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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Weather or climate? Tell the difference

Weather and climate

CCSS NGSS.3-ESS2-2England: KS2 Geography linksEngland: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere (climate)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Weather or climate? Tell the difference.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Weather and climate zones

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Weather maps, Thermometers, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • 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 the Congo rainforest have? (polar / tropical / desert (arid) / temperate) → tropicalPrompt: Is it near the poles, near the equator, very dry, or in between?
  2. Why is it hotter near the equator than near the poles? (The poles are made of ice / Sunlight hits the equator more directly, concentrating its energy / There is no air at the poles / The equator is closer to the Sun) → Sunlight hits the equator more directly, concentrating its energyPrompt: Shine a torch straight down and then at a slant.
  3. Climate: which statement is NOT true? (Weather can change from day to day. / Deserts can be very cold at night. / One cold day proves the climate is getting colder. / Places near the equator are usually hot all year.) → One cold day proves the climate is getting colder.Prompt: Is a desert defined by heat or by rain?

Hook · 3 min

  • 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.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • 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.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • 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: "Today is foggy and 6 °C." (weather (what it is like now or this week) / climate (the usual pattern over many years)) → weather (what it is like now or this week)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? (how people feel today / a single photo of the Sun / temperature records from many places over many decades / one hot day last week) → temperature records from many places over many decadesPrompt: Climate is about long-term patterns.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • 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.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is this about weather or climate: "Rainforests get heavy rain all year round." (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. True or false? Weather can change from hour to hour. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Short time or long time?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Weather and climate zones.
  • Use concrete materials: weather maps.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

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

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Weather or climate? Tell the difference

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A cold day happens in summer. Does that mean the climate has changed?

    • A. It means there is no climate.
    • B. Yes, summers are now winter.
    • C. Yes, one cold day changes the climate.
    • D. No, one day is weather; climate is the pattern over many years.

  2. Question 2

    Is this about weather or climate: "London usually has mild, wet winters."

    • A. weather (what it is like now or this week)
    • B. climate (the usual pattern over many years)

  3. Question 3

    True or false? A desert has a dry climate, even if it rains on one day.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence describes climate?

    • A. It rained yesterday.
    • B. Spain's south coast usually has hot, dry summers.
    • C. A storm is coming this weekend.
    • D. It is sunny in Seville today.

  5. Question 5

    Is this about weather or climate: "There will be a storm tomorrow night."

    • A. weather (what it is like now or this week)
    • B. climate (the usual pattern over many years)

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Climate is what the forecast says for tomorrow.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Weather or climate? Tell the difference

  1. 1. D. No, one day is weather; climate is the pattern over many years.

  2. 2. B. climate (the usual pattern over many years)

  3. 3. A. True

  4. 4. B. Spain's south coast usually has hot, dry summers.

  5. 5. A. weather (what it is like now or this week)

  6. 6. B. False