Weather and Climate Curriculum for Levels 6-9
According to the NGSS standards children ages 6-9 or grades 1-3 need to explore concepts relating to weather and climate. In particular the following standards require to be met:
K-ESS2-1 (Examples of qualitative observations could include descriptions of the weather (such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, and warm); Examples of quantitative observations could include numbers of sunny, windy, and rainy days in a month. Examples of patterns could include that it is usually cooler in the morning than in the afternoon and the number of sunny days versus cloudy days in different months. STEM: Use observations (firsthand or from media) to describe patterns in the natural world in order to answer scientific questions.)
K-ESS3-2 (Ask questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather)
3-ESS2-1 Earth Systems (Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular seasons)
3-ESS2-2 (Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world)
3-ESS3-1 (Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard)
4-ESS2-1 (Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation)
K-PS3-1 (Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth's surface)
K-PS3-2 (Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area)
Over the past two weeks I have been reviewing and using the set of materials that ETC Montessori has released regarding weather and climate, and how it functions as a cross disciplinary approach to the study of these fields.
To get a better idea of what is included in the set and how one goes about implementing the materials in the Montessori classroom, the company put out the following video.