Weather 5E Science Unit Plan for Third Grade
$9.90
Engage your students with this 3rd Grade Weather 5E Science Unit featuring hands-on investigations, lesson plans, vocabulary, and activities aligned to NGSS. Perfect for teaching weather patterns, the water cycle, and weather tools!
Make teaching weather both meaningful and engaging with this comprehensive 5E Weather Science Unit for 3rd Grade! This inquiry-based resource walks students through the Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, and Evaluate phases while building a deep understanding of weather concepts through hands-on learning.
Designed to align with NGSS (3-ESS2-1), this unit helps students explore weather patterns, observe changes, and analyze data in a meaningful way.
📦 What’s Included
- Complete 5E lesson plans (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, Evaluate)
- Detailed teacher notes, timelines, and materials lists
- Student activity sheets for each phase
- Weather data charts and comparison activities (e.g., city weather analysis)
- Hands-on experiments (cloud modeling, water cycle, weather tools)
- Vocabulary cards (weather, evaporation, condensation, precipitation, etc.)
- Big Idea posters for classroom display
- Exit tickets and assessment materials
- Optional digital resources and extensions
🧠 Skills Covered
- Understanding weather vs. climate
- Identifying weather patterns and changes
- Exploring the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation)
- Using and understanding weather tools
- Interpreting charts, graphs, and data
- Scientific inquiry and hands-on investigation skills
- Developing and correcting common misconceptions about weather
🧪 Ways to Use This Resource
Classroom Instruction
- Teach a full weather unit over 5–10 days using flexible pacing options
- Use as your core science curriculum for weather standards
Small Groups & Centers
- Rotate students through exploration stations and experiments
- Use activities for collaborative learning and discussion
- Science Labs
- Conduct engaging experiments like:
- Cloud formation models
- Water cycle demonstrations
- Weather measurement investigations
Assessment & Review
- Use exit tickets and performance tasks for formative and summative assessment
❤️ Why Teachers Love It
- Follows the 5E instructional model for deeper understanding
- Includes everything you need—no extra prep required
- Encourages student-led inquiry and critical thinking
- Addresses common misconceptions clearly and effectively
- Flexible for different schedules and teaching styles
- Combines hands-on, visual, and discussion-based learning
🌍 Perfect For
- 3rd Grade Science
- NGSS-aligned classrooms
- Homeschool science units
- Substitute-friendly lesson plans
- Inquiry-based and hands-on classrooms
- This 3rd grade weather unit is a complete solution for teaching weather patterns, the water cycle, and meteorology concepts using the 5E model. With engaging activities, lesson plans, and assessments, it’s perfect for teachers looking for hands-on science lessons aligned to NGSS standards.
3rd Rock-Lab From The Sun –
I shared this with my 3rd grade teacher as a science dept head and it was so easy for the teachers to follow. Great resource!
Amy S. –
I used this with my students when we learned about severe weather. They were very interested in the subject and this resource really helped them understand the topic.
Marcie A. –
EAsy to use and engaging for students! The kids loved it
Kathleen Seliga –
My class enjoyed this unit! Excellent resource for science and incorporated well with our language arts units on extreme weather. Students were engaged and learned new vocabulary that helped with with their writing.
Gina M. –
this is a great resource for our school curriculum.