Unit Plan 21 (Grade 3 Science): Climate Around the World

Focus: Research and compare climates in different regions using texts, maps, and data displays.

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: Science (Earth & Space Science)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students build on their weather learning to explore climate—the long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation in different places. They examine graphs, maps, and short informational texts about climates around the world. By the end of the week, each student will compare their local climate to one or more global regions and communicate findings in a simple visual and written product.

Essential Questions

• How is climate different from daily weather?
• What patterns do we see in temperature and precipitation in different regions of the world?
• How can tables, graphs, and maps help us describe and compare climates?
• Why is it important for people to understand climate when they live, work, or travel in different places?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Explain in their own words the difference between weather (day-to-day conditions) and climate (long-term patterns).
2. Collect and organize climate information (temperature and precipitation) for at least two different regions.
3. Use tables and graphs to show temperature and precipitation patterns across months or seasons.
4. Obtain and combine information from texts, maps, and data displays to describe climates in different parts of the world.
5. Create a Climate Comparison Poster or Travel Card that clearly compares their local climate to a selected global region.

Standards Alignment — 3rd Grade (NGSS-Aligned)

• 3-ESS2-2 — Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
  • Example: Research two regions (e.g., a tropical rainforest and a desert) using maps, climate graphs, and short articles; then describe how their climates differ.

Success Criteria — Student-Friendly Language

• I can tell the difference between weather and climate and give an example of each.
• I can read graphs, tables, and maps to find information about temperature and precipitation in a region.
• I can describe a region’s climate using phrases like “usually warm,” “often rainy,” or “cold and dry.”
• I can compare my local climate to another region using similarities and differences.
• I can create a final product (poster or travel card) that clearly shows what I learned about climates around the world.