K-ESS2-1: Finding Patterns in Daily Weather
Also called NGSS K-ESS2-1 · Topic: Weather and Climate · Earth and Space Science
The Official Wording
Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.
Clarification statement: Examples of qualitative observations could include descriptions of the weather (such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, and warm); examples of quantitative observations could include numbers of sunny, windy, and rainy days in a month. Examples of patterns could include that it is usually cooler in the morning than in the afternoon and the number of sunny days versus cloudy days in different months.
Assessment boundary: Assessment of quantitative observations limited to whole numbers and relative measures such as warmer/cooler.
NGSS Lead States, 2013 · Read it on nextgenscience.org · checked October 15, 2026
What K-ESS2-1 Means in Plain English
Kindergartners watch and record the weather every day, using words and pictures like sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy and warm, plus simple counts. Over weeks they look back at their records and talk with classmates about the patterns they notice.
Counts stay in whole numbers, and temperature is described as warmer or cooler rather than read off a thermometer. This leads to 1-ESS1-2, comparing daylight across seasons, and to 3-ESS2-1, where students graph weather data by season.
K-ESS2-1 I Can Statements
- I can record the weather with a picture each day.
- I can count the sunny days and rainy days in a month.
- I can tell a weather pattern I noticed.
K-ESS2-1 Worked Example
Four weeks of weather watching a class can keep on a wall calendar.
What kind of weather did we have most over four weeks, and are mornings cooler than afternoons?
Set It Up: A wall calendar with sun, cloud and rain picture cards, plus a pinwheel for spotting wind.
- Each morning, step outside, look at the sky and hold up the pinwheel.A weather picture on that date
- Step out again in the afternoon. Is it warmer or cooler than the morning?A warmer arrow on most days
- After four weeks, count each kind of picture.Sunny 9, cloudy 7, rainy 4 out of 20 school days
- Make a picture graph by lining the cards up in rows.The sunny row is the longest
- Tell a partner what the calendar tells you.“Most days were sunny. Afternoons were warmer.”
Sunny days came up most often in those four weeks, and on most days the afternoon was warmer than the morning.
Why it works: The sun warms the ground and the air through the day, so afternoons are usually warmer than early mornings.
Common Mistakes with K-ESS2-1
Calling one day a pattern
“It rained today, so it always rains in April.”
Try this: A pattern needs many days. Look back over the whole month of pictures before saying what usually happens.
Picking a favorite picture
Choosing the sun card every day because it is the prettiest
Try this: Step outside or look at the sky first, then choose the card that matches what you actually see and feel.
Forgetting the time of day
Comparing a cool morning one day with a warm afternoon the next
Try this: Compare the same day's morning and afternoon, or compare mornings with mornings, so the time of day stays fair.
Where K-ESS2-1 Fits
Practice K-ESS2-1
Quick Check
- Your calendar shows 9 sunny days and 4 rainy days. Which happened more?
- Is it usually warmer in the morning or the afternoon?
- Why do we write down the weather every day?