District News

With winter comes “winter weather,” and most elementary school children hope for a snow day (or two)! Bedwell students were lucky enough not only to have the recent snowstorm drop 18 inches on Bernardsville, but also to learn from a well-known meteorologist, John Marshall.

Organized by Principal Scott Wolfe and 3rd-grade teacher Sarah McShane, the visit to the campus was scheduled for February 6, 2026. This was an exciting continuation of the 3rd-grade fall science curriculum, where the Next Generation Science Standards focused on understanding weather patterns, describing regional climates, and analyzing natural hazards.

During the assembly, Marshall taught about why seasons change, the water cycle, and various types of precipitation. He explained different cloud types such as cirrus, cumulus, stratus, and nimbus. He detailed the process of observing and predicting weather, along with the tools used: the thermometer, wind vane, anemometer, barometer, weather balloon, and rain gauge. The attentive audience was eager to discuss tips, such as how counting seconds between lightning and thunder helps determine how far away a storm is. Marshall also expanded on natural disasters such as blizzards, tornadoes, and hurricanes, which students had learned about in their classroom. Drawing on his years delivering forecasts in New York City for Fox Weather, CBS2, and WNBC Ch. 4, Marshall explained how a green screen is used, and students were amazed. The assembly offered many interactive opportunities that the students loved!

Overall, the weather unit afforded students numerous hands-on activities. They enjoyed trips to the Bedwell Garden this past Fall, where they used the rain gauge and wind vane to track temperatures and weather patterns. They also took part in a STEM challenge where they were tasked with building a house using limited materials that could withstand the forces of a tornado or hurricane, with strong winds simulated by a fan. Next up in third grade, students will be delving into motion and matter in science, followed by the Structures of Life unit, which includes ecosystems, traits, and life cycles. 

Combining classroom learning with a cameo by an expert in the field, one thing is for sure… once spring arrives, and you find yourself wondering if an umbrella is needed, you can feel confident in asking a Bedwell 3rd grader!