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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.
  1. What kind of weather would you wear or take sun cream (sunscreen) for? (a sunny, hot day / a rainy day / a snowy, cold day) → a sunny, hot dayPrompt: Does it keep you cool, dry or warm?
  2. What is snow? (cold wind / clouds on the ground / white rain / frozen water falling as soft ice crystals) → frozen water falling as soft ice crystalsPrompt: It only falls when it is very cold.
  3. What would you take on a sunny, hot day? (a sun hat / a scarf / an umbrella / gloves) → a sun hatPrompt: 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.
  1. What is a drought? (a snowstorm / a long period with very little rain / a flood / a very windy day) → a long period with very little rainPrompt: Rivers and reservoirs dry up.
  2. Which kind of severe weather is this: rivers bursting their banks after days of heavy rain? (flood / tornado / blizzard / heatwave) → floodPrompt: 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.
  1. Severe weather: which statement is NOT true? (In a heatwave you should drink water and stay in the shade. / Weather forecasts help people prepare for storms. / Sheltering under a tree is safe in a thunderstorm. / Lightning can strike tall objects such as trees.) → Sheltering under a tree is safe in a thunderstorm.Prompt: One sentence is a famous myth about lightning.
  2. What is a drought? (a long period with very little rain / a snowstorm / a flood / a very windy day) → a long period with very little rainPrompt: Rivers and reservoirs dry up.

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

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Severe weather and staying safe

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which kind of severe weather is this: heavy snow blown by strong winds?

    • A. flood
    • B. tornado
    • C. blizzard
    • D. heatwave
  2. Question 2

    Why do weather forecasters warn people about storms?

    • A. to scare people
    • B. to make it rain
    • C. so people can prepare and stay safe
    • D. to stop the storm
  3. Question 3

    Severe weather: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Weather forecasts help people prepare for storms.
    • B. Sheltering under a tree is safe in a thunderstorm.
    • C. Lightning can strike tall objects such as trees.
    • D. In a heatwave you should drink water and stay in the shade.
  4. Question 4

    Which kind of severe weather is this: a spinning funnel of wind touching the ground?

    • A. flood
    • B. tornado
    • C. blizzard
    • D. heatwave
  5. Question 5

    What is a drought?

    • A. a very windy day
    • B. a flood
    • C. a snowstorm
    • D. a long period with very little rain
  6. Question 6

    Which kind of severe weather is this: temperatures staying very high day and night?

    • A. flood
    • B. tornado
    • C. blizzard
    • D. heatwave
  7. Question 7

    Which kind of severe weather is this: a snowstorm where you cannot see far?

    • A. flood
    • B. tornado
    • C. blizzard
    • D. heatwave
  8. Question 8

    Which kind of severe weather is this: streets covered in water after a storm?

    • A. flood
    • B. tornado
    • C. blizzard
    • D. heatwave

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Answer key: Severe weather and staying safe

  1. 1. C. blizzard

  2. 2. C. so people can prepare and stay safe

  3. 3. B. Sheltering under a tree is safe in a thunderstorm.

  4. 4. B. tornado

  5. 5. D. a long period with very little rain

  6. 6. D. heatwave

  7. 7. C. blizzard

  8. 8. A. flood