 30mph and the temperature is -5 degrees F, what would the windchill be? How long would it take before frostbite occurred?
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Learn about Clouds
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As you learn about clouds, copy the chart below into your Science notebook and complete the information. In order to fit all of the information, you will need to make the size of an entire page.
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Now, let's do a project!
The three most common types of severe weather, or storms, we experience in SC are thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. People need to know when to these storms are most likely to occur, what dangers are posed by the storms, and how to protect themselves.
The three most common types of severe weather, or storms, we experience in SC are thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. People need to know when to these storms are most likely to occur, what dangers are posed by the storms, and how to protect themselves.
-Your Principal may put the BEST brochures in the lobby for guest to see. |
For your project:
-Plan what you are going to do before you actually begin. -Write neatly or type. -Use color. |
1. Fold a sheet of paper as shown. You may use any color you prefer.
2. Make a title flap. Give your severe weather brochure a catchy title. 3. Inside the brochure will be 3 panels. One panel should focus on thunderstorms, one on hurricanes, and one on tornadoes. Give a bold title at the top of each section. 4. For each section you need a representative picture, and you need to answer the following questions below it. -What conditions might precede or cause this severe weather? -What happens during this severe weather? -How can people protect themselves in this form of severe weather? 5. You will have 2 panels left. Choose two topics from the list below for the remaining panels. -lightening safety link -a major hurricane that occurred in SC recently link -winter storms link -why earthquakes are not weather, but they do occur in SC link |
Fun Weather Links for Kids
What is the current barometric pressure reading for our area? link
Make weather instruments with materials from home. link
www.weatherwizkids.com
www.weather.com
Make weather instruments with materials from home. link
www.weatherwizkids.com
www.weather.com
