Have you ever tried a project-based lesson in your classroom? Last summer, I was lucky enough to be trained on how to properly set up a lesson that would help prepare my students to answer a complex question while working on critical thinking, creativity and communication skills! Adding in ready-to-go weather resources helped make my first attempt a breeze. And don't worry, even if you are not ready to take on a PBL lesson, all the resources I used in this lesson would be fantastic in any classroom.
My class is full of students at all different levels and experiences. Prior to starting the PBL lesson, I really wanted to make sure that my ESL students understood seasons and how we change what we wear for each season. The learning weather magnetic activity set was perfect for this! For an extension, I had students write a sentence based on each season that included what the weather would be like and what to wear.
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To start off our lesson, students created a weather wheel craft kit. I love that each kit comes with everything needed, but a little bit of glue. As we are filling out our weather station each day, students spin their own wheel to stay engaged in the learning!
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Each morning, I have a student check a local weather station and then fill out the classroom weather pocket chart. This is a favorite activity each day. The classroom weather pocket chart is our new calendar to help save wall space. Who needs a big calendar when the pocket chart provides us everything we need?
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After recess, we head over to our bulletin board using the Weather Mini Bulletin Board Set! Now that students have been outside and were able to think and discuss the weather with a peer, we fill in our bulletin board. I love that this bulletin board set provides real life pictures. To make this interactive and easy to use, I put Velcro on the pieces that we change out daily.
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Our last step each day is to fill in the Weather Tracker! We spent a few days doing this together, but once students had the hang of it, it was all up to them! Students took turns completing the chart with a partner and then presented the information to the class. The Weather Tracker is a great way to get students discussing weather patterns.
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