Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes
Weather and climate zones
Weather and climate
CCSS NGSS.3-ESS2-2England: KS2 Geography linksEngland: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere (climate)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Weather and climate zones.
- 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: Reading weather data
Leads to: The greenhouse effect and climate change; Weather or climate? Tell the difference
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 (Reading weather data). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Temperatures (°C) on five days were 21, 19, 23, 25, 25. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 22.6 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
- Temperatures (°C) on five days were 7, 13, 6, 4, 7. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 7.4 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
- Temperatures (°C) on five days were 14, 7, 16, 8, 9. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 10.8 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
Hook · 3 min
- Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
- Share the objective: Weather and climate zones. 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 type of climate does Antarctica have?
- Step 1: Polar climates are very cold all year, near the North and South Poles.
- Step 2: So the answer is: polar
- Answer: polar
- 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.
- What type of climate does the Amazon rainforest have? (polar / tropical / desert (arid) / temperate) → tropicalPrompt: Is it near the poles, near the equator, very dry, or in between?
- What is the difference between weather and climate? (Weather lasts for years; climate changes every hour / Climate is only about rain / They mean the same / Weather is day-to-day conditions; climate is the average pattern over many years) → 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"?
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.
- What is the difference between weather and climate? (Weather lasts for years; climate changes every hour / They mean the same / Weather is day-to-day conditions; climate is the average pattern over many years / Climate is only about rain) → 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"?
- Climate: which statement is NOT true? (Weather can change from day to day. / Places near the equator are usually hot all year. / One cold day proves the climate is getting colder. / Climate is the typical weather of a place over many years.) → One cold day proves the climate is getting colder.Prompt: Is a desert defined by heat or by rain?
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: Reading weather data.
- 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: The greenhouse effect and climate change; Weather or climate? Tell the difference.
- 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