Weather Lesson: Music and Dance
Lesson Plan
45 minutesGrades1Visual and Performing Arts
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Kelly Stone, Sustainable Jersey for Schools
About this lesson
Students explore weather through observation, dance, and music, creatively expressing interpretations while discovering cultural depictions of weather in art.
Inquire: Students look at local weather patterns and observe how weather impacts their community.
Investigate: Students learn about the connection between dance and weather.
Inspire: Students use dance and movement to creatively express interpretations of weather.
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Suggestions
- This lesson can be taught during a science unit on weather or during a language arts unit on nonfiction texts.
- Optional activity depending on time: Students watch a PBS video What is Weather?
- This lesson can be used to reinforce skills of collaboration and teamwork.
- This lesson can be used during the fall or spring months so students can make connections to the current weather, such as the fall hurricane season or spring rainy weather.
- This lesson includes connections to SEL and explores diverse cultures. Students are encouraged to use their creativity and incorporate feelings into their creative movements.
Prerequisites
- This lesson is 1 of 3 in our 1st grade Performing Arts Weather Unit. While the lessons can be taught alone, they are best taught in the series, as each lesson builds students’ understanding of weather and how weather is connected to climate change.
- Students should have a basic understanding of weather such as rain, wind, and snow.
- Teachers should be comfortable using creative movement to emphasize and dramatize for students' understanding.
- Teachers should prepare and emphasize the importance of respecting and appreciating cultural elements in dance and music.
Differentiation
- Extension activities can include providing students with simple instruments or digital music tools (if available) to compose short pieces of music that reflect different weather conditions.
- Students can listen to weather-related nature sounds or music and share how the sounds of nature make them feel.
- Students can create a drawing of how they feel based on the nature sounds they hear.
- Students can compare how different sounds can create different emotions.
- Students can watch videos that show different types of dance steps. Students can share what they noticed about the dance steps.
- Students can listen to and use Indigenous musical elements or rhythms as inspiration.
- Scaffolding support can include teaching students simple dance moves that represent weather patterns (e.g., swirling for wind, stomping for rain).
- Students can create their own dance routines or group performances that mimic and are inspired by different types of weather.
- Higher-level extensions can include inviting students to create illustrated storybooks or puppet shows that tell a story related to weather and climate change.
From the scientist review
Students will learn about weather, climate, and how Lenni Lenape Native Americans in New Jersey view climate change. They will also learn how to make a weather dance, which is a concept to raise awareness about climate change via dance movement and visual arts expression. After reviewing the lesson, we determined that it was credible in terms of science.
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About the teacher writers
Kelly Stone
K-5 STEM Teacher
Kelly Stone holds a Bachelor's degree in P–3 Early Childhood Education from The Catholic University of America and a Master's degree in Instructional Technology from the University of Nebraska Kearney. She has 25 years of experience in elementary education and currently specializes in STEM instruction for grades K–5. Kelly holds a Supervisor Certification from Caldwell University and an Environmental Sustainability Education Certification from The College of New Jersey.
Sustainable Jersey for Schools
Sustainable Jersey is a network and movement of municipalities, schools and school districts working collectively to bring about a sustainable New Jersey. Acting with state agencies, non-profit organizations, foundations, academia and industry, Sustainable Jersey researches best practices for what communities could and should do to contribute to a sustainable future.
