Clouds/Rain Lesson Plan

LESSON PLAN

Teacher:	Casey Gibbons
Grade Level:	preschool/kindergarten
DATE:	September 29, 2015
Subject/Topic(s):	Clouds/Rain

PA Common Core Standards

Referenced from http://www.pdesas.org/  for PA State approved academic standards (Grade-specific Numbers & Descriptions)

S.K-2.D.2.1.1: Identify weather variables (i.e., temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation) 3.2.PK.A6: Participate in simple investigations to answer a question or to test a prediction

Objectives

Objectives correspond with PA State Common Core Standards listed above (SWBAT…)

SWBAT identify what clouds are. SWBAT identify what rain is and how rain helps us. SWBAT investigate how rain builds up in clouds and then is released.

Lesson Introduction: (5-7 min)

(Activate background knowledge & set purpose)

-Ask the students what they know about clouds and rain -Make a list of words we associate with clouds and rain -Read excerpts from “Rain” and “Clouds” by Terry Jennings

Activities/Procedures: (25-30min)

Lesson Plans are conducive to student achievement and focus on PA State CC standards and objectives

 

-Discuss facts we read in the books/go over the definitions of clouds and rains -Ask how the clouds make rain -First, present the activity of us making our own clouds and rain -Then, demonstrate the experiment to the class as a whole. Show them how much shaving cream to add to the cup of water and that the shaving cream represents the cloud. Model how the food coloring is the rain and that we are trying to figure out how many drops it takes before the rain makes its way past the clouds. -After that, each student will be provided materials and add the shaving cream. Then, they will begin dropping in the “rain” (food coloring) into the shaving cream, counting how many drops it takes for the cloud to make rain (how many drops it takes until the shaving cream lets the food coloring goes through) -Finally, draw what you saw/ your observations in your notebook

Closing& Assessment: (5-7 min)

(Restate purpose & assess comprehension; met objectives?)

- Clean up -Ask how the clouds made the rain -State that when the clouds are too full with water, it begins to rain. (Less water, less rain; more water, more rain)

Assessment Procedures: (check all that apply)

 

Formative				Summative
	Guided Practice		Participation		Unit/Chapter Test		PSSA Type Questions
	Enrichment		PSSA Type Questions		Oral Presentation		Notebook Check
	Homework		Notebook Check		Research Project		Authentic Assessment
	Group  Work		Authentic Assessment		Technology		Other:
	Rubric		Other:		Rubric
	Independent Practice				Portfolios

Materials/Resources

List of resources used and incorporated into activity and assessments, attach any teacher made materials and/or worksheets

	Text Book:		Other:  “Rain” by Terry Jennings              “Clouds: by Terry Jennings               Shaving Cream               Clear Cups                Food Coloring               Paper Towels (for cleanup)
	Graphic Organizer/Handouts(s):
	Technology:

Accommodations

(IEP/Child specific)

Check IEPS to see if any specific accommodations need to be made

Differentiated Instruction

(Easier/Support & Harder/Enrichment)

Easier: if child cannot squeeze food coloring, put the food coloring in a dropper	Harder: Have child do more research on different types of clouds