Our Weather, Day After Day
A 45-minute Kindergarten lesson on recording local weather and describing the pattern it makes over time.
Our Weather, Day After Day is a free 45-minute Kindergarten science lesson plan for Common Core standard K-ESS2-1 — watch the weather and describe what it usually does. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten
- Length:
- 45 minutes
- Standard:
- K-ESS2-1
Kindergarten · Earth and Space Science
K-ESS2-1
Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.
Objective
Students will be able to read a class weather chart and say what the weather usually did.
Students are successful when they can
- Reads how many days of one kind of weather there were.
- Names which weather happened most.
- Says why one day is not enough to see a pattern.
What you need
- The class weather chart, two weeks filled in
- Weather symbol cards
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — what was it like on Tuesday?
5 min- Ask what the weather did yesterday, then last Tuesday.
- Notice how quickly the class stops being sure.
Teach — that is why we write it down
12 min- Show the chart: 4 sunny, 3 cloudy, 2 rainy, 1 windy.
- Count each row together and check against the chart.
- Ask which happened most, and how the chart makes that easy to see.
- Ask what one single day would have told us. Almost nothing.
- Say the idea: a pattern is what you see across many days, not on one.
- Ask what a third week might add.
“One day is weather. Many days is a pattern.”
Investigate — this morning's entry
15 min- The class observes the weather now: look at the sky, feel the wind, check for rain.
- They agree one symbol and add it to the chart.
- Pairs count each row again and update the totals.
- They say whether the pattern has changed.
Independent practice
10 min- Students complete the 'Our Weather, Day After Day' page.
- Point at the tallest bar with a pupil who is stuck.
Close
3 min- Ask what the class would tell a visitor about the weather here.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Says today's weather is what the weather is like.
Why: Today is the day they can see.
Fix: Cover the chart and ask about last week. The chart is the memory.
Counts a row wrongly and does not check.
Why: Counting once feels finished.
Fix: Count again with a partner. Two counts that agree is a checked count.
Thinks a pattern means it will definitely be sunny tomorrow.
Why: A pattern sounds like a rule.
Fix: Most likely is not certain. Say which is more likely, not what will happen.
If they are not there yet
- Two kinds of weather rather than four.
- Count with counters placed on the chart.
If they finish early
- Compare this month's chart with last month's.
- Say which weather you would expect in December here.
- Add a column for how warm it felt.
Exit ticket
Our chart shows 4 sunny, 3 cloudy, 2 rainy and 1 windy day. Which weather happened most?
What to look for: Sunny, with 4 days. A guess with no number means the reading-the-chart step needs another run.
Printable practice for K-ESS2-1
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Our Weather, Day After DayLook at the chart, then answer.
Questions about Our Weather, Day After Day
How long does the Our Weather, Day After Day lesson take?
45 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 12 min, investigate 15 min, independent practice 10 min, close 3 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Our Weather, Day After Day teach?
K-ESS2-1 — K-ESS2-1, Earth and Space Science for Kindergarten: “Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.” In plain terms, watch the weather and describe what it usually does.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
The class weather chart, two weeks filled in, weather symbol cards and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: says today's weather is what the weather is like; counts a row wrongly and does not check and thinks a pattern means it will definitely be sunny tomorrow. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Our chart shows 4 sunny, 3 cloudy, 2 rainy and 1 windy day. Which weather happened most?.” Sunny, with 4 days. A guess with no number means the reading-the-chart step needs another run. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Our Weather, Day After Day?
Yes — 1 printable K-ESS2-1 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Our Weather, Day After Day free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 8 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08. Aligned to K-ESS2-1 of the Next Generation Science Standards.