Recording Weather and Climate

Lesson Plans

Grades3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8Earth and Space Sciences

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by New York DEP

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What it is

In this lesson, students learn about the difference between weather and climate by collecting weather data and comparing this with published weather and climate data for their area.
Students will learn about microclimates and weather monitoring through analysis and discussion.

Teaching tips

Positives

Students will practice their data collection and graphing skills in this lesson.
This lesson provides thorough background information to deepen teacher and student understanding of the topic.

Additional Prerequisites

Students must collect temperature data for 2-4 weeks before beginning the graphing, analysis, and discussion portion.
Students should be familiar with reading thermometers and graphing.
Teachers will need to print copies of the worksheets for students.
Students will need thermometers, graph paper, and computers with internet access.

Differentiation

Earth science classes can use this lesson to introduce weather vs. climate.
Despite the focus on New York City weather and climate, teachers anywhere in the United States can easily use this lesson by searching their city in the Climate Explorer and National Weather Service databases.
Older students can work independently or in small groups to collect temperature data.
Young students or students who struggle to read a thermometer may benefit from using a digital thermometer.

From the scientist review

The ability to decipher the quality of data is a necessary skill. An aspect of that is knowing where the data comes from and how it is collected. This resource will introduce students to this topic and is well-cited and accurate. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Other types: Videos, Data, Graphs, and Maps, Activity - Classroom, Worksheets
Format: PDF
Language: English
Location: North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > New York, North America > United States > New York > New York
Provider: New York DEP
Authors: New York DEP
Published: January 25, 2024
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Geo.10.3-5 + 6 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Geo.10.3-5Explain why environmental characteristics vary among different world regions.
D2.Geo.2.3-5Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their environmental characteristics.

Common Core Math Standards (CCSS.MATH)

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.MD.B.4Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions by using information presented in line plots. For example, from a line plot find and interpret the difference in length between the longest and shortest specimens in an insect collection.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.A.2Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

MS-ESS2-5.Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
3-ESS2-1.Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
3-ESS2-2.Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.

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What it is

Teaching tips

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