Worksheet

Seasonal Weather at the Lake Lock

Interpret a class weather investigation at a lake lock using seasonal temperature graphs and two years of rainy-day records.

Grade 3ScienceInteractive · Printable

Aligned to3-ESS2-1

Play online Play as a game

PrintLetter-size worksheet Answer keyPrintable answers

Assign to classAssign to your classes, or get a join code

What’s included

Single worksheet
Auto-graded online
1 NGSS standard
Printable answer key
13 questions
Classroom-ready

Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 3
Subject: Science
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Sorting, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students compare seasonal temperatures and rainy-day counts using a graph and a data table.
Students describe typical seasonal weather using evidence from repeated observations.
Students use seasonal weather patterns to make reasonable plans and predictions.

How to use

Read the investigation together and review the table and graph labels. Have students use both displays to support their answers and discuss seasonal predictions.

Curriculum

NGSS standard covered

3-ESS2-1

Use tables and graphs of weather data to describe typical weather in a season.

Preview

OwlSheets.com

Name Date

Seasonal Weather at the Lake Lock

Use a class investigation to describe weather patterns.

1. Investigate the Weather

Read how the class collected its weather records. Use the table and graph to answer the questions.

A Weather Station Beside the Lock

A lock helps boats travel between a river and a lake where the water levels are different. A community science class studied weather beside a lock. Students observed from a fenced viewing area. Their teacher helped collect records during school breaks.

Step 1: Before each season began, the class chose 20 observation dates spread through that season. They did this for two years. They chose the dates before checking weather forecasts.

Step 2: On each chosen date, a student or teacher recorded the air temperature at 2 p.m. They used the same shaded thermometer at the same weather station. The season changed, but the place, equipment, and temperature-reading time stayed the same.

Step 3: At the end of each chosen date, the teacher checked the station’s daily rain record. A date counted as a rainy day if rain fell that day, even if the afternoon was dry.

Step 4: The class counted rainy observation days for each season. The teacher also calculated an average afternoon temperature for each season in Year 1. An average combines several readings into one summary number. The class displayed its results below.

Rainy Observation Days
Each count is out of 20 observation days.
Season | Year 1 | Year 2
Winter | 6 | 7
Spring | 11 | 12
Summer | 5 | 4
Fall | 7 | 6

How many degrees warmer was the average summer afternoon than the average winter afternoon in Year 1? °F

Which pair of seasons had average afternoon temperatures closest to each other?

A. Winter and spring
B. Summer and fall
C. Spring and fall
D. Spring and summer

Why did the class read the same shaded thermometer at 2 p.m. on each observation date?

A. To make each season have a similar number of rainy days
B. To measure how much rain fell during each afternoon
C. To choose observation dates with similar warm weather
D. To compare temperatures without also changing the measuring routine

Select the TWO observations that support this claim: Spring had more rainy observation days than summer.

In Year 1, spring had 11 rainy days compared with summer’s 5.In Year 1, spring averaged 65°F compared with summer’s 80°F.In Year 2, winter had 7 rainy days compared with fall’s 6.In Year 2, spring had 12 rainy days compared with summer’s 4.

2. Describe Seasonal Patterns

Use the class records to compare seasons. A typical weather description tells what the records suggest is usual, not what happens on each day.

Which description of winter compared with spring is supported by both displays?

A. Winter was cooler on average in Year 1 and had fewer rainy days in both years.
B. Winter was warmer on average in Year 1 and had fewer rainy days in both years.
C. Winter was cooler on average in Year 1 and had more rainy days in both years.
D. Winter was warmer on average in Year 1 and had more rainy days in both years.

Sort the claims by whether the class records provide enough evidence to support them.

Summer had the fewest rainy observation days in both years.Fall afternoons were windier than spring afternoons.Spring had more rainy observation days than fall in both years.Winter temperatures were lower in Year 2 than in Year 1.

Supported by these records	Not supported by these records

In Year 2, how many more rainy observation days did spring have than winter? days

Arun says, “Spring had more rainy days than summer, so spring was warmer.” What is the mistake in his reasoning?

A. He should compare spring’s rainy days with winter’s rainy days instead.
B. Rainy-day counts do not measure warmth; the temperature graph shows summer was warmer.
C. He should add both years of spring rain counts to find spring’s temperature.
D. More rainy days suggest warmer weather; he should use Year 2 to find the temperature.

Would you describe spring or fall as typically rainier at the lock? Make a claim and support it with rainy-day counts from BOTH years.

3. Use the Patterns

Use the records to make reasonable plans and predictions for the same lake lock.

10.

The class wants to schedule a sketching visit in a season with an average afternoon temperature from 50°F to 70°F and fewer than 8 rainy observation days in each year. Which season fits BOTH conditions?

A. Spring
B. Winter
C. Fall
D. Summer

11.

Which plan would give the class the strongest new evidence about typical spring weather at the lock?

A. Record temperature and rain on one warm afternoon next spring.
B. Repeat the same measurements on 20 dates spread through next spring.
C. Record temperature and rain on 20 dates at a distant lake next spring.
D. Repeat the measurements on dates chosen for their sunny forecasts next spring.

12.

It rains during a summer visit. Does that mean the class’s description of summer as the least rainy season was wrong?

A. Yes. The rainy visit shows summer is becoming the rainiest season.
B. Yes. The class should replace its summer records with the visit’s weather.
C. No. The visit’s rain should be counted with spring’s rainy days instead.
D. No. Summer had some rainy days in both years, despite having the fewest.

13.

Write a fall weather note for next year’s class. Describe the temperature and rain they might expect. Use evidence from BOTH displays, and explain why they should still check a forecast before a visit.