Unit Plan 27 (PreK Science): Weather & Environment — Quarter Synthesis

Focus: Explain daily weather, seasonal changes, clothing/tool choices, land/water/sky features, help/harm actions, and weather safety routines through observations, pictures, and a simple class “show-and-tell” synthesis project.

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: Science (Weather • Environment • Inquiry/Communication)

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

I. Introduction

This quarter-synthesis unit helps children pull together their learning about weather, seasons, and the environment. Each day, students practice noticing and naming weather conditions, matching weather to clothing and tools, and using pictures and real-life examples to talk about land, water, and the sky. Children also revisit how people can help or harm the environment and practice simple weather safety routines for rain, wind, hot days, and cold days. The week ends with a joyful Weather & Environment Share where children explain a class chart, a picture sort, and one simple model/drawing that shows what they learned.

Essential Questions

• What is the weather today, and what patterns do we notice over time?
• How does weather help us choose clothes and tools (coat, boots, umbrella)?
• What do we see in the land, water, and sky around us?
• How can people help or harm the environment?
• How do we prepare and stay safe in different kinds of weather?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Children will be able to:

1. Identify and describe daily weather using simple words and visuals (sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, snowy).
2. Notice simple patterns (e.g., “We have had three rainy days”) using a class weather chart.
3. Match weather to appropriate clothing and tools and explain choices with simple reasons.
4. Identify common features of land, water, and sky (rocks, soil, puddles, clouds, sun, moon) using pictures and outdoor observations.
5. Describe ways people help (watering plants, picking up trash) or harm (littering, wasting water) the environment.
6. Practice basic weather safety routines (what we do for storms, very hot days, or very cold days) and explain why they help.

Standards Alignment — PreK (NGSS-based custom)

• PK-ESS2-1 — Observe daily weather and describe simple weather patterns.
  • Example: Use a class chart to notice repeating conditions (sunny days, windy days).
• PK-ESS2-2 — Notice that weather affects clothing and activities.
  • Example: “We need boots when it’s rainy.”
• PK-ESS3-1 — Identify where plants and animals live (land vs. water) and connect to basic habitat ideas.
  • Example: “Fish live in water; birds live in trees.”
• PK-ESS3-2 — Observe ways people help or harm the environment.
  • Example: Picking up trash, watering plants, turning off lights.
• PK-ESS3-3 — Notice that we prepare for different types of weather to stay safe.
  • Example: Raincoat routines, shade/water on hot days, indoor plans for storms.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can tell the weather today (sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, snowy).
• I can help add to our weather chart and notice a pattern.
• I can pick clothes and tools that match the weather and say why.
• I can name things in the land, water, and sky that I see.
• I can tell one way people help the environment and one way people harm it.
• I can practice a weather safety routine and explain what it helps us do.