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Hottest, Coldest
Below-Level Reader
Measuring
the Weather
Measuring the Weather
Unit 4 Week 2
Target Skill COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Target Skill ASK QUESTIONS
LESSON VOCABULARY average, depth, desert, outrun, peak, tides, waterfalls
SUMMARY This reader describes aspects of weather and the tools
meteorologists use to measure them.
INTRODUCE THE BOOK
BUILD BACKGROUND Put the word weather at the center of a concept web
on the board and have students brainstorm words that come to mind. Have students suggest what tools are used to measure weather.
PREVIEW/USE TEXT FEATURES Tell students to skim the text focusing on
the pictures of instruments. Have students predict what some of the unfamiliar instruments measure.
TEACH/REVIEW VOCABULARY Divide the class into groups, and have each group define a vocabulary word and create clues that do not use the word itself. Then have groups give their clues to the class while other students try to guess the word. Provide the correct definitions at the end of the activity.
ELL Have ELL students work in pairs to illustrate the vocabulary words. Assign the more difficult words, such as average and depth, to more
advanced English-language speakers.
TARGET SKILL AND STRATEGY
Target Skill COMPARE AND CONTRAST Review with students some clue words
used to compare and contrast things in a story. Have students look for one example of a comparison or a contrast in the text. Explain that they may find examples in the book or create their own.
Target Skill ASK QUESTIONS Point out to students that when they ask questions
about a text, they are helping themselves better understand what they read. Remind students that they can ask questions to compare and contrast things
in a story. Have students create a question about a comparison or contrast in
the text.
READ THE BOOK
Use the following questions to support comprehension.
PAGE 5 What is a contrast between Celsius and Fahrenheit thermometers?
(The freezing point on a Celsius thermometer is 0 degrees, but on a Fahrenheit thermometer it is 32 degrees.)
PAGE 7 What question could you ask about wind that is answered on this
page? (Possible response: What is a wind named after?)
PAGE 12 What comparison does the author make on this page?
(Thermometers, weather vanes, anemometers, rain gauges, and barometers all measure weather.)
TALK ABOUT THE BOOK
READER RESPONSE
  1. Anemometer: measures wind speed; Weather Vane: measures wind
    direction; Both: measure wind.
  2. Possible response: How fast do winds blow in a hurricane?
  3. waterfalls, yardstick; sentences will vary.
  4. The wind is coming from the south. The arrow is pointing to "S."
RESPONSE OPTIONS
WORD WORK Provide students with the etymology of the word meteorology.
Have students look up the definition in a dictionary and write a paragraph
comparing today's definition of the word with its origin.
CONTENT CONNECTIONS
TIME FOR ScienceSCIENCE Have students create their own simple weather stations at home that include a thermometer and rain gauge. Tell students to take readings of the thermometer and rain gauges once a day every day for a week and chart their readings in a table. Plot their readings on classroom graphs.
 
   
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Compare and Contrast
Compare and Contrast
Vocabulary
Vocabulary