Windy Weather

In this brief lesson students engage in Socratic dialogue or wonder circle asking and answering questions about weather and how scientists explore weather patterns, specifically the wind. Students will practice observing the weather where they live and engaging in a dialogue about their observations, after reading a story which introduces them to the concept of wind. They will also explore how scientists study the effects of wind by creating a pinwheel to notice how the wind moves different objects. The goal of this lesson is to launch students into a process of beginning to act like scientists and engineers themselves. They will carry this understanding forward as they engage with phenomena hands-on as scientists and engineers in future lessons.

• Whenever students look at the world around them and notice something specific, they are making observations.
• The weather outside is always changing, and we can observe these changes using our senses.
• Scientists use different tools to make observations about the weather. There are different tools for measuring the wind.
• Scientists use evidence that they gather from observations and tools to find answers for questions they have about the weather.

• What is the weather like today?
• How can we tell what the weather is like?
• Where does weather happen?
• How do we know where air is even though we can’t see it?
• How can we tell if the wind is strong or light?
• How can pinwheels help us see how windy the weather is?

Misconception: The seasons cause weather to change.

Fact: Seasons have specific weather patterns associated with them, but they aren’t the cause of the weather.

Weather : what the air is like outside at a particular time and place (rainy, sunny, windy, warm, cool, etc.)

Wind : moving air

This mini-lesson is a hands-on exploration of pinwheels as a way of understanding weather and how scientists measure one particular kind of weather, in this case, wind. Students will take pinwheels outside and discover how the pinwheel’s movement depends on the wind. They will discuss ways to make the pinwheels spin faster or slower and consider what other objects could be used to measure and understand wind conditions. The discussion after the hands-on activity builds a foundation for a Socratic circle discussion where students share their connections and thoughts about the world. Students are encouraged to ask curious questions to better understand another student’s connection in a process that helps the student reflect while sparking new ideas and connections for the entire class.