• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Weather and climate zones). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. What type of climate does northern Greenland have? (polar / tropical / desert (arid) / temperate) → polarPrompt: Is it near the poles, near the equator, very dry, or in between?
2. What is the difference between weather and climate? (They mean the same / Weather is day-to-day conditions; climate is the average pattern over many years / Climate is only about rain / Weather lasts for years; climate changes every hour) → Weather is day-to-day conditions; climate is the average pattern over many yearsPrompt: Today's rain is weather. What about "wet winters every year"?
3. Climate: which statement is NOT true? (All deserts are hot. / Deserts can be very cold at night. / Places near the equator are usually hot all year. / Climate is the typical weather of a place over many years.) → All deserts are hot.Prompt: Is a desert defined by heat or by rain?

• Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
• Share the objective: Weather or climate? Tell the difference. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Is this about weather or climate: "The Sahara is hot and dry most of the year."
• Step 1: Climate is the average weather of a place over about 30 years or more.
• Step 2: So the answer is: climate (the usual pattern over many years)
• Answer: climate (the usual pattern over many years)
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Is this about weather or climate: "London usually has mild, wet winters." (weather (what it is like now or this week) / climate (the usual pattern over many years)) → climate (the usual pattern over many years)Prompt: Is it about a single day or week, or about what is usual over many years?
2. Scientists say Earth's climate is warming. What evidence do they use? (temperature records from many places over many decades / one hot day last week / how people feel today / a single photo of the Sun) → temperature records from many places over many decadesPrompt: Climate is about long-term patterns.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. True or false? A desert has a dry climate, even if it rains on one day. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Short time or long time?
2. Which sentence describes climate? (A storm is coming this weekend. / It rained yesterday. / Spain's south coast usually has hot, dry summers. / It is sunny in Seville today.) → Spain's south coast usually has hot, dry summers.Prompt: Look for words like "usually" or "most years".

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.