Priority Standard:
- 5.E.1 Understand weather patterns and phenomena, making connections to the weather in a particular place and time.
- 5.E.1.2 Predict upcoming weather events from weather data collected through observation and measurement.
Essential Questions/Big Ideas:
- Students know that weather can change from day to day, and that many factors are measured to describe and predict weather conditions. For example, wind speed and direction, precipitation, temperature, and air pressure. Students know that in different latitudes and hemispheres there are different and sometimes opposite seasonal weather patterns.
- Students know that the sun provides the energy that is a driving force for most biotic and abiotic cycles on the surface of the earth. Students know that the sun’s energy fuels the water cycle and impacts different aspects of the water cycle (evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation).
- Students know that one can collect and compare weather data in order to predict the likelihood of a particular weather condition occurring. Students know how to read basic weather instruments: thermometer, barometer, anemometer, wind vane, and rain gauge. Students also can identify atmospheric conditions (presence and type of clouds [stratus, cirrus, cumulus], fronts) that are associated with predictable weather patterns. Students can make basic weather predictions using these skills.
- What causes daily and seasonal weather?
- How are daily and seasonal changes in weather interconnected?
- How do we create weather models that allow us to make weather predictions?
- How are weather and climate interconnected?
- What instruments can be used to obtain data about the weather?
- How can clouds be used to predict future weather?
- How does increased cloud cover affect the weather during the day and night?
- Compare and contrast weather and climate.
- Why is the water cycle an important process for Earth?
- In what ways do we measure weather?
- How do weather patterns affect where and how you live, what you do, and what you wear?
- In what ways do tools aid in comparing changes in weather?
- Why is the sun important and how does it impact the Earth?
- What are the parts of the water cycle and how does the sun affect the water cycle?
- How does the water cycle affect your daily life?
- What would happen if one part of the water cycle were missing?