• Word splash visual (poster or slide) with 8-12 key terms
• Student recording sheets
• Markers or colored pencils

Select 8-12 key vocabulary words from the upcoming unit. Arrange them 'splashed' across a page in different sizes and angles. Include words students might know and words that will be new.

1. Display word splash without any context. Words for weather unit: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, atmosphere, humidity, barometer, cumulus, front, meteorologist, forecast, climate, temperature.
2. Give students 2 minutes of silent think time. What do they notice? What might these words have in common?
3. In pairs: Predict what our next unit might be about. Which words do you know? Which are new?
4. Whole class: 'What do you think our unit topic is?' Collect predictions.
5. Individual writing: Choose 3 words you think you know. Write what you think they mean.
6. Choose 2 words you don't know. Make a prediction about what they might mean based on context of other words.
7. Draw lines connecting words you think are related. Be ready to explain why.
8. Reveal the unit topic: Weather Systems.
9. Keep word splash predictions. Revisit at end of unit: How accurate were you? What did you learn?

Pre-teach some vocabulary for ELLs. Include picture clues for younger students. For advanced students, require sentence predictions using multiple words together.

Review predictions to assess prior knowledge. Note misconceptions to address. Revisit predictions at end of unit - were they accurate? What surprised students?