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Science lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes

Count the days on a weather chart

Weather and climate

CCSS NGSS.K-ESS2-1CCSS NGSS.SEP 4England: EYFS Understanding the World: The natural worldEngland: KS1 Y1 Seasonal changesEngland: KS1 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Count the days on a weather chart.

  • 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: Describe the weather from clues

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 (Describe the weather from clues). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Look at the clues: Trees bending and leaves blowing along the street. What is the weather like? (stormy / snowy / windy / sunny) → windyPrompt: Think about what you would see and feel outside.
  2. Weather forecasters say there will be snow tomorrow. What will the temperature be like? (the same as a summer day / very hot / very cold / warm like a bath) → very coldPrompt: What makes water freeze?
  3. True or false? It is always sunny in the morning and rainy at night. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Think about weather you have seen yourself.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
  • Share the objective: Count the days on a weather chart. 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.
  • Model one question from the student sheet, thinking aloud.
  • 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.

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.

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: Describe the weather from clues.
  • 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/kindergarten.

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

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Count the days on a weather chart

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which kind of weather happened most often?

    Days012345676sunny4cloudy3rainy7windy
    • A. sunny
    • B. cloudy
    • C. rainy
    • D. windy

  2. Question 2

    Look at the weather chart. How many more cloudy days were there than rainy days?

    Days01234567895sunny9cloudy7rainy6windy

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    A class recorded the weather every school day for a month. How many days were windy?

    Days0123456787sunny4cloudy8rainy2windy

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Look at the weather chart. How many more rainy days were there than sunny days?

    Days012345673sunny5cloudy4rainy7windy

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    A class recorded the weather every school day for a month. How many days were rainy?

    Days01234567895sunny9cloudy2rainy7windy

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Look at the weather chart. How many more sunny days were there than windy days?

    Days012345677sunny5cloudy2rainy6windy

    Answer

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Answer key: Count the days on a weather chart

  1. 1. D. windy

  2. 2. 2

  3. 3. 2

  4. 4. 1

  5. 5. 2

  6. 6. 1