Lesson Plan: Wacky Weather

Subject:  Science

Grade: 3

Lesson Objective: To understand weather related hazards and apply that understanding to designing a solution to those hazards.

Next Gen Science Standard:  3-ESS3-1. Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard

Starter:

Say:

• What are some different types of weather that can cause problems?  (Allow the students to answer.)

Main:

Say:

• There are many different types of weather, rain, snow, sun, wind, thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes.
• Some of those types of weather can cause problems and can be hazardous.  When something is hazardous it is dangerous.
• The types of weather that are most dangerous are lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes and heavy rain that causes flooding.
• What problems do you think these types of weather cause?  (Allow the students to answer.)
• Lightning can cause fires, which can be very dangerous.  Sometimes forest fires are started by lightning striking.
• Hurricanes and tornadoes both have very strong winds that can cause a lot of damage.  The winds from hurricanes and tornadoes can knock down trees and destroy houses.
• Hurricanes also have a lot of rain, which can cause flooding.
• Flooding can ruin homes, cars and other property.
• Now that we have talked about some of the problems that different types of weather can cause, we are going to talk about how we can come up with solutions to some of those problems.
• When coming up with a solution to a problem, you first need to figure out what the problem is.  Then, you need to think about how you can fix that problem.
• For example, if we were coming up with a solution to the problem of lightning, you would first think about how lightning can cause fires.  Then, you would come up with a solution, like a lightning rod.
• You are now going to design your own solution to one of the weather problems that we talked about- hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding or lightning.
• After you come up with a solution, draw a picture of your solution.  Make sure that you label the picture so that everyone understands your ideas.
• Does anyone have any questions?

Feedback:

Say:

• Who would like to share what you designed?  (Allow the students to share.)

Written by Kimberly Greacen, Education World® Contributing Writer

Kimberly is an educator with extensive experience in curriculum writing and developing instructional materials to align with Common Core State Standards and Bloom's Taxonomy.

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