Unit 15 — Weather and the Seasons

Welcome back!

Have you ever looked outside and wondered:

Will it rain today?

Will it be sunny?

Should I wear a coat?

Weather affects our lives every day.

Today we will discover what weather is and why it changes.

What Is Weather?

Weather is what the air and sky are like at a particular time and place.

Weather can be:

• sunny
• cloudy
• rainy
• snowy
• windy
• foggy
• stormy

Weather changes from day to day.

Sometimes it even changes during the same day.

Sunshine

The Sun provides light and warmth.

Sunny days help:

• plants grow
• animals stay warm
• people play outside
• water dry after rain

Even on cloudy days, the Sun is still shining above the clouds.

Clouds

Clouds are made of tiny drops of water or tiny ice crystals.

Some clouds are:

• white and fluffy
• gray and thick
• high in the sky
• low to the ground

Watching clouds can help us notice changing weather.

Rain and Snow

When clouds hold more water than they can carry, water falls to Earth.

If the air is warm, it falls as rain.

If the air is very cold, it may fall as snow.

Rain and snow provide fresh water for plants, animals, and people.

Wind

Wind is moving air.

Sometimes the wind is gentle.

Sometimes it blows very strongly.

Wind can:

• move leaves
• fly kites
• help sailboats travel
• carry seeds to new places

We cannot see the wind itself, but we can see what it moves.

The Four Seasons

Most places experience four seasons.

Spring

Flowers bloom and many plants begin growing.

Summer

Days are usually warmer and longer.

Autumn (Fall)

Leaves on many trees change color and fall.

Winter

The weather becomes colder, and some places receive snow.

Each season brings its own changes to nature.

Activity

Keep a weather journal for one week.

Each day record:

• sunny or cloudy
• warm or cool
• windy or calm
• rain or snow

At the end of the week, compare your observations.

Did the weather stay the same or change?

Practice

Answer these questions.

What is weather?

Name four kinds of weather.

What causes wind?

How many seasons are there?

What season comes after summer?

Review

Today you learned:

• weather describes conditions outside
• sunshine provides light and warmth
• clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals
• rain and snow bring water to Earth
• wind is moving air
• the four seasons each have special characteristics

Careful observation helps us understand the changing world around us.

Looking Ahead

Next we will discover Earth and the Solar System.

We will learn about:

• Earth
• the Moon
• the Sun
• planets
• day and night

Looking up at the sky helps us better understand our place in the universe.