Ruthaivilavan


 * Weather**

This pathfinder is intended to assist students in second grade with locating resources and information about weather, specifically seasons. Seasons occur all over the world, but differ in various regions and climates. People, animals, agriculture, tourism and more are affected by the seasons.

**Iowa Core Curriculum Essential Concepts and Skills**

Understand and apply knowledge of observable information about daily and seasonal weather conditions. • Weather changes from day to day and over the seasons. • The sun provides the light and heat necessary to maintain the temperature of the earth. Understand and apply knowledge of events that have repeating patterns. • Seasons of the year, day and night are events that are repeated in regular patterns. • The sun’s position in the sky can be observed and described. • The sun can only be seen during our daylight hours. We are unable to see the sun at night because of the rotation of the earth.
 * Science**

Read for a variety of purposes and across content areas. • Read for purposes relating to fiction and nonfiction: - For information - For enjoyment • Practice reading rate and strategies according to purpose: - Read to study
 * Literacy**

Engage in the information literacy process: access, evaluate, and communicate information and ideas. Access information: • Generate questions and seek answers. • Select a topic. • Locate specific, relevant information from given source material. Evaluate information: • Quality • Coverage Communicate information and ideas: • Use information accurately and responsibly. • Communicate main ideas with original writing. • Use technology to communicate ideas.

Use information displayed on graphs to answer questions and make predictions, inferences and generalizations such as likely or unlikely events. • Answer simple questions relating to the information displayed on a graph, table, or list. • Use interviews, surveys, and observations to collect data that answers questions about themselves and their surroundings. • Analyze information by asking and answering questions about the data. • Contrast different sets of data displayed on the same type of graph to draw conclusions and make generalizations. • Use information from data to make observations and inferences, draw conclusions, and make predictions.
 * Mathematics**

Utilize predetermined digital resources and tools to answer questions or solve problems. • Follow a plan of action to guide inquiry by using predetermined digital resources. • Locate and organize information from a variety of sources and media. • Review provided resources, explain why they are or are not useful, and use information appropriately. • Identify, read, and report data from charts, graphs, and other sources.
 * 21st-Century Skills**

**Resources**

**Encyclopedias** World Book Kids Online ([]) Provides basic articles at a primary level. A good starting point for general information and a broad range of weather-related topics. screen, or type in “weather AND seasons” in the “search it” bar at the top of the screen.
 * Search:** Science and Mathematics – Physical Science – Weather using the links at the left of the

Scholastic Children’s Encyclopedia (Scholastic, 2004, YR 031 S) Brief article (roughly 2 pages) about weather written at a basic level. Subheadings make it easy for students to locate information within the article. Pictures and diagrams supplement the text.
 * Search:** In the index, look under “W” for weather. Also, see “S” for seasons.

UXL Encyclopedia of Weather and Natural Disasters (Gale/UXL, 2008, YR 551 U) Includes tables, pictures, and a helpful section of weather words to know. Also includes books and websites to search for more info. climate. Search the index in those volumes for seasons. Merriam-Webster Primary Dictionary (Merriam-Webster, 2005, YR 423 M) Large text and simple sentences make this a good resource for primary students. Includes colorful illustrations, example sentences, riddles, and parts of speech. etc. can be found.
 * Search:** Volume 1 provides a basic weather overview and Volume 5 covers forecasting and
 * Dictionary**
 * Search:** Arranged alphabetically like a standard dictionary. Basic terms like weather, clouds, rain,

**Atlases** Goode’s World Atlas (Rand McNally, 2005, YR 912 G) With some coaching, students can use this atlas to find information about climate, wind, and rainfall in different regions of the world. Includes maps only; no words.
 * Search:** Use the table of contents or index to search for a specific continent, country, or region.

DK First Atlas (DK Children, 2004, YR 912 D) With bright, colorful photographs, bold headings, brief paragraphs, and user-friendly table of contents and index, this is a good resource for students to find information about life and climate in various countries.
 * Search:** Use the table of contents or index to search for specific continent and country.

**Biographical** Current Biography Yearbook (Wilson, 2008, []) Text may be harder than primary students are capable of reading independently. However, this resource includes biographies on current scientists in all fields, and students may find great information about meteorologists and others who have studied or contributed to weather findings.
 * Search:** Index is sorted by profession, so try searching for science or meteorologist.

**Almanac** World Almanac for Kids (World Almanac, 2009, YR 030 W) Easy to find information about Earth science and weather. Pictures, diagrams, charts, and graphs provide supplemental information.
 * Search:** Use the index to search for weather and weather-related topics.

**Fiction / Poetry** Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry in Anthologies (Columbia, 2007, REF PN1022 .G7)
 * Search:** Using the index and searching by subject, myriad poems about weather can be found.

Index to Children's Poetry (Wilson, 1993-97, YR 808 B)
 * Search:** Easy-to-use index lists by title, author, and subject. Searching for weather turns up many results.

**Newspaper / Magazine Articles** Wunder, S. (1999, April 15). Itching for spring. Christian Science Monitor, p. 18. Retrieved from Ebsco Newspaper Source. Reflects on changes that come with springtime. Effect of the warmer weather on the animals used in maintaining a dairy farm; The itching that accompanies the shedding of the horses' winter coats; Clothing that is put away until the next winter; The cold-weather solitude of the farm.
 * Search:** Search weather AND seasons by subject.

(2004). The Right Balance. Kids Discover, 14(8), 8. Retrieved from Primary Search database. Focuses on the importance of the right amount of rain in the summer and enough sunny dry weather in the winter to the survival of plants and animals in the Florida Everglades. Impact of lack of water on animal habitats; Overview of the wet and dry season in southern Florida; Importance of wetlands like the Everglades; Difficulty that newborn apple snails have in surviving in dry conditions.
 * Search:** Search weather AND seasons to narrow the number and relevance of articles.

**Videos** 100% Educational Videos. (2003). The Four Seasons [Full Video]. Available from [] From the snow of winter to the first flowers of spring, children see the wonder and magic of our changing seasons and the patterns of life. Students witness how changes in climate and weather affect their lives. They understand that weather changes seasonally, affecting the earth and the people who live on the Earth. search bar on the DE Streaming homepage (I found 124 results).
 * Search:** To find more videos about weather and the seasons, type weather AND seasons into the

Cycles and Seasons. Classroom Video, 1998. Retrieved April 4, 2010, from Learn360: [] Explains how the revolution of the Earth around the Sun causes the seasons, dictates the length of the year, causes the solstices and equinoxes, and causes the extreme weather at the poles. the left-hand side of the screen by clicking “Science and Technology”, “Earth Science”, and “Seasons.”
 * Search:** To find the most relevant videos, type “seasons” into the search bar, then narrow along

**Your Teacher Librarian** Be sure to ask your teacher librarian if you’re stuck! I can point you in the right direction, help you narrow your topic, and help you find and evaluate more resources.