Rationale
An integrated unit on weather is common for children to study in the elementary grades. It is usually part of a school's curriculum requirements. Weather should not be only limited to students in the intermediate grades, but even as early as kindergarten, children should be introduced to this topic. The early exposure to the elements of weather will expand background experience for later understanding. The students in primary grades may not be able to grasp the cause and effect relationships of weather, but they should develop a beginning interest as they are introduced to key concepts of weather. A unit on weather is important to study for children because it is something that is all around them and a part of everyday life. There are many decisions in life that are dependent on weather conditions. Students should develop a better understanding of weather, so that they can learn how to make those decisions. It is important for children to raise questions about the world around them. This will lead them to seek out answers by making careful observations and trying things out. A weather study will certainly raise questions of the phenomena around them. In the past, the weather phenomena could not be explained and so, there were many myths surrounding weather. Today, students can know that the more they learn about things, the less they can fear them. Through manipulation and observations, children can make those inquiries of something that is real to them. In studying weather, students will engage in predominantly scientific inquiry of processes that shape the Earth. However, an integrated unit will draw students into the topic of weather through a variety of subject approaches and processes which will be applicable to their everyday lives.
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