Why Teach the Weather? A Letter to the Reader

The weather has always fascinated us; we love to experience the mountains in the winter, the beach in the summer, Carolina football games in the fall and the Botanical Gardens in the spring. These are a few of the pleasures that the weather can bring to us but it can equally bring us frustration and grief. There are so many things in our lives that the weather can affect. It can drastically alter the amount of time it takes to drive somewhere; it can ruin an outing, and even cause schools and businesses to close down. In it's extreme; weather can destroy the most solid of structures and take lives. It is important for children and adults to gain an understanding of the weather because of the profound affect that it has on our every day lives. There are many aspects that can be investigated and many questions to be answered. What do the different clouds mean? How do I know what kind of clothes to wear? What type of house should I build? How much did it rain this year? How hot is it? Is the hurricane coming here and, do we need to evacuate? These are just a few questions that can be addressed when looking at weather. This phenomenon is so important that it has been included in the Science Standards and therefore required to be taught to elementary students. You will see through this unit that weather can be very easily implemented across the curriculum and can incorporate many of the technology tools available to us. This unit includes accommodations for a variety of disabilities so inclusion is addressed. This unit can also be used in a self-contained classroom with varying ability levels. The unit is designed to invite the child to learn by using methods and tools that are innovative and exciting. We invite you to journey over the rainbow and through the storm as we share our ideas with you on how to keep an "Eye on the Weather" in your classroom! Leslie Jones Cathie Russell