Fiction and non-fiction titles compiled by our developers
Annotated lists of child-friendly and teacher-friendly websites to deepen content knowledge or conduct further research.
Documents for Science Companion users to print for their classrooms.
Suggestions for organizing and managing materials.
ExploraGear kits contain equipment and consumables for student explorations. Scroll down to view the entire ExploraGear list.
Each module also lists easy-to-find Classroom Supplies used in the lessons. Scroll down or click the link on the right to see the Classroom Supplies list for this module.
| QUANTITY | ITEM |
|---|---|
| 3 | Balloons, pk/12 |
| 1 | Spray-trigger Bottle, 16 oz |
| 3 | Flux Brushes, pk/12 |
| 1 | Magnetic Compass |
| 1 | Clear Plastic Cups, 10oz, pk/50 |
| 6 | Plastic Droppers |
| 14 | Dual Magnifier Hand Lenses |
| 6 | Plastic Jar w/ Lid, 16 oz (473.2 mL) |
| 1 | White Pipe Cleaners, pk/30 |
| 1 | Rain Gauge |
| 3 | Pumice rocks, pk/2 |
| 1 | Storage Chest w/ Lid, 11×18×15 |
| 1 | Thermometer, Classroom |
| 28 | Thermometers, Low-range Plastic |
| QUANTITY | ITEM | LESSONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bulletin board | Multiple |
| Several sheets | Chart paper | 1 |
| 1 | Marker | 1 |
| As many as possible | Pictures of different types of weather (from newspapers, magazines, or your own collection of photographs) | Multiple |
| 2 rolls | Tape, clear | Multiple |
| 1 sheet | Construction paper, laminated (optional) | Multiple |
| 1 | VCR (optional) | 2 |
| 1 | Videotape of local weather forecast (optional) | 2 |
| 1 set per group or child | Crayons or markers | 3 |
| 1 | Overhead transparency marker, red | 3, SBA 2 |
| 1 | Overhead projector | 3, 4, 6, 11, 25, SBA 2 |
| 1 set | Permanent markers | 3, 4, 9 |
| 1 | Class thermometer | 4 |
| 1 per color | Colored paper pieces (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white) | 4 |
| 4 per group | Cups that won’t tip | 4 |
| 1 bag or 4 trays | Ice | 4 |
| 1 | Ice chest (optional) | 4, 5, 10, 17 |
| 1 per child | Paper towels | 4, 22 |
| Amounts vary | Water | Multiple |
| 1 | Ice pack | 5, 17 |
| 2 sheets per group | Construction paper, black | 5, 23 |
| 2-3 dozen | Ice cubes | 5, 13 |
| 12 | Resealable plastic bags, large (gallon size) | 5, 22 |
| 1 per child | Pencils | Multiple |
| Class set | Colored pencils or pens | 6, 11, 16, 19-21, 26-29 |
| Enough for each sky observation | Unifix cubes, or other counters (optional) | 6, 16 |
| 1 long piece | Cardboard | 7 |
| 1 | Grease pencil | 7 |
| 1 | Ruler | 7 |
| 1 pair | Scissors | 7, 18 |
| Use discretion | Umbrellas (optional) | 7 |
| 1 | Water pitcher | 7 |
| 5 per child | Cotton balls | 8 |
| 2 per child | Cotton pads, square or round “facial” type | 8 |
| 1 bottle per group | Glue | 8 |
| 1 per pair | Cups, clear plastic, 250 mL | 9, 10, 15 |
| 1 | Freezer (in room, teacher’s lounge or school kitchen) | 9 |
| 1 | Globe or picture of Earth from the moon | 9, SBA 1 |
| 1 roll | Masking tape | 9 |
| At least 1 per pair | Small items to place in cups to freeze | 9 |
| Several | Trays | 9 |
| 1 | Chalkboard or whiteboard | 10, 12 |
| 1 per pair | Paper plates | 10 |
| 1 kg (2.2 lb) | Salt | 10, 17 |
| 1 container to share | Sand | 10 |
| 1 per child | Scraping tools (stiff brushes, paper clips, plastic knives, craft sticks, pencils, etc.) | 10, 17 |
| 1 quarter sheet per child | Construction paper | 12 |
| 1 | Crock-pot, electric kettle, or electric griddle | 12 |
| 1 per group | Cups, insulated | 12, 13 |
| 1 | Humidifier (optional) | 12, 13 |
| 1 roll or stack | Paper towels | 12 |
| 1 | Sponge or paper towel | 12 |
| 1 | Thermos (optional) | 12 |
| 1 per child | Writing slates (optional) | 12 |
| 1 | Electric appliance (to heat water) | 13 |
| 1 per pair | Resealable plastic bags, sandwich size | 13 |
| 1 | Tray, metal (if available) or plastic | 13 |
| 1 | Picture of dew-covered spider web (optional) | 14 |
| 1 per child | Socks, old (optional) | 14 |
| 8-10 per dew catcher | Aluminum foil, 2.5 cm (1 in) wide strips | 15 |
| 1 per group | Hammers or hefty stones | 15 |
| 3 or more per dew catcher | Sticks, 30-40 cm (12-16 in) long | 15 |
| 1 skein or ball | Yarn or string | 15 |
| 1 | Large view magnifier or dissecting scope (optional) | 17 |
| 1 | Number line | 17 |
| 2 per group | Tin cans, 375 mL (12 oz), empty and taped on sharp rims | 17 |
| 2 | Containers, clear, 500 mL (16 oz) | 18 |
| Class set | Pattern blocks | 18 |
| 1 per child | Pattern block template | 18 |
| 1 per child | Tissue paper, cut into hexagon shapes | 18 |
| 1 | Bottle, plastic or glass | 22 |
| 1 per child | Bottles, extra (optional) | 22 |
| 6 pieces | Brick, concrete, or broken clay flower pot | 22 |
| 6 | Sponges, whole or pieces | 22 |
| 1 per child | Straws | 22 |
| 3 | Water tubs, plastic, large enough to hold about 7.5 liters (2 gallons) | 22 |
| 6 | Wool clothing scraps | 22 |
| 1 | Clipboard with paper | 23 |
| 1 | Electric fan, oscillating, or hair dryer (optional) | 23, 25 |
| 1 handful in plastic bag | Lightweight substance such as fine breadcrumbs, feathers, or crumbled leaves | 23 |
| 1 per child | Ribbons, approx. 60 cm (24 in) long | 23 |
| 1 piece per child | Sidewalk chalk | 23 |
| 1 | Weathervane (optional, but recommended) | 23 |
| 1 | Fan (optional) | 24 |
| 1 per child | Rulers | 24 |
| 1 for teacher | Clipboard and pencil | 25 |
| 1 each | Cards labeled north, south, east, and west | SBA 1 |
| 1 | Map with cardinal directions | SBA 1 |
| 1 | Filmstrip, slide, or overhead projector and filmstrip, slides, or overhead transparencies (any subject) | SBA 3 |
| 2 or more | Flashlights or other light sources (optional) | SBA 3 |
| 1 or more | Jeweler’s loupe (optional) | SBA 3 |
| 1 per pair | Lincoln pennies, new and clean | SBA 3 |
| 1 sheet per group of 4 | Paper, graph | SBA 3 |
Below are some general tips and suggestions to assist with the management of materials for the Weather Unit:
Our writers recommended these independent websites as background information and content supplements for weather lessons.
kids' snow page
www.teelfamily.com/activities/snow
a family in alaska has created a web page with some very nice children's activities in the snow.
snowflake photos
www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artfeb00/eksnow.html
an article on photographing snowflakes that includes some excellent snowflake photos.
http://www.weather.com/education/resources/index.html
provides links to sources of information from the weather channel, including "dave’s dictionary" of weather words, "backyard meteorology" for setting up a weather station, and a "storm encyclopedia" about severe weather episodes in history.
http://www.wx.dude.com
another weather channel web site, featuring nick "the weather dude" walker. selections include "weather basics," "meteorology a to z," "weather forecasts," and more.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov
the national weather service (nws) web site provides direct access to weather forecasts and summaries for select cities, maps of nws regions, storm predictions, and educational links.
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wgraph0.htm
usa today provides a very informative site with links to graphics and explanations of numerous weather topics, from "air masses" to "winter weather."
http://www.temperatureworld.com/gi.htm
a web site with temperature related links of humorous or general interest, including "fahrenheit’s thermometer" and "the origin of the celsius temperature scale."
http://usatoday.com/weather/wwater0.htm
from the usa today weather web site, this page provides links that explain water in the atmosphere, including information about clouds and fog, evaporation and condensation, humidity, rain, and snow.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(gh)/guides/mtr/cld/home.rxml
this is a module from the university of illinois’ ww2010 online meteorology guide. with photos and careful text, it offers sections on the development of clouds and precipitation; cloud types; and rain, snow, hail, sleet, and freezing rain.
http://athena.wednet.edu/curric/weather/pricloud/index.html
as part of the athena curriculum about weather, this web page on "observing clouds" offers photos and descriptions of the most common cloud types.
The following is a list of recommended books that provide a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or provide the list to your school librarian.
By Sally Hewitt. (2000, Children’s Press)
Simple text and photos illustrate the concepts of temperature.
By Allan Fowler. (1995, Children’s Press)
Describes the meaning of temperature with clear text and illustrations.
By Colleen Carroll. (1998, Abbeville Press)
This book is a wonderful way to not only reinforce familiar weather concepts, but also introduce art.
By Allan Fowler. (1994, Children’s Press)
Gives a simple explanation of the four cardinal directions and tells how to use the sun to determine direction. Useful for the “Using a Compass” Skill Building Activity.
Selected by Beatrice Schenk deRegniers, et al., illustrated by nine Caldecott Medal artists. (1988, Scholastic Inc.)
Has a nice selection called “Mostly Weather” with watercolor illustrations by Marcia Brown.
By John Farndon. (1992, Dorling Kindersley Publishing)
Directs children to watch and understand the weather—for example, clouds, rain, snow, wind, a hot day—and do activities such as make their own barometer.
By Dick File. (McGraw-Hill Consumer Products)
This combination book and CD-ROM answers questions about the weather. (Appropriate for ages 3 -10.)
By Gail Gibbons. (1993, Aladdin)
With straightforward text and colorful pictures, this behind-the-scenes look at a modern weather station answers basic questions that kids ask most, and makes weather forecasting more fun and accessible than ever.
Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Melanie Hall. (1995. Harper Trophy Publishers.)
Short poems, clear text, and nice illustrations.
By Gail Gibbons. (1990, Holiday House)
Clear color drawings and explanations of weather words such as “temperature,” “air pressure,” “moisture,” and “wind.”
By Franklyn Mansfield Branley; illustrated by Holly Keller. (1986, Harper Trophy)
Funny illustrations and approachable science writing show how air is in everything, including water.
By Betsy James; illustrated by Anna Vojtech. (1995, Penguin)
Sophie lives with her grandmother near the desert, where the wind blows and blows. She doesn’t like the wind until her grandmother teaches her how to make a blow-away-soon, a tower of rocks covered with special items to give the wind. She learns that the wind scatters grass seeds, carves the rocks, and provides currents for birds to fly in.
By Marie Hall Ets. (1978, Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers)
A young boy finds wind to be a playmate of many moods: one that can sail boats, fly kites, blow dirt, and turn umbrellas inside out. Appropriate for early readers.
By David T. Suzuki; illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. (1996, Stoddart Kids)
One day at the beach, Megan and Jamie learn that, although air is invisible, it is all around us, and it does amazing things.
By Joanne Cole; illustrated by Bruce Degen. (1996, Scholastic)
Ms. Frizzle takes her class on a trip into the clouds to gather facts about hurricanes. The magic school bus changes into a weather balloon and then into an airplane as the class experiences a hurricane and a spin-off tornado first hand.
Edited by Dorothy M. Kennedy; illustrated by Sasha Meret. (1998, Margaret McElderry)
A collection of 27 rhythmic poems about the wind; great for reading aloud.
By Robin Darcey Davis, Catherine O’Neill, and James A. Cox. (1982, National Geographic Society)
Describes the causes and effects of such geologic and atmospheric phenomena as earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, drought, fire, and flood. The “Stormy Weather” section is particularly useful for its photos of wind and wind-ravaged communities. Look for this book in your library.
By Jason Cooper. (1992, The Rourke Book Company)
Provides a simple discussion of the causes of air movement, uses of wind power, and such phenomena as hurricanes and tornadoes.
By Janet Palazzo-Craig; illustrated by Julie Durrell. (1989, Troll Assoc.)
Penny the mouse has many adventures when she goes to mail a letter on a very windy day. Also appropriate for early readers.
Clouds
By Tomie de Paola. (1985, Holiday House)
Introduces the ten most common types of clouds, the myths that have been inspired by their shapes, and what they can tell us about coming weather changes. A good book for reading aloud.
By Gail Saunders-Smith. (1998, Pebble Books)
Part of a series of books about the weather; introduces the most important attributes of clouds.
By Charles Shaw. (1988 [1947], HarperCollins Juvenile Books)
The white shape silhouetted against a blue background changes on every page. Is it a rabbit, a bird, or just spilt milk? Children are kept guessing until the surprise ending. With repetitive rhymes, the book is easy for children to memorize and “reread.”
By May Swenson. (2000, Houghton Mifflin)
Excellent collection of poems. “The Cloud Mobile” poem, in particular, creates beautiful imagery of clouds.
By Allan Fowler. (1996, Children’s Press)
Color photos illustrate simple descriptions of the shapes and types of clouds.
By Carol Green; illustrated by Paul Sharp. (1983, Children’s Press)
Ice is cold, slippery, pretty, and a lot of fun for children.
By Laura Ingalls Wilder; illustrated by Garth Williams. (1932; 1971, HarperTrophy)
First book in the Laura Years series. Laura lives with Pa and Ma and her sisters in a snug little house built of logs. Too advanced for beginning readers; however, the chapter “The Sugar Snow” is appropriate for reading aloud and setting a mood in the classroom. In the chapter "Dance at Grandpa's", the Ingalls family makes candy with hot maple syrup and snow.
By Louise Everett; illustrated by Richard Max Kolding. (1989, Troll Assoc.)
In this easy-to-read story, Rosie the elephant and her friend Joe enjoy ice-skating until Joe falls through the ice.
By Jacqueline Briggs Martin; illustrated by Mary Azarian. (1998, Scholastic Inc.)
The 1999 Caldecott Medal-winning biography of Wilson Bentley, a Vermont farm boy who grew up to become a world-famous snowflake expert and one of the first to successfully photograph snowflakes. Blends beautiful woodcuts, storybook text, and factual sidebars.
By Ezra Jack Keats. (1981, Viking Press)
A 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, this is a simple and graphically beautiful tale of a boy in the city who wakes up to discover that snow has fallen during the night.
By Helen Frost. (2000, Pebble Books)
Simple text presents facts about water in its solid state, its properties, and its uses.
By W.D. Valgardson; illustrated by Ange Zhang. (1995, Margaret McElderry)
While helping his grandfather, an ice fisherman on Lake Winnipeg, Thor spots a man who has driven his snowmobile through a weak patch of ice.
By Carol Greene. Illustrated by Gene Sharp. (1983, Children’s Press)
As a child talks to the sun, the reader can see some of the sun’s happy effects.
By Seymour Simon. (1989, Mulberry Books)
Describes the nature of the sun, its origin, source of energy, layers, atmosphere, sunspots, and activity.
By Mordecai Gerstein. (1989, HarperCrest)
This picture book follows the sun’s course across the sky over a day. Illustrations show shadows moving, and the story conveys a sense of time.
By Jean Marzollo. Illustrated by Laura Regan. (1995, HarperCollins Juvenile Books)
Through rhyming text and acrylic paintings, animals and plants respond to the sun’s changing light over the course of a single day.
By Gail Gibbons. (1983, Harcourt Brace)
Describes the characteristics of the sun and the ways in which it regulates life on earth. The simple illustrations help explain science concepts to children.
By Frank Branley. (1997, Harper Collins)
This book provides an excellent introduction to weather and the water cycle.
By Barbara Shaw McKinney; illustrated by Michael S. Maydak. (1998, Dawn Publications.)
Through rhyming text and full-color illustrations, children follow an anthropomorphized “Drop” on its travels around the world in solid, liquid, and vaporous states.
By Elsie Ward. (1995, Scholastic)
A drop of water and a little girl visit and re-visit each other as the drop goes through the water cycle.
By Joanna Cole; illustrated by Bruce Degen. (1988, Scholastic)
Ms. Frizzle drives the magic school bus into a cloud, where the children shrink to the size of water droplets and follow the course of water through the city’s waterworks.
By Joanna Cole; illustrated by Bruce Degen. (1996, Scholastic)
Ms. Frizzle and the class evaporate, condense into a rain cloud, and drizzle down upon the earth.