Weather and Climate
Students learn about Earth processes that contribute to various types of weather. They analyze and interpret data and information to learn about weather patterns and climate from a local and global perspective. Students learn about Earth processes that result in natural hazards, and ways to reduce the impact of weather-related hazards.
Standards
- 3-ESS2-1: Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
- 3-ESS2-2: Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
- 3-ESS2-3: Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the connections between weather and water processes in Earth systems.
- 3-ESS3-1: Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard.
Essential Questions and Big Ideas of the Unit
- How do we find out about weather and climate?
- Scientists record patterns of the weather across different times and areas so that they can make predictions about what kind of weather might happen next. (3-ESS2-1)
- Climate describes a range of an area’s typical weather conditions and the extent to which those conditions vary over years. (3-ESS2-2)
- Earth’s processes continuously cycle water, contributing to weather and climate. (3-ESS2-3)
- How does weather and climate affect our everyday life?
- A variety of natural hazards result from natural processes. Humans cannot eliminate natural hazards but can take steps to reduce their impacts. (3-ESS3-1)
Download the complete Grade 3 Science Unit 1 framework to customize for your own planning.