Written by Marie E. Cecchini

Transcription

1 Exploring Weather Written by Marie E. Cecchini Teacher Created Materials, Inc Industry Way Westminster, CA Teacher Created Materials, Inc. Reprinted, 2000 Made in U.S.A. ISBN Edited by Walter Kelly, M.A. Illustrated by Agi Palinay Cover Art by Cheri Macoubrie Wilson The classroom teacher may reproduce copies of materials in this book for classroom use only. The reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the publisher.

2 Table of Contents Introduction Clouds Creating Water Vapor Make a Cloud I and II Same and Different Cloud Rhyme "What s Up?* Cloud Song Cloud Lines Cloud Colors* Cloudy Days* Word Clouds* Cloud Puzzles Float and Count Counting with Clouds Cloud Shapes* Count and Match* Measuring Clouds* Cloud Facts* Cloud Patterns* Cloud Squares Sandwich Clouds Sunset Snack People Clouds Sheet Clouds Balloon Clouds Drop Clouds Cloud Mobile Cloud Puffs Cloud Sculpture Rain Making Rain Measuring Rainfall Measuring Rainfall* Observing Rainwater Sky Light Crackle, Rumble, Boom Letter Drops Rainy Day Story Rainy Day Rhyme Alphabet Raindrops* Sing in the Rain Water Drop Centers Word Puddles Write and Share* Water Drop Cards* Puddle Puzzle Cards* Rainy Day Colors* Flip and Count More or Less The Raindrop Game Raindrop Numeral Cards* Sizing Raindrops* Math Puddles* S more Rains Umbrella Pizza Cracker Lightning Puddle Jumps Balancing Act Puddle Drop Rain Shapes Color-Drop Sun Catchers Fireworks Snow Making Frost Expanding Water Like a Rock Creating Snowflakes Collecting Snowflakes Snow Colors Melting Snow, Melting Ice Sleet Winter Words Snow Book Snow Clues Winter Word Cards* Snow Clue Cards* Snow Fun Sounds of Winter Snow Puddles Snowflake Sounds* Snowy Day Crossword Build a Snowperson* Snowflake Counting Books Cold Construction Matching Snowflake Center Matching Snowflake Designs* Snowflake Facts* Snowball Crunch Snowflake Squares Marshmallow Snowperson Ice Moves Snowball Target Addition Mitten Bean Bags Filter Flakes Foam Flakes Painted Place Mats Snow Mobile Snow Paint Snowy Day Tree Color Sculptures Cereal Snow Scenes Snowball Maze* Wind Discovering Wind Creating Wind Wind Pushes Wind Helps Wind Harms Wind Direction Wind Chill Windy Day Safety In Flight Color Kites Picture Story In Flight* Color Kites* Sentence Cards Wind Funnies Bubble Fun Wind Word Puzzles Octopus Kite Alphabet Kite Puzzles Dot-to-Dot Fan Pattern* Clothesline Counting Kite Tails I and II Balloon Measures Clothing Patterns* Windy Day Math Race* Kitewich Pinwheel Plate Sailboat Salad Kite Dance Parachute Play Working Wind Collage Bread Bag Parachutes Kite Mobiles Drying Clothes Wind Energy Pinwheel* Kite Maze* (Note: * denotes activity pages) Additional Activities Umbrella Weather Chart Weather Patterns Get the Picture? Weather Word Search Bibliography Answer Key #2611 Thematic Unit Exploring Weather 2 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.

3 Introduction Our weather is the condition of our atmosphere. Clouds, rain, snow, and wind are all signs of weather. Three elements are responsible for creating these weather signs. These elements are the sun, air, and water. The activities in this book are designed to help your children explore the interrelationships of these elements and how they affect our weather by creating the clouds, wind, rain, and snow. The activities in each section extend across the curriculum to include science, language, math, recipes, motor development, and art. Included are ideas adaptable for use with individuals, small groups, or the class as a whole. The activities focus on student participation because children learn by doing. Using a variety of activities, the repetition of basic concepts serves to reinforce these concepts and address all modes of learning. Choose activities that best meet the developmental level, interests, and needs of your particular group. Each section in this book includes activities that focus on the following areas: Science Experiments designed to incorporate the scientific processes of observation, classification, experimentation, prediction, questioning, researching, and communicating in discovering answers to the how and why of our weather. A brief teacher background statement precedes the activities in this area. Language Weather-related activities designed to improve and practice the communication skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Math Activities that provide hands-on reinforcement of previously taught skills, using weather-focused manipulatives. Recipes Simple food preparation activities allow children experiences in math, following directions, and sequential order. Recipes also build vocabularies, increase nutritional awareness, and allow observation of chemical changes. Motor Development Movement activities that focus on weather and also help children develop coordination, strength, and body awareness. Art Art experiences help to develop small motor skills and eye/hand coordination. Art projects also help to develop language skills, improve self-esteem, and can be used to reinforce academic concepts. At the end of this book you will also find additional activities, including a weather chart for classroom or individual use, a weather word-search puzzle, and a bibliography of weather-related materials. Teacher Created Materials, Inc. 3 #2611 Thematic Unit Exploring Weather

4 Art Snow (cont.) Snowball Maze Activity Page Directions: Roll the snowball through the maze to build a snowperson. Teacher Created Materials, Inc. 57 #2611 Thematic Unit Exploring Weather

5 Science Wind Teacher Background: Wind is air in motion. Although we cannot actually see wind, we can see the effects of wind as it moves sailboats, for instance, and we can feel the force of wind on our hands and faces. Wind is caused by the constant rise and fall of warm and cold air, warmer air being lighter, cold air heavier. Most of our weather changes are caused by the wind as it spreads the sun s heat from warm areas to colder ones. Focus for Science Activities: to demonstrate that air takes up space; to define wind; to demonstrate the power of wind; and to explore the effects of wind on our environment Materials: a balloon Discovering Wind Directions: 1. Ask for student contribution in defining the word air. Guide the students to conclude that air is an invisible mixture of gases surrounding the earth (and us). 2. Have the children observe a deflated balloon. Then blow it up but do not tie the end. Ask the class what the balloon is filled with. Help the children to understand that the balloon is now full of air, thus demonstrating that air now occupies the space within the balloon. 3. Release the balloon and observe what happens to the air. The pressure created by the balloon forces the contained air out, creating wind. Help the children to conclude that wind is moving air. Creating Wind Materials: squeeze bottles such as those from liquid dish detergent or shampoo, portable fan, hair dryer, bicycle tire pump Directions: 1. Invite the children to contribute ideas on how they might create wind, such as by blowing or waving a hand or a paper. 2. Display an empty squeeze bottle. Ask how we might use this to make wind. Discuss how the bottle is filled with air (air takes up space, remember?). When we put pressure on this air by squeezing the bottle, the air inside moves out, creating wind. 3. Let the children squeeze the bottle onto their own or another child s hand to feel the wind. Ask if wind makes a sound. 4. Experiment with additional items that move air, such as a fan, hair dryer, or bicycle tire pump. Invite the children to feel the difference between a strong wind and a gentle breeze. #2611 Thematic Unit Exploring Weather 58 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.