Weather Watchers by the Sea

Grades K-2 · Science, History and Social Science, Mathematics · Manchester-by-the-Sea

How does watching the weather help people stay safe and have fun at the beach and on the water?

Three 20-minute sessions plus a 2-minute weather check on 10 school days (about 80 minutes total over two weeks)

Manchester-by-the-Sea is a town on the ocean. The weather by the sea can change fast. For two weeks you will be weather watchers. You will count the weather, build a map of our coast and use forecasts to decide what boaters and beachgoers should do.

Summary by Cape Ann Current

R1. Weather Watchers

Weather is what the air outside is like today. It can be sunny or cloudy. It can be rainy, windy, foggy or snowy. It can be warm or cold. Weather watchers look at the weather every day. They use their eyes to look at the sky. They use tools too. A thermometer tells how warm or cold it is. A streamer or a flag shows if the wind is blowing. A cup outside catches the rain. (Stop) What tool would tell us if it is windy? When weather watchers write down the weather every day, they can find patterns. A pattern is something that happens again and again. Maybe there are more sunny days than rainy days. Maybe the wind blows more in the afternoon. (Stop) What weather do you think we will see the most?

Source: Written by Cape Ann Current for teacher read-aloud. Link. Rights: Text written by Cape Ann Current

Summary by Cape Ann Current

R2. Our Town by the Sea

Manchester-by-the-Sea is a town on the edge of the ocean. The ocean is a very big body of salt water. The town has a harbor. A harbor is a part of the water that is close to land and protected, so boats can stay safe there. In the middle of town there is a long public dock where boats can tie up. The town says the dock is 250 feet long. That is about as long as six school buses lined up in a row! (Stop) What do people do at a dock? Near the harbor there is a park by the water called Masconomo Park. Manchester-by-the-Sea also has beaches. A beach is land at the edge of the water, covered with sand or stones. One beach is called Singing Beach. The town says it has famous singing sands. Next time you walk on the dry sand there, listen carefully! (Stop) Why do you think it is called Singing Beach?

Source: Written by Cape Ann Current for teacher read-aloud. Facts from the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea "Visitors" page. Link. Rights: Text written by Cape Ann Current; facts from the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, cited

Summary by Cape Ann Current

R3. How Forecasts Help Us

A forecast tells what the weather will probably be later today, tomorrow or in a few days. Forecasts for our part of Massachusetts are made by the National Weather Service office in Norton, Massachusetts. The people there make forecasts for towns, for the beach and for boats out on the water. (Stop) Where could your family find a forecast? Boaters check the forecast before they go out. If the wind will be strong and the waves big, they stay in the harbor. If it will be foggy, they wait until they can see. If it will be calm and clear, they can go out. Beachgoers check the forecast too. On a hot, sunny day, they bring water, sunscreen and a hat. If there will be thunder and lightning, they stay away from the beach and go inside. Watching the weather helps everyone stay safe and have fun by the sea. (Stop) What would you bring to the beach on a sunny day?

Source: Written by Cape Ann Current for teacher read-aloud. Fact about forecasts for our area from the National Weather Service Boston/Norton office. Link. Rights: Text written by Cape Ann Current; fact from a U.S. federal government website (public domain)

A1. Weather tally chart

Each day, look at the sky and check the weather tools. Make a tally mark next to each weather word that fits today.

Is it sunny, partly cloudy or cloudy?
Is it rainy, windy, foggy or snowy?
What does the thermometer say?
After 10 days: count each row. Which weather happened the most? Which happened the least?

A2. Map our coast

Help build a floor map of Manchester-by-the-Sea. Put each label in the right place.

Where is the ocean? Is it water or land?
Where is the harbor? Is it water or land?
Where is Singing Beach? Is it water or land?
Where is our school?
Walk from our school to the beach. Tell the way you went.

A3. Forecast and decide

Listen to the forecast card. Stand at the harbor as a boater or at the beach as a beachgoer. Decide what to do and tell why.

Should the boat go out or stay in the harbor? Why?
Should the family go to the beach? What should they bring? Why?

Talk about it

What weather do you like best at the beach? Why?
How is the weather at the beach different in summer and in winter?
Why might the weather by the ocean change quickly?
Who in your family checks the weather? What do they use?
What would happen if a boater did not check the forecast?

Show what you learned

Tell your teacher which weather happened most on our chart and how you know. Then listen to one forecast card and tell what a boater or beachgoer should do and why. Point to the place on our coast map where they would be.

Points: 4

Student files

Student handout (PDF)Student handout (Word)Slides (PowerPoint)Data sheet (Excel)Data sheet (CSV)

Google Docs, Slides and Sheets copy links are coming. Until then, upload the Word, PowerPoint or Excel file to Google Drive and open it with Google Docs, Slides or Sheets.

Free from Cape Ann Current. No account needed. Source: Cape Ann Current. Teachers: lesson plan and answers.