Water Cycle Lesson: Extreme Weather
Lesson Plan
1 hour 30 minutesGrades6, 7, 8Earth and Space Sciences
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Written by Mallory Swafford
About this lesson
In this lesson, students learn about extreme weather, create an infographic, and educate others on the knowledge gained from this unit.
Inquire: Students watch videos to understand why the weather is becoming more extreme.
Investigate: Students create an infographic about extreme weather impacts in their area.
Inspire: Students educate others on the knowledge gained from this unit.
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Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Suggestions
- The Investigate and Inspire sections can be completed on separate days or class periods, or extended.
- Since this is the last lesson in the unit, students should be encouraged to share their overall learning in a way they feel is most impactful. Consider the following suggestions to prompt brainstorming:
- Invite other classes for a gallery walk.
- Research a local official and email them. A sample email is included in the Teacher Document.
- Organize a community night by inviting parents, community members, community leaders, and others to participate in a gallery walk of the students’ materials. A sample flier in the Teacher Document can be used to help create an invitation. Students can stand next to their displays to explain their learning.
- A group of students can present at a school board meeting, a town hall event, a county hall event, or another local meeting. The Student Document can help students organize their thoughts and talking points with the C.E.R. model.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 4 of 4 in our 6th-8th grade Water Cycle Unit.
- Teachers need to determine how to choose the best course of action for sharing student learning. Options include the following:
- Class vote
- Teacher predetermines based on their best judgment
- Student panel is created
- Different groups choose different courses of action
Differentiation
- Students may use the Emotions Board in the Teacher Document for emotional vocabulary support.
- The writing activity can be extended or scaffolded based on classroom level and student needs. Teachers can determine specific prompts and requirements for students to demonstrate learning.
- Teachers can provide several templates for infographics or examples for students to model.
- Students can use their materials from all four lessons to create one main display reflecting their learning over the whole unit. This can be individual or in partners.
From the scientist review
This lesson allows students to understand the difference between weather and climate, the important variables that cause changes in weather, how weather and climate are predicted, the impact of weather extremes on the climate, and how human activities have accelerated wildfires, disrupted the water cycle, and caused other erratic weather disturbances in their communities. They would be able to explore which weather events are frequent and the overall combined impacts. All materials were rigorously reviewed, and this lesson has passed our science credibility process.
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About the teacher writer
Mallory Swafford
Teacher
I graduated in 2014 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a zoology degree. I worked in the field of zoology until 2018 when I decided to make the switch to education. I now am certified to teach first through sixth grades in general education. I am endorsed in middle grades science and I expect to finish my master's in high school biology this year. I love teaching science and am excited to work with the Subject to Climate team!
