Seasons and Weather: Supplemental Guide 2A | Winter 43[Show this on the thermometer on the right side.]
Which of these thermometers do you think show what the
temperature might be in the wintertime? Show image 2A-3: Winter clothing
Sometimes, it gets so cold outside that we say it is frigid. Do you
remember what frigid means? It means very, very cold. When the
temperature is frigid, it’s a good idea to wear clothes that will keep
you warm when you go outside. Clothes like hats, scarves, coats, and
mittens help keep you warm when it is very cold—or frigid—outside. Show image 2A-4: Snowy Washington, D.C.
It is usually cold during the winter where I live in Washington, D.C.
Sometimes it even gets cold enough to snow! For it to snow, the
temperature must be below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Show image 2A-2: Thermometers
[Point to the 32-degree-mark as you talk about it.]
Thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit is called the freezing point. When
the temperature outside is at the freezing point or lower, water will
freeze, and it will snow or sleet instead of rain.
Discuss with your partner what the weather is like during the winter
where you live. Is the temperature very cold or frigid? Or is the
temperature just a little colder than usual? Do you get a little snow, a
lot of snow, or no snow at all? Does it get icy outside sometimes?[Allow thirty seconds for students to talk. Call on three partner pairs to share
their answers.] Show image 2A-5: Shoveling snow
Sometimes there are big snowstorms called blizzards. During a
blizzard, there is lots of snow and wind. When there is a blizzard,
traffic comes to a halt—all the cars and trucks on the road stop. They
halt—or stop—because there is too much snow to drive. Schools will
be closed if there is a blizzard, too.When it snows, people use snow shovels to shovel snow off sidewalks
so that others do not slip and get hurt. People also shovel their
driveways so they can get their cars out once it is safe enough to drive.