Unit Plan 13 (Grade 1 Social Studies): Weather and Our Environment

Focus: Help students notice local weather patterns and physical features (trees, hills, playgrounds) and explain how these patterns influence clothing, activities, and routines. Support students in describing ways people adapt to and care for their environment (dressing for seasons, staying safe, recycling, picking up litter).

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Social Studies (Geography • Environment • Community)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students become “weather watchers,” paying attention to what the weather is like in their local area and how it changes over days and seasons. They connect weather and physical features (like trees, playgrounds, and nearby hills) to everyday choices: what to wear, what activities to do, and how to stay safe. Students also explore simple ways people care for the environment, such as recycling, reusing, and picking up litter, and connect these actions to keeping our community healthy.

Essential Questions

• What kinds of weather do we see where we live?
• How does the weather help us decide what to wear and what to do each day?
• How do people adapt to weather and care for our environment?
• Why is it important to make good choices for ourselves and for our planet?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Describe physical features and weather patterns in the local area (e.g., “It is often windy in spring,” “We have snow in winter”).
2. Identify how weather and seasons affect clothing, activities, and routines (e.g., wearing coats, playing indoors on rainy days).
3. Explain at least two ways people adapt to the environment (e.g., using umbrellas, building shelters, wearing boots).
4. Describe at least two simple ways people care for places (e.g., recycling paper, picking up litter at a park, turning off lights).
5. Create a Weather & Environment Choice Chart that links weather, clothing/activity choices, and one caring action for the environment.

Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (C3-based custom)

• 1.C3.Geo.3 — Describe physical features and weather patterns in the local area.
  • Example: Trees, river, hills; “It’s windy in spring so we wear jackets.”
• 1.C3.Geo.5 — Explain how people adapt to and care for places.
  • Example: Clothing for seasons, recycling, picking up litter at a park.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can tell what the weather is like where we live (sunny, rainy, snowy, windy).
• I can explain how weather helps me choose what to wear and what to do.
• I can give at least one example of how people adapt to weather (like using umbrellas or coats).
• I can name at least two ways people care for our environment (like recycling or picking up trash).
• I can make a chart or drawing that shows weather, my choices, and one way to help our planet.