Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes
Severe weather and staying safe
Weather and climate
CCSS NGSS.K-ESS3-2CCSS NGSS.3-ESS3-1England: KS1 Y1 Seasonal changesEngland: KS3 Geography links
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Severe weather and staying safe.
- 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: Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards
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 (Types of weather). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- What kind of weather would you wear or take gloves for? (a sunny, hot day / a rainy day / a snowy, cold day) → a snowy, cold dayPrompt: Does it keep you cool, dry or warm?
- What do we call water falling from clouds? (rain / fog / wind / sunshine) → rainPrompt: You need an umbrella for it.
- What would you take on a rainy day? (gloves / wellington boots (rain boots) / sunglasses / a sun hat) → wellington boots (rain boots)Prompt: Think about keeping cool, dry or warm.
Hook · 5 min
- Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
- Share the objective: Severe weather and staying safe. 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: What is a drought?
- Step 1: In a drought, there is not enough rain, so water runs short.
- Step 2: So the answer is: a long period with very little rain
- Answer: a long period with very little rain
- 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.
- Why do weather forecasters warn people about storms? (to make it rain / to scare people / to stop the storm / so people can prepare and stay safe) → so people can prepare and stay safePrompt: What could you do if you knew a storm was coming?
- Which kind of severe weather is this: a snowstorm where you cannot see far? (flood / tornado / blizzard / heatwave) → blizzardPrompt: Is it about water, wind, snow or heat?
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.
- Which kind of severe weather is this: a twister moving across farmland? (flood / tornado / blizzard / heatwave) → tornadoPrompt: Is it about water, wind, snow or heat?
- Why do weather forecasters warn people about storms? (to stop the storm / to scare people / so people can prepare and stay safe / to make it rain) → so people can prepare and stay safePrompt: What could you do if you knew a storm was coming?
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: Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards.
- 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-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder