Weather, climate and seasons 5.8 a

2. Autumn—

3. Autumn—

4. Flooding—Descriptive
Most of the time rainwater
soaks into the ground. The
water drains into rivers and
sewers. Flooding happens when
heavy rain cannot drain away
quickly after heavy, fast rainfalls.
During floods, the river or bayou
water rises about the banks.
The ground nearby is full of
water, so the water just sits on
top of the ground. In cities, low
spots on the road fill with water.
Drivers have to be careful. A car
can float in only two feet of
water!
Writing Prompt:
Where could a flood happen in
your neighborhood? Is there a
bayou near? Is there a low-lying
area where the water stands after a
big storm?
Floods can damage homes and
cars. Animals and their homes can
be destroyed, too. With time the
water recedes, or goes back to its
normal leve.

5. Flooding—Narrative
Most of the time rainwater
soaks into the ground. The
water drains into rivers and
sewers. Flooding happens when
heavy rain cannot drain away
quickly after heavy, fast rainfalls.
During floods, the river or bayou
water rises about the banks.
The ground nearby is full of
water, so the water just sits on
top of the ground. In cities, low
spots on the road fill with water.
Drivers have to be careful. A car
can float in only two feet of
water!
Writing Prompt:
Write what might have happened
to the organisms that live in this
flooded park. Did the animals stay?
Did they leave? Where did they
go? When did they come back?
Floods can damage homes and
cars. Animals and their homes can
be destroyed, too. With time the
water recedes, or goes back to its
normal leve.

6. Lightning Storm—Descriptive
Lightning is a burst of energy
from a storm cloud. The
lightning travels down from the
cloud to the ground and right
back up to the cloud as
electricity. All we see is a
bright flash.
Lightning finds the shortest
path to the ground or a tall
object on the ground. That’s
why it hits buildings or trees.
Lightning is very dangerous—it
can start fires or damage trees.
Many people have been
hurt by lightning. If you are
outside see lightning or
hear thunder, get inside as
quickly as you can.
Writing Prompt:
Write a poem about thunder
and lightning. Describe the
shapes the lightning makes.
What does the thunder sound
like?

7. Lightning Storm—Expository
Lightning is a burst of energy
from a storm cloud. The
lightning travels down from the
cloud to the ground and right
back up to the cloud as
electricity. All we see is a
bright flash.
Lightning finds the shortest
path to the ground or a tall
object on the ground. That’s
why it hits buildings or trees.
Lightning is very dangerous—it
can start fires or damage trees.
Many people have been
hurt by lightning. If you are
outside see lightning or
hear thunder, get inside as
quickly as you can.
Writing Prompt:
Imagine you have a younger
brother or sister who is
frightened of lightning.
Explain to them what
lightning is. Tell them how to
be safe during a lightning
storm.

8. Writing Prompt:
Think of an animal, bird, or insect
that lives outside. Write about
what the animal does in the spring.
Where does it live? Where does it
find food?

9. Writing Prompt:
Imagine it is a warm spring day and
you are outside. Use all your
senses to describe what it is like.
What do you see, hear, smell, taste,
and touch on this beautiful spring
day?

10. Summer
In the summer

11. Summer
In the summer

12. Winter—Expository
Wow! It’s cold outside! In winter, the
Earth tilts away from the sun. The days
are shorter and the nights are longer. It
is colder because we get less sunlight.
Many places get freezing temperatures
and snow.
In winter, some plants rest. They have
dropped their leaves and stopped
growing for the season. Animals have a
hard time finding food and keeping
warm. Many of them hibernate. Others
migrate to warmer areas.
People have to be ready for the winter,
too. We need heavier clothes.
Sometimes we stay inside and keep
warm!
Writing Prompt:
How is winter different than
summer? Describe how the
climate in your area is different in
the winter. Be sure to talk about
temperature, rainfall or snowfall,
etc.

13. Winter—Persuasive
Wow! It’s cold outside! In winter, the
Earth tilts away from the sun. The days
are shorter and the nights are longer. It
is colder because we get less sunlight.
Many places get freezing temperatures
and snow.
In winter, some plants rest. They have
dropped their leaves and stopped
growing for the season. Animals have a
hard time finding food and keeping
warm. Many of them hibernate. Others
migrate to warmer areas.
People have to be ready for the winter,
too. We need heavier clothes.
Sometimes we stay inside and keep
warm!
Writing Prompt:
Do you like the cold and snow? How
would you persuade your parents to
let you go to Alaska to study the
climate there? Give examples of what
you might see and do while you were
there.