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Weather in the Utah Core

Weather is covered in the following Utah Core Courses. Be sure to check out the Weather related Lesson Plans.

Kindergarten Content Core
 Standard 3 - Objective 1
Investigate changes in the seasons.

  1. Observe and describe typical weather for each of the seasons.

2nd Grade Content Core

Standard 3 - Objective 2
Observe and describe weather.

  1. Observe and describe patterns of change in weather.
  2. Measure, record, graph, and report changes in local weather.
  3. Describe how weather affects people and animals.
  4. Draw pictures and create dances and sounds that represent weather features (e.g., clouds, storms, snowfall).

4th Grade Science

Standard 2
Students will understand that the elements of weather can be observed, measured, and recorded to make predictions and determine simple weather patterns.

Objective 1
Observe, measure, and record the basic elements of weather.

  1. Identify basic cloud types (i.e., cumulus, cirrus, stratus clouds).
  2. Observe, measure, and record data on the basic elements of weather over a period of time (i.e., precipitation, air temperature, wind speed and direction, and air pressure).
  3. Investigate evidence that air is a substance (e.g., takes up space, moves as wind, temperature can be measured).
  4. Compare the components of severe weather phenomena to normal weather conditions (e.g., thunderstorm with lightning and high winds compared to rainstorm with rain showers and breezes).

Objective 2
Interpret recorded weather data for simple patterns.

  1. Observe and record effects of air temperature on precipitation (e.g., below freezing results in snow, above freezing results in rain).
  2. Graph recorded data to show daily and seasonal patterns in weather.
  3. Infer relationships between wind and weather change (e.g., windy days often precede changes in the weather; south winds in Utah often precede a cold front coming from the north).

Objective 3
Evaluate weather predictions based upon observational data.

  1. Identify and use the tools of a meteorologist (e.g., measure rainfall using rain gauge, measure air pressure using barometer, measure temperature using a thermometer).
  2. Describe how weather and forecasts affect people's lives.
  3. Predict weather and justify prediction with observable evidence.
  4. Evaluate the accuracy of student and professional weather forecasts.
  5. Relate weather forecast accuracy to evidence or tools used to make the forecast (e.g., feels like rain vs. barometer is dropping).

Science - Earth Systems

Standard 6
Students will understand the source and distribution of energy on Earth and its effects on Earth systems.

Objective 2
Relate energy sources and transformation to the effects on Earth systems.

  1. Describe the difference between climate and weather, and how technology is used to monitor changes in each.
  2. Describe the effect of solar energy on the determination of climate and weather (e.g., El Nino, solar intensity).
  3. Explain how uneven heating at the equator and polar regions creates atmospheric and oceanic convection currents that move heat energy around Earth.
  4. Describe the Coriolis effect and its role in global wind and ocean current patterns.
  5. Relate how weather patterns are the result of interactions among ocean currents, air currents, and topography.

 

Weather Related Lesson Plans

Kindergarten

2nd Grade

4th Grade:

Earth Systems