Weather and Seasons Submitted by: Christen Campbell EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social Science Nevada

State College Spring 2012 Instructor: Karen Powell

EDEL 453-Spring 2012

Submitted By: Christen Campbell

Page 2 of 4

Weather and Seasons Social Studies Lesson Plan

Summary of the Lesson Plan: This social studies lesson is designed for 2nd graders who are learning about weather and its conditions, and also incorporates seasons. This lesson uses the Houghton Mifflin Social Studies textbook Weather and Seasons. The pages that were used are 96-100. Target and Population: -2nd grade; boys and girls -Students at all learning levels, including ELL learners -Whole group discussion, independent practice Objectives: G8.2.3 Identify how people shape the physical environment. G6.2.4 Identify patterns of change. Procedure: 1. Write on the board, Today it is raining. 2. Ask students what kind of day they like best. Do they like rainy days, sunny days, or snowy days? Instruct them to write 1-2 sentences about what kind of day they like and why in their journals. 3. Get Set to Read p. 96 4. Introduce vocabulary (weather and season). 5. Reading Skill: Cause and Effect (worksheet on page 26). 6. Seasons: Leveled Practice (page 97). -Make four columns on board and ask students what kind of clothing would be appropriate for each season. 7. Dressing for Weather-page 98 Ask the following questions: -What is one way weather changes how people live? -Look at the chart, (page 98) where in the United States is it warmer in the winter?

EDEL 453-Spring 2012

Submitted By: Christen Campbell

Page 2 of 4

Weather and Seasons Social Studies Lesson Plan

Assessment: Students will be instructed to create a picture book about the four seasons. The picture books will vary, but all should include drawings and details about each season. See Performance Task Rubric on page 99. Reflection: Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? I think that the weather portion of this lesson will be the easiest to teach because students will already have background knowledge in that area. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? I think it might be hard to answer certain questions about why the weather is the way that it is. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? I will extend/follow up this lesson by explaining that long ago, we did not have weather reports, and that we had to predict the weather simply by following old patterns. What can you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? I will review each weather concept with students who do not fully understand. I will also ask them what they think the words weather and season mean. There is an extra resource available for me on page 101. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I might need to shorten this lesson because I am not sure if it will be too long, and go over 50 minutes. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part?

EDEL 453-Spring 2012

Submitted By: Christen Campbell

Page 2 of 4

The most difficult part for me was finding objectives to go with my lesson. It was also difficult to not stray from the teachers manual because I am not use to using one of them!

Weather and Seasons Social Studies Lesson Plan

Materials: -Social Studies book pages 96-100 -Reading Skill page 26 -Leveled Practice page 97 -Paper, pencil and markers/crayons/colored pencils

EDEL 453-Spring 2012

Submitted By: Christen Campbell

Page 2 of 4