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Science lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes

Which season is it? Read the clues

Weather and climate

CCSS NGSS.K-ESS2-1CCSS NGSS.1-ESS1-2England: EYFS Understanding the World: The natural worldEngland: KS1 Y1 Seasonal changes

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Which season is it? Read the clues.

  • 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: Put the four seasons in order

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 · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Put the four seasons in order). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which season comes straight after spring? (summer / winter / spring / autumn (fall)) → summerPrompt: Say the seasons in a circle: spring, summer, …
  2. Which season comes TWO seasons after spring? (spring / summer / autumn (fall) / winter) → autumn (fall)Prompt: The order is spring, summer, autumn (fall), winter, then spring again.
  3. Which season comes straight after autumn (fall)? (spring / winter / summer) → winterPrompt: Say the seasons in a circle: spring, summer, …

Hook · 5 min

  • Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
  • Share the objective: Which season is it? Read the clues. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Clues: Long, warm days and people swimming outdoors. Which season is it?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: summer
  • Answer: summer
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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. Clues: Birds build nests and the first flowers such as daffodils come up. Which season is it? (winter / autumn (fall) / summer / spring) → springPrompt: Is it getting warmer or colder? Are plants starting, growing, or resting?
  2. Why do we often see more insects in summer than in winter? (Summer days are shorter. / Insects are scared of snowmen. / It is warm and there are lots of plants and flowers for food. / Insects only hatch at night.) → It is warm and there are lots of plants and flowers for food.Prompt: What do insects need, and when is there most of it?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Why do many birds fly to warmer places in autumn (fall)? (because they are tired of their nests / to see the snow / to find food and warmth through the winter / because the days are getting longer) → to find food and warmth through the winterPrompt: What gets hard to find when it turns cold?
  2. Clues: Leaves turn orange and brown and fall from many trees. Which season is it? (winter / autumn (fall) / summer / spring) → autumn (fall)Prompt: Is it getting warmer or colder? Are plants starting, growing, or resting?

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: Put the four seasons in order.
  • 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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Which season is it? Read the clues

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    True or false? Winter has the longest days of the year.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Why do many trees drop their leaves in autumn (fall)?

    • A. Because birds pull them off
    • B. To save water and energy through the cold winter
    • C. To make room for fruit
    • D. Because the wind is angry

  3. Question 3

    Clues: Squirrels collect lots of nuts to store. Which season is it?

    • A. autumn (fall)
    • B. winter
    • C. summer
    • D. spring

  4. Question 4

    True or false? The seasons repeat every year.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    True or false? It snows in summer in most places.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    Why do hedgehogs sleep (hibernate) through winter?

    • A. They are bored.
    • B. There is little food, so they save energy.
    • C. It is too hot to move.
    • D. The days are too long.

  7. Question 7

    Clues: Strawberries are ripe and the Sun sets late in the evening. Which season is it?

    • A. autumn (fall)
    • B. spring
    • C. summer
    • D. winter

  8. Question 8

    Why do many birds fly to warmer places in autumn (fall)?

    • A. because they are tired of their nests
    • B. to see the snow
    • C. because the days are getting longer
    • D. to find food and warmth through the winter

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Answer key: Which season is it? Read the clues

  1. 1. B. False

  2. 2. B. To save water and energy through the cold winter

  3. 3. A. autumn (fall)

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. B. There is little food, so they save energy.

  7. 7. C. summer

  8. 8. D. to find food and warmth through the winter