Weather & Climate Scavenger Hunt
Self-Guided Activities | Sense: Smell | Water Striders | Beaver In Fall | Ground Squirrels |
Fungi | Interdependency Inventory

Introduction:
As presented, the following activity is designed to fit the grade 5 unit “Weather Watch”. With modifications to fit topic and students’ skill levels, it would also work well for the grade 4 “Plant Growth and Changes” (#4 and 6). Connection to other curriculum areas can be incorporated: math (measuring, calculations), art (sketching viewpoints and by direct observation, rubbings) and language arts (journals, reflection, poetry), drama (skits, charades, role playing), social studies (map reading, communities) 

Activity Summary:
Students search for evidence of weather and its many effects on the living and non-living components of a natural community. Students will also learn about microclimates and to distinguish climate from weather.

Season: Early spring through to late fall

Time: 1 hour

Preparatory: Have a class brain-storming session to compile a list of signs of wind and rain, freezing and thawing, sunlight and shade, dryness and moisture. 

Equipment required: Weather and Climate Scavenger Hunt sheets, clipboards, pencils, 
outdoor thermometers

Setting: Any natural area containing a mixture of open and forested areas. 

Instructions:

1. Establish identifiable boundaries, outlining where the students are permitted to go.
2. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students each. Give each group a Weather and Climate Scavenger Hunt worksheet, clipboard, pencil and an outdoor thermometer.
3. Inform the students what signal will indicate time is up and they need to return to your starting point.
4. Back at school, go through the list and discuss the students’ discoveries. Explain that many of the variations they have observed and recorded are examples of micro-climatic differences. Additional points of discussion could include the difference between weather and climate.