Changes in Weather Activities for 4th Grade Science

The Kesler Science Changes in Weather 4th Grade Complete 5E Lesson is designed to provide everything you need for an engaging, multi-day science lesson. This ready-to-go package offers minimal prep, enabling student-led learning that focuses on deep understanding and real success. Students will explore essential questions like how weather conditions are measured and predicted by meteorologists.

The lesson uses the 5E Model (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation), ensuring students actively participate in their learning. Materials are differentiated to meet diverse student needs, with resources in both English and Spanish. The lesson is flexible, available in both printable and digital formats, and includes editable PowerPoints and interactive notebook pages, allowing you to tailor it to your classroom.

Included in the lesson are a variety of activities that cover all stages of learning. From word walls and engaging discussions in the Engagement phase, to differentiated station labs in the Exploration phase, and student-choice projects in the Elaboration phase, students will have multiple opportunities to explore weather concepts. Assessments are provided for evaluating student mastery, and all materials are adaptable for both in-person and virtual learning environments.

The Kesler Science Changes in Weather Station Lab engages 4th-grade students with hands-on, differentiated activities that allow them to direct their own learning. The lab includes eight activities plus a challenge station for early finishers, providing students with a personalized learning experience. Teachers facilitate rather than direct the learning, offering flexibility in how students approach each task.

The nine modular stations are designed for independent or small group work and cover a range of multimodal activities. Stations include exploring experiments, researching weather concepts, reading and answering questions, watching videos, and completing hands-on tasks. Differentiated materials, including bilingual passages, ensure that all students can engage with the content.

Students have various ways to demonstrate their learning, such as organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and using task cards to apply vocabulary. A bonus challenge station extends learning for advanced students. The station lab can be used both in the classroom and virtually, ensuring accessibility in different learning environments.

The Kesler Science Changes in Weather Student Choice Projects give 4th-grade students the freedom to choose from nine project options, plus a "design your own" project. These projects allow students to demonstrate their knowledge in creative, personalized ways. A grading rubric is provided for teacher, peer, or self-assessment, with editable pages to adjust for different grading needs.

The projects are designed to be flexible and adaptable. There are two versions of the project page, including a modified version for students needing remediation and a more challenging set for advanced learners. Teachers can mix and match project options while using the same rubric for grading.

These Student Choice Projects use basic classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, with many projects also being digital. Some projects may require additional crafting supplies for model-building, ensuring students can work with materials they already have.