Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
Two side-by-side scenes at the same moment, a sunny dry cotton field in West Texas and a rainy green hillside by the coast.

Science / All lessons / Weather and a Changing Earth

Weather in Two Places

Compare temperature, wind and rain at the same time.

Lesson 26 of 41

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Weather in Two Places

Right now, somewhere in Texas, the sun is baking a cotton field. At the same moment, a storm is soaking a town far away. Weather can be very different in two places at the same time.

Scientists compare three things. Temperature tells how hot or cold the air is. Wind direction tells where the wind comes from. Precipitation is any water that falls, like rain, sleet, snow or hail.

A good comparison puts the numbers side by side. Then the differences jump out. Here are the steps.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Two Places, One Table

    25 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • A weather website or newspaper page
    • A printed map of Texas
    • Paper and pencil
    • A ruler
    • Colored pencils

    Do this

    1. Pick your town and a town far away.
    2. Look up the weather for both at the same time.
    3. Draw a table with two columns, one for each town.
    4. Write temperature, wind direction and rain for each.
    5. Circle the biggest difference.
    6. Write one sentence that compares the two places.
    Write or draw: A table with temperature, wind direction and precipitation for two places.

    Watch for: Notice which place is hotter. Notice if the wind comes from different directions.

    Safety: Ask an adult before you use the internet.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Match the time.

    Different times give different weather.

    Rule 2Use numbers and words.

    Write degrees, direction and rain.

    Rule 3Compare side by side.

    A table shows the differences fast.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    weather
    What the air outside is like right now.
    temperature
    How hot or cold something is.
    wind direction
    The direction the wind blows from.
    precipitation
    Water that falls from clouds, like rain or snow.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • How do you know the weather is different somewhere else? What could you check?
    • What is the weather like where a relative of yours lives, compared to yours?
    Did you know

    A big thunderstorm can rain hard on one street while the next street stays dry.

    Someone who does this

    A meteorologist compares weather in many places to predict what comes next.

    BeforeThe Planets in OrderNext lessonWeather Tools