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🌤️ Weeks 29-31: Weather Station

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 3-4
Duration 3 sessions (40 min each)
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus S (Science), T (Tech), E (Engineering), M (Math)

Weeks 29-31: Weather Station

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Understand weather vs. climate 2. Use weather instruments to collect data 3. Build simple weather tools 4. Analyze weather patterns

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Appreciate weather as part of God's creation 2. See patterns in nature as God's design 3. Care for those affected by severe weather

Weeks 29-31: Weather Station

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

God's Providence in Nature — Weather patterns show God's continuous care for creation. Rain waters crops, sun provides warmth, winds distribute seeds. Even challenging weather reminds us of our dependence on God.

Scripture Connection

"He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes." — Psalm 147:15-16

Saint Connection

St. Medard of Noyon — Patron saint of weather, farmers, and vintners. According to legend, he was protected from rain by an eagle as a child. He reminds us that weather has always fascinated people of faith!

📚 Materials Needed

Week 29

  • Weather concept images

  • Weather instruments (real or pictures)

  • Data recording sheets

  • Science journals

Week 30

  • Thermometer (or homemade)

  • Rain gauge materials (bottles, rulers)

  • Wind vane materials (straws, paper, pins)

  • Barometer materials (jars, balloons)

Week 31

  • Weather data from previous weeks

  • Graphing materials

  • Presentation supplies

  • Weather prediction worksheets

📝 Week 29 Procedure: Weather Basics (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord of all creation, You control the wind and waves! Help us understand the weather You send. Thank You for rain that waters the earth and sun that warms us. St. Medard, pray for us! Amen."

Weather vs. Climate (8 min)

Understanding the difference:

Weather:

  • What's happening RIGHT NOW

  • Can change quickly

  • Temperature, precipitation, wind TODAY

  • "It's raining today"

Climate:

  • Average weather over LONG TIME

  • Changes slowly

  • Patterns over years/decades

  • "This region is usually rainy"

Local focus:

  • What's our weather like today?

  • What's our climate like overall?

  • What seasons do we experience?

Weather Elements (12 min)

What makes up weather?

1. Temperature 🌡️

  • How hot or cold

  • Measured in Fahrenheit or Celsius

  • Instrument: Thermometer

2. Precipitation 🌧️

  • Water falling from sky

  • Rain, snow, sleet, hail

  • Instrument: Rain gauge

3. Wind 💨

  • Moving air

  • Direction (from where it blows)

  • Speed (how fast)

  • Instruments: Wind vane, anemometer

4. Air Pressure 📊

  • Weight of air above us

  • High pressure = often clear

  • Low pressure = often stormy

  • Instrument: Barometer

5. Humidity 💧

  • Water vapor in air

  • Muggy vs. dry feeling

  • Affects how hot it feels

  • Instrument: Hygrometer

6. Cloud Cover ☁️

  • How much sky covered

  • Type of clouds

  • Predicts weather changes

  • Observation!

Weather Observation (13 min)

Go outside or look out window:

Record current weather:

  • Temperature (estimate or thermometer)

  • Sky condition (sunny, cloudy, etc.)

  • Wind (calm, breezy, windy)

  • Precipitation (none, light, heavy)

  • How does it FEEL?

Cloud identification:

  • Cumulus — Puffy, cotton-like

  • Stratus — Flat, layered

  • Cirrus — Wispy, high up

  • Cumulonimbus — Storm clouds!

Sketch in journal:

  • Draw today's sky

  • Label cloud types

  • Record observations

Faith Connection (3 min)

God's design in weather:

St. Medard story:

  • Protected by eagle as child

  • Became bishop who cared for farmers

  • Understood weather's importance

Discussion:

  • "How does weather show God's care?"

  • "Why might we pray about weather?"

  • "Who needs our prayers when weather is severe?"

Closing (2 min)

Weather journal assignment:

  • Record weather daily this week

  • Note: temperature, sky, wind, precipitation

  • Look for patterns

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for all kinds of weather! Help us understand Your creation better. Be with all people facing storms today. Amen."

📝 Week 30 Procedure: Building Weather Tools (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Creator God, help us build tools to understand Your world better! Bless our work today. Amen."

Weather Data Review (3 min)

Check journals:

  • What weather did you observe this week?

  • Any patterns?

  • Any surprises?

Build Weather Instruments (32 min)

Rotate through stations or build sequentially:

Station 1: Rain Gauge (8 min)

Materials:

  • Clear plastic bottle (cut top off)

  • Ruler

  • Permanent marker

  • Tape

Build: 1. Cut top third off bottle 2. Invert top into bottom (funnel) 3. Tape ruler to outside 4. Mark measurements in inches

Use:

  • Place outside in open area

  • Check and record daily

  • Empty after recording

Station 2: Wind Vane (8 min)

Materials:

  • Straw

  • Paper (for arrow)

  • Pin

  • Pencil with eraser

  • Small cup/base

Build: 1. Cut arrow point and tail from paper 2. Attach to straw ends 3. Find balance point, push pin through 4. Pin into eraser of pencil in base

Use:

  • Arrow points INTO wind

  • Cardinal directions labeled

Station 3: Anemometer (8 min)

Materials:

  • 4 small cups

  • 2 straws

  • Pin

  • Pencil with eraser

Build: 1. Cross straws, pin together through center 2. Attach cups to straw ends (all facing same rotational direction) 3. Mark one cup with color 4. Pin through eraser

Use:

  • Count rotations per minute

  • More rotations = faster wind

Station 4: Barometer (8 min)

Materials:

  • Glass jar

  • Balloon

  • Rubber band

  • Straw

  • Index card

Build: 1. Stretch balloon over jar opening 2. Secure with rubber band 3. Tape straw horizontally on balloon top 4. Position index card as scale

Use:

  • Straw moves up = high pressure

  • Straw moves down = low pressure

Testing Instruments (3 min)

Quick tests:

  • Blow on wind vane

  • Spin anemometer

  • Check barometer position

Placement plan:

  • Where will you put rain gauge?

  • Where will wind instruments go?

  • Where will barometer stay?

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for hands that build, Lord! Help us learn from what we've made. Amen."

📝 Week 31 Procedure: Data & Predictions (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"God who knows all things, help us learn to read the signs of weather You've placed in nature! Amen."

Collect Data (10 min)

Check instruments:

If instruments were placed outside:

  • Read rain gauge (record, empty)

  • Note wind vane direction

  • Count anemometer rotations

  • Check barometer position

Compare with official data:

  • Local weather station reports

  • How close were we?

Compile class data:

  • Create class chart for the week

  • Note patterns

Data Analysis (10 min)

Graph your weather:

Create weather graphs:

  • Temperature over time (line graph)

  • Precipitation totals (bar graph)

  • Wind direction frequency (pie chart)

Look for patterns:

  • Warmest/coldest days?

  • Connection between clouds and precipitation?

  • Wind direction and weather changes?

Math connections:

  • Calculate average temperature

  • Total precipitation

  • Most common wind direction

Weather Prediction (10 min)

How meteorologists predict:

Clues they use:

  • Air pressure (falling = storm coming)

  • Wind direction (changes signal fronts)

  • Cloud types (certain clouds mean rain)

  • Temperature trends

  • Humidity levels

Make your prediction: Using your data and current observations:

  • Tomorrow's forecast

  • This week's forecast

  • Explain your reasoning

Weather rhymes:

  • "Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in morning, sailor's warning"

  • "When clouds look like rocks and towers, the earth will be washed by showers"

  • "Ring around the moon, rain or snow soon"

Faith & Weather (6 min)

Discussion:

  • "Why do we pray about weather?"

  • "How should we respond to severe weather?"

  • "Who needs help when disasters strike?"

Catholic response to disasters:

  • Catholic Charities

  • Parish help for neighbors

  • Prayer for affected communities

  • Sharing resources

Gratitude: "Every day with good weather is a gift. Even difficult weather reminds us we're not in control — God is!"

Closing (2 min)

Continue weather journaling:

  • Keep recording through spring

  • Look for seasonal changes

  • Notice how weather affects life

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for weather in all its forms! Thank You for sunny days and rainy days, wind and calm. Help us trust You in all weather. Bless those facing storms — send help and hope. Make us helpers when others need us. St. Medard, pray for us! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We've been building weather instruments and collecting data! Ask your child to show you their tools and explain how they work. Continue weather observations at home. Discuss: 'How does weather affect our daily lives?' 'Who might need prayers or help during severe weather?' Check local forecast together using what we learned!"

✅ Assessment

  • Built functional weather instruments

  • Collected accurate weather data

  • Created weather graphs

  • Made reasonable weather predictions

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **