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

Reading weather data

Weather and climate

CCSS NGSS.3-ESS2-1England: KS2 Y3–Y4 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Reading weather data.

  • 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: Measuring the weather

Leads to: Weather and climate zones; Temperature charts: warmest, coldest and range; Compare rainfall month by month

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 (Measuring the weather). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which instrument would you use to measure whether pressure is rising or falling? (barometer / anemometer / rain gauge / thermometer) → barometerPrompt: Is it about rain, temperature, wind speed, wind direction or pressure?
  2. What does a barometer measure? (the temperature in °C / whether the wind is from the north or south / whether pressure is rising or falling / how warm the air is) → whether pressure is rising or fallingPrompt: Think about what each instrument looks like and does.
  3. Which instrument would you use to measure whether the wind is from the north or south? (barometer / wind vane / rain gauge / thermometer) → wind vanePrompt: Is it about rain, temperature, wind speed, wind direction or pressure?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
  • Share the objective: Reading weather data. 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: Temperatures (°C) on five days were 20, 13, 11, 17, 11. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.
  • Step 1: (20 + 13 + 11 + 17 + 11) ÷ 5 = 14.4
  • Step 2: So the answer is: 14.4 °C
  • Answer: 14.4 °C
  • 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. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 20, 17, 17, 14, 19. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 17.4 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
  2. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 16, 10, 8, 11, 8. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 10.6 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.

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. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 12, 18, 13, 12, 13. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 13.6 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
  2. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 9, 16, 9, 8, 18. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 12 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.

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: Measuring the 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: Weather and climate zones; Temperature charts: warmest, coldest and range; Compare rainfall month by month.
  • 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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Reading weather data

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 5, 8, 6, 5, 5. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

  2. Question 2

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 12, Tue 5, Wed 13, Thu 7, Fri 6. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)05101512Mon5Tue13Wed7Thu6Fri

    Answer°C

  3. Question 3

    The chart shows the rainfall (mm) in four months. Which month was wettest?

    Rainfall (mm)02040608030Jan80Apr60Jul60Oct
    • A. Oct
    • B. Apr
    • C. Jan
    • D. Jul

  4. Question 4

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 17, 19, 17, 17, 19. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

  5. Question 5

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 15, Tue 16, Wed 16, Thu 10, Fri 9. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)0510152015Mon16Tue16Wed10Thu9Fri

    Answer°C

  6. Question 6

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 16, 15, 16, 18, 16. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

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Answer key: Reading weather data

  1. 1. 5.8 °C

  2. 2. 8 °C

  3. 3. B. Apr

  4. 4. 17.8 °C

  5. 5. 7 °C

  6. 6. 16.2 °C