Lesson Planning
Key Stage 1 Weather Experts - NEW LOOK
Meteorologists - NEW LOOK
Explore aspects of weather. Make simple weather measuring instruments and contribute to a class weather station and weather chart.
Session 1 Seasonal weather
Objectives
Geography
- To make observations about the weather and discuss how this differs throughout different seasons.
- To begin to understand how to record and measure the weather
Enquiry question
How is the weather different in each season?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Identify and explore how the weather changes during each season.
- Begin to understand ways of recording the weather.
Provided Resources
This session does not need any provided resources.
You Will Also Need
Pre-cut squares of paper or card
Collage materials
Pens/pencils
Large sheets of paper stuck together or display board
Weblinks
A visual weather forecast from BBC website (optional)
Session 2 Watching the wind
Objectives
Geography
- To use compass points and directional language to discuss seasonal and daily weather patterns.
- To make observations and answer questions about the wind.
Enquiry question
What happens when the wind blows an object?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Use the compass points and directional language.
- Talk about daily and seasonal weather patterns.
- Use observations to answer questions about wind.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Objects to hold into the wind e.g. scarves, plastic bags, flags, ribbons, bubbles, windmills etc
Paper plate, wire or string, sticky tape, scissors, a hole punch and tissue paper (for making wind streamers)
Compasses
Weblinks
Wind direction and speed from the Met Office
The Beaufort Scale video from AFP News Agency
Session 3 Cloud watching
Objectives
Geography
- To observe clouds and perform simple tests to help understand their make-up.
- To learn about the different types of clouds.
Enquiry question
What do the clouds in the sky today tell us about the weather?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Use our observations to answer simple questions about clouds.
- Perform simple tests to understand what clouds are made from.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Mirrors
Wet wipes/anti bac wipes
Cotton wool
Paint
Glue
Weblinks
How do clouds form? Short video from the Met Office
How to name clouds – short video from the Met Office
Background information about how clouds form
Met Office information about cloud types.
Session 4 It’s raining, it’s pouring
Objectives
Geography
- To understand why it rains.
- To make a rain gauge to measure how much rain water has fallen.
Enquiry question
Why does it rain and how can we measure how much rain has fallen?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Begin to understand and explain why rain falls.
- Understand how rainfall is measured and why it is important that we know how much rain has fallen.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Plastic bottles for rain gauges
Weblinks
The Water Cycle by BBC Teach
The Water Cycle by BBC Primary Geography
How the Met office measures rainfall
Session 5 The sun has got its hat on!
Objectives
Geography
- To understand where our light and heat comes from.
- To perform simple tests with thermometers.
Enquiry question
How can we measure temperature and sun intensity?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Understand that the sun gives us heat and light.
- Understand how temperature is measured and how this varies from shade to full sun.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
This session does not need any provided resources.
You Will Also Need
Globes and atlases
Thermometers
Weblinks
Digital thermometer interactive from MathsFrame
Background information from the Met office on how they measure temperature and
sunshine
Interesting sun facts from the Natural History Museum
Session 6 Let's measure the weather!
Objectives
Geography
- To understand how to record weather on a weather chart.
- To describe weather on a chart and look for patterns.
Enquiry question
Why do we gather data on weather?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Talk about weather patterns in different climate zones.
- Understand how data can be collected using weather instruments.
- To make and understand how to use a weather chart
- Answer questions about weather data.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Weblinks
Making Weekly Weather Recordings from the BBC