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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Measuring the weather

Weather and climate

CCSS NGSS.K-ESS2-1CCSS NGSS.3-ESS2-1England: KS1 Y1 Seasonal changesEngland: KS1 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Measuring the weather.

  • 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: Reading weather data; Air pressure, fronts and forecasting the weather

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 a raincoat 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 fog? (a cloud close to the ground / frozen air / heavy rain / smoke from fires) → a cloud close to the groundPrompt: It makes it hard to see far.
  3. What would you take on a sunny, hot day? (wellington boots (rain boots) / an umbrella / a raincoat / sun cream (sunscreen)) → sun cream (sunscreen)Prompt: 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: Measuring the weather. 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: Which instrument would you use to measure the temperature in °C?
  • Step 1: A thermometer measures temperature.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: thermometer
  • Answer: thermometer
  • 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. Which instrument would you use to measure the rainfall in millimetres? (wind vane / rain gauge / barometer / thermometer) → rain gaugePrompt: Is it about rain, temperature, wind speed, wind direction or pressure?
  2. What does an anemometer measure? (whether the wind is from the north or south / how fast the wind is blowing / which direction the wind comes from / how much rain fell today) → how fast the wind is blowingPrompt: Think about what each instrument looks like and does.

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. What does an anemometer measure? (which direction the wind comes from / how much rain fell today / the temperature in °C / how fast the wind is blowing) → how fast the wind is blowingPrompt: Think about what each instrument looks like and does.
  2. Which instrument would you use to measure how fast the wind is blowing? (anemometer / rain gauge / thermometer / barometer) → anemometerPrompt: Is it about rain, temperature, wind speed, wind direction or pressure?

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: Reading weather data; Air pressure, fronts and forecasting the weather.
  • 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-2.

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

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Measuring the weather

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A class read their rain gauge every day. The chart shows the rainfall in mm. What was the total rainfall for the week, in mm?

    Rainfall (mm)024687Mon1Tue7Wed4Thu5Fri

    Answermm

  2. Question 2

    What does a rain gauge measure?

    • A. air pressure
    • B. whether the wind is from the north or south
    • C. how much rain fell today
    • D. how fast the wind is blowing

  3. Question 3

    Which instrument would you use to measure how fast the wind is blowing?

    • A. rain gauge
    • B. barometer
    • C. thermometer
    • D. anemometer

  4. Question 4

    What does an anemometer measure?

    • A. air pressure
    • B. how much rain fell today
    • C. which direction the wind comes from
    • D. wind speed

  5. Question 5

    Which instrument would you use to measure which direction the wind comes from?

    • A. barometer
    • B. wind vane
    • C. anemometer
    • D. rain gauge

  6. Question 6

    What does a wind vane measure?

    • A. how warm the air is
    • B. how fast the wind is blowing
    • C. the temperature in °C
    • D. which direction the wind comes from

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Answer key: Measuring the weather

  1. 1. 24 mm

  2. 2. C. how much rain fell today

  3. 3. D. anemometer

  4. 4. D. wind speed

  5. 5. B. wind vane

  6. 6. D. which direction the wind comes from