By Laura Pupillo, Lower School Science Teacher
Beasley third grade students kicked off their year in science exploring weather. Although their unit of study has formally ended, their weather connections, questions, and leadership roles continue to lead investigations.
Guiding questions such as what is the difference between weather and climate and what are the different types of weather systems led our third grade learners in their discoveries. As we explored different weather systems, we engaged in hands-on learning that ignited our curiosities and drove us to ask big questions, just like scientists do!
One of our favorite engineering experiences was the build of an anemometer, a weather instrument used to measure wind speed. After building anemometers, we put them to use to collect wind data around campus.
Using weather instruments led us to wonder the importance of collecting weather data. We met with meteorologists, Mark Fuchs and Matthew Beitscher from NOAA and learned that tracking weather systems can help us see changes in climate over time and help people prepare for severe weather changes.
Putting these lessons into action, students explored recent weather patterns in the area and learned that the St. Louis region can be home to some severe weather systems.
Good learning is not encased in a unit of study but rather a building block in the fabric of our knowledge. We use our learning to drive new experiences and encourage continual curiosity. Through our unit, we have built a partnership with NOAA which will bring excitement and real-world science connections to our ongoing science studies. We have also learned that understanding and staying informed of the weather is important. Furthermore, we became leaders for the lower school and have used our understanding of weather to teach others in our monthly Beasley Broadcast. Enjoy our December and January weather forecasts and stay tuned for our next weather report in February!