--- title: Lessons for Weather & Climate | K-8 Grade description: Weather and Climate Disciplinary Core Ideas image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # Weather and Climate Disciplinary Core Ideas [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Asking questions and defining problems](https://www.knowatom.com/asking-questions-and-defining-problems) - [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models) - [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations) - [Analyzing and interpreting data](https://www.knowatom.com/analyzing-and-interpreting-data) - [Using mathematics and computational thinking](https://www.knowatom.com/using-mathematics-and-computational-thinking) - [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions) - [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence) - [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information) Disciplinary Core Ideas - [Weather and Climate](https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate) - [Earth Materials and Systems](https://www.knowatom.com/earth-materials-and-systems) - [The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes](https://www.knowatom.com/the-roles-of-water-in-earth-surface-processes) Crosscutting Concepts - [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns) - [Scale Proportion and Quantity](https://www.knowatom.com/scale-proportion-and-quantity) - [Systems and System Models](https://www.knowatom.com/systems-and-system-models) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Lessons for Weather and Climate Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-07-2023-03-00-08-0564-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/earth-materials-and-water-flow) ## [Earth Materials and Water Flow In this unit, students focus on the science phenomena of Earth’s interacting systems, evaluating how the hydrosphere and geosphere are shaped by one another. In the first lesson of the unit, students conduct an experiment to determine how the particle size of an Earth material affects its permeability to water. This page highlights key excerpts from the components of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/earth-materials-and-water-flow) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/earth-materials-and-water-flow) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-07-2023-11-51-41-5726-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heat-and-evaporation) ## [Heat and Evaporation In the last unit, students learned about matter as they explored Earth’s position in the solar system. In this unit, students discuss how the sun provides light and heat to Earth, powering the water cycle, which in turn influences weather and climate. Students analyze the science phenomena of weather patterns in specific regions during a particular season. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heat-and-evaporation) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heat-and-evaporation) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-07-2023-11-58-00-9482-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/flood-control-engineering) ## [Flood Control Engineering In this unit, students discover how the sun provides light and heat to Earth and how the water cycle influences weather and climate. Students analyze weather patterns in specific regions during a particular season. They then use that knowledge to study the effects of extreme weather on humans, evaluating solutions to protect against those effects. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/flood-control-engineering) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/flood-control-engineering) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-07-2023-12-00-33-1835-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) ## [Energy from the Sun In this unit, students are introduced to the interdependence of living things and their environment as they analyze how individual organisms are suited to their particular environment, but all organisms require energy and nutrients to survive.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-09-2023-06-50-12-9288-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/sun-angle-and-temperature) ## [Sun Angle and Temperature In this unit, students analyze the phenomenon of our sun as the primary source of energy on Earth. In this lesson, students explore how the sun’s uneven heating of the planet drives weather phenomena and climate phenomena, which result from complex interactions within Earth’s systems. This page is an extract from parts of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/sun-angle-and-temperature) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/sun-angle-and-temperature) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-06-50-09-1556-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather) ## [Convection and Weather In this unit, students explore the phenomena of convection by discovering how heat is transferred from warmer locations to cooler locations, which is a major cause of weather and climate. This page is a high-level extract of a lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-1.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/heat-and-water) ## [Heat and Water In kindergarten, students begin to develop the practices that scientists and engineers use to help them answer questions and solve problems. This page is a high level extract from lesson 3, where students carry out an experiment to determine how heat affects water in a solid form (ice).](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/heat-and-water) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/heat-and-water) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-1.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/the-water-cycle) ## [The Water Cycle This page is a high level extract from lesson 4 where kindergarten students develop a model to show how water is cycled between the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/the-water-cycle) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/the-water-cycle) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-1.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/weather-patterns) ## [Weather Patterns In kindergarten, students work towards developing routines and practices that scientists use to investigate phenomena and solve problems. This page is an extract from lesson 5 where students build on their weather observation skills as they observe and record local weather data to analyze weather patterns in their geographic area. Students continue to collect weather data over several months as they move onto the next lessons to build on their weather patterns analysis.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/weather-patterns) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/weather-patterns) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-1.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/weather-and-seasons) ## [Weather and Seasons In kindergarten, students begin to develop the practices that scientists and engineers use to help them answer questions and solve problems. Students ask questions, make observations, and collect data as they explore weather patterns on Earth and investigate how different Earth materials are heated by the sun.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/weather-and-seasons) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/weather-and-seasons) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-1.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/extreme-weather) ## [Extreme Weather In kindergarten students learn to ask questions, make observations, and collect data as they explore weather patterns on Earth and investigate how different Earth materials are heated by the sun. This lesson is part of a kindergarten series that students learn the practices that scientists and engineers use to help them answer questions and solve problems. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/extreme-weather) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/extreme-weather) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/earths-water.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/earths-interacting-systems) ## [Earth's Interacting Systems In this unit, students analyze the science phenomena of the important role that oceans play in regulating Earth’s climate. In this lesson, they focus on how oceans interact with other Earth systems to distribute water and heat around the planet, resulting in various weather patterns, including hurricanes. This page highlights key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/earths-interacting-systems) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/earths-interacting-systems) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-07-2023-11-55-14-8786-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/weather-and-climate) ## [Weather and Climate In this unit, students explore the science phenomena of Earth’s weather system and analyze how heat from the sun warms Earth’s surface unevenly, powering the water cycle, which in turn drives weather and climate on the planet. Students create weather instruments to collect and analyze daily weather data. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/weather-and-climate) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/weather-and-climate) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-08-2023-11-09-11-0136-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/earths-interacting-systems) ## [Earth's Interacting Systems In this unit, students analyze the science phenomena of the important role that oceans play in regulating Earth’s climate. In this lesson, they focus on how oceans interact with other Earth systems to distribute water and heat around the planet, resulting in various weather patterns, including hurricanes. This page highlights key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/earths-interacting-systems) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/earths-interacting-systems) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-18-2023-10-46-31-5099-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/windy-weather) ## [Windy Weather In kindergarten, students begin to develop the practices that scientists and engineers use to help them answer questions and solve problems.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/windy-weather) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/kindergarten-science/windy-weather) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it. ![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo") Quick Links Resources Sign Up for Our Blog ### Sign Up for Our Blog Connect with Us - - - - © 2026 KnowAtom LLC  •  10 Brady Drive Unit 3   •  Ipswich MA •   01938 USA [DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION](https://www.knowatom.com/do-not-sell-my-personal-information) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.knowatom.com/privacy-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.knowatom.com/terms-of-use) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "USA", "addressLocality" : "Salem", "addressRegion" : "MA", "postalCode" : "01970", "streetAddress" : "27 Congress Suite 410" }, "alternateName" : "KA", "areaServed" : { "@type" : "GeoCircle", "geoMidpoint" : { "@type" : "GeoCoordinates", "latitude" : "+42.5182274", "longitude" : "-70.8877569" }, "geoRadius" : "150 km" }, "description" : "Next Generation Science STEM Curriculum", "email" : "fvigeant@knowatom.com", "image" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KA-GSD.png", "logo" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Knowatom-2017/Image/logo-1.png", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "Weather and Climate Disciplinary Core Ideas\n\n\n" }, "name" : "KnowAtom", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/KnowAtom", "https://twitter.com/KnowAtom", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0rbN0RfqaU1xaISrdVpTA", "https://plus.google.com/110709105138117096940" ], "telephone" : "(617) 475-3475", "url" : "https://www.knowatom.com" } ```