• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Weather and climate zones). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. What type of climate does the Sahara have? (polar / tropical / desert (arid) / temperate) → desert (arid)Prompt: Is it near the poles, near the equator, very dry, or in between?
2. What is the difference between weather and climate? (They mean the same / Climate is only about rain / Weather is day-to-day conditions; climate is the average pattern over many years / Weather lasts for years; climate changes every hour) → 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"?
3. Climate: which statement is NOT true? (Weather can change from day to day. / Deserts can be very cold at night. / Places near the equator are usually hot all year. / One cold day proves the climate is getting colder.) → One cold day proves the climate is getting colder.Prompt: Is a desert defined by heat or by rain?

• Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
• Share the objective: Weather or climate? Tell the difference. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Is this about weather or climate: "The Sahara is hot and dry most of the year."
• Step 1: Climate is the average weather of a place over about 30 years or more.
• Step 2: So the answer is: climate (the usual pattern over many years)
• Answer: climate (the usual pattern over many years)
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Is this about weather or climate: "Today is foggy and 6 °C." (weather (what it is like now or this week) / climate (the usual pattern over many years)) → weather (what it is like now or this week)Prompt: Is it about a single day or week, or about what is usual over many years?
2. A cold day happens in summer. Does that mean the climate has changed? (It means there is no climate. / Yes, one cold day changes the climate. / No, one day is weather; climate is the pattern over many years. / Yes, summers are now winter.) → No, one day is weather; climate is the pattern over many years.Prompt: How long a time does climate describe?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. True or false? One snowy day proves the climate is getting colder. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Short time or long time?
2. Is this about weather or climate: "It snowed on Tuesday." (weather (what it is like now or this week) / climate (the usual pattern over many years)) → weather (what it is like now or this week)Prompt: Is it about a single day or week, or about what is usual over many years?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.