4th Grade Science
Studying Earth systems, energy transfer, and the scientific method for fourth grade students.
Advanced Topics
Weather and Climate
What's the Difference Between Weather and Climate?
- Weather is what happens in the air each day—like sunny, rainy, windy, or snowy.
- Climate is the usual pattern of weather in a place over a long time.
How Do Earth's Systems Affect Weather and Climate?
The Sun heats the Earth, air moves in the atmosphere, and water evaporates and falls as rain. All these things work together to create different weather and climate zones.
Why Does It Matter?
Weather affects what we wear and do each day. Climate affects what plants and animals can live in a place.
Examples
It’s warm and sunny today (weather), but winters are usually cold here (climate).
Rainforests have a hot, wet climate, while deserts are dry and hot.
In a Nutshell
Weather is daily, climate is long-term, and both are shaped by Earth's systems.