Weather science — archived fourth-grade activities

Historical classroom objectives from an earlier Utah fourth-grade curriculum. Original lesson availability is annotated below; current grade-level standards differ.

These objectives and lesson links preserve an earlier Utah fourth-grade curriculum. Some investigations are available only as dated archive snapshots; unavailable lessons remain labeled. For today’s framework, see Utah SEEd Grade 3: Weather and Climate Patterns. This historical lesson collection has not been certified against current grade-level standards.

Original classroom framework

Weather Class for 4th Grade Students in Utah

Weather (unavailable when checked)
Utah's 4th Grade Science Standards, Objectives and Benchmarks (unavailable when checked)

Standard 1: 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.

Identify basic cloud types (i.e., cumulus, cirrus, stratus clouds).
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).
Investigate evidence that air is a substance (e.g., takes up space, moves as wind, temperature can be measured).
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.

Observe and record effects of air temperature on precipitation (e.g., below freezing results in snow, above freezing results in rain).
Graph recorded data to show daily and seasonal patterns in weather.
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.

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).
Describe how weather and forecasts affect people's lives.
Predict weather and justify prediction with observable evidence.
Evaluate the accuracy of student and professional weather forecasts.
Relate weather forecast accuracy to evidence or tools used to make the forecast (e.g., feels like rain vs. barometer is dropping).

Vocabulary

atmosphere, meteorologist, freezing, cumulus, stratus, cirrus, air pressure, thermometer, air temperature, wind speed, forecast, severe, phenomena, precipitation, seasonal, accuracy, barometer, rain gauge, components

Science benchmark

Weather describes conditions in the atmosphere at a certain place and time. Water, energy from the sun, and wind create a cycle of changing weather. The sun's energy warms the oceans and lands at Earth's surface, creating changes in the atmosphere that cause the weather. The temperature and movement of air can be observed and measured to determine the effect on cloud formation and precipitation. Recording weather observations provides data that can be used to predict future weather conditions and establish patterns over time. Weather affects many aspects of people's lives.

Weather science — archived fourth-grade activities

Original classroom framework

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

Objective 2: Interpret recorded weather data for simple patterns.

Objective 3: Evaluate weather predictions based upon observational data.

Vocabulary

Science benchmark

Investigation 1: Clouds

Investigation 2: Thermometers

Investigation 3: Wind

Investigation 4: Air Pressure and Barometers

Investigation 5: Severe Weather

Investigation 6: Collecting Weather Data

Investigation 7: Interpreting Weather Data

Investigation 8: Weather Forecasts

Related reading