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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes

Severe weather and staying safe

Weather and climate

CCSS NGSS.K-ESS3-2CCSS NGSS.3-ESS3-1England: KS1 Y1 Seasonal changesEngland: KS3 Geography links

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Severe weather and staying safe.

  • 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: Types of weather

Leads to: Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards

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 (Types of weather). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What kind of weather would you wear or take wellington boots (rain boots) for? (a sunny, hot day / a rainy day / a snowy, cold day) → a rainy dayPrompt: Does it keep you cool, dry or warm?
  2. What is snow? (cold wind / frozen water falling as soft ice crystals / white rain / clouds on the ground) → frozen water falling as soft ice crystalsPrompt: It only falls when it is very cold.
  3. What would you take on a sunny, hot day? (a thick coat / a woolly hat / wellington boots (rain boots) / shorts) → shortsPrompt: Think about keeping cool, dry or warm.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
  • Share the objective: Severe weather and staying safe. 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: What is a drought?
  • Step 1: In a drought, there is not enough rain, so water runs short.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: a long period with very little rain
  • Answer: a long period with very little rain
  • 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. What is a hurricane? (a light shower / a sunny day / an earthquake / a huge, powerful storm with very strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm oceans) → a huge, powerful storm with very strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm oceansPrompt: It is also called a typhoon or tropical cyclone in some places.
  2. Which kind of severe weather is this: a snowstorm where you cannot see far? (flood / tornado / blizzard / heatwave) → blizzardPrompt: Is it about water, wind, snow or heat?

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. Which kind of severe weather is this: rivers bursting their banks after days of heavy rain? (flood / tornado / blizzard / heatwave) → floodPrompt: Is it about water, wind, snow or heat?
  2. What is a hurricane? (a huge, powerful storm with very strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm oceans / an earthquake / a sunny day / a light shower) → a huge, powerful storm with very strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm oceansPrompt: It is also called a typhoon or tropical cyclone in some places.

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: Types of weather.
  • 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

  • Move on to: Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards.
  • 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-1.

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

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Severe weather and staying safe

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which kind of severe weather is this: a snowstorm where you cannot see far?

    • A. flood
    • B. tornado
    • C. blizzard
    • D. heatwave
  2. Question 2

    You hear thunder while playing in a field. What should you do?

    • A. stand under a tall tree
    • B. hold up a metal pole
    • C. go swimming
    • D. go indoors as soon as you can
  3. Question 3

    Severe weather: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Weather forecasts help people prepare for storms.
    • B. It is safe to walk through fast-flowing flood water.
    • C. In a heatwave you should drink water and stay in the shade.
    • D. Flood water can be dangerous even when it looks shallow.
  4. Question 4

    Which kind of severe weather is this: temperatures staying very high day and night?

    • A. flood
    • B. tornado
    • C. blizzard
    • D. heatwave
  5. Question 5

    Which kind of severe weather is this: several days much hotter than normal?

    • A. flood
    • B. tornado
    • C. blizzard
    • D. heatwave
  6. Question 6

    What is a drought?

    • A. a flood
    • B. a long period with very little rain
    • C. a snowstorm
    • D. a very windy day

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Answer key: Severe weather and staying safe

  1. 1. C. blizzard

  2. 2. D. go indoors as soon as you can

  3. 3. B. It is safe to walk through fast-flowing flood water.

  4. 4. D. heatwave

  5. 5. D. heatwave

  6. 6. B. a long period with very little rain