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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 minutes

Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards

Weather and climate

CCSS NGSS.3-ESS3-1England: KS2 Geography links

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards.

  • 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: Severe weather and staying safe

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 · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Severe weather and staying safe). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What is a hurricane? (an earthquake / a light shower / a huge, powerful storm with very strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm oceans / a sunny day) → a huge, powerful storm with very strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm oceansPrompt: It is also called a typhoon or tropical cyclone in some places.
  2. 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?
  3. Severe weather: which statement is NOT true? (It is safe to walk through fast-flowing flood water. / Lightning can strike tall objects such as trees. / Weather forecasts help people prepare for storms. / In a heatwave you should drink water and stay in the shade.) → It is safe to walk through fast-flowing flood water.Prompt: One sentence is a famous myth about lightning.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
  • Share the objective: Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: blizzard (heavy snow)?
  • Step 1: Ploughs clear snow and grit melts ice.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads
  • Answer: snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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. Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: river floods? (storm shutters and strongly fixed roofs / flood barriers and houses built on stilts / underground storm shelters / reservoirs and rain barrels to store water) → flood barriers and houses built on stiltsPrompt: What does the hazard do: bring water, wind, heat, cold or electricity?
  2. Why are new homes in flood areas sometimes built with the living rooms upstairs? (To see the river better. / Upstairs is warmer. / Stairs stop water. / Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor.) → Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor.Prompt: Where does floodwater go first?

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Why are new homes in flood areas sometimes built with the living rooms upstairs? (Stairs stop water. / Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor. / Upstairs is warmer. / To see the river better.) → Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor.Prompt: Where does floodwater go first?
  2. Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: heatwave? (storm shutters and strongly fixed roofs / shade trees, light-coloured roofs and cool public spaces / underground storm shelters / snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads) → shade trees, light-coloured roofs and cool public spacesPrompt: What does the hazard do: bring water, wind, heat, cold or electricity?

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: Severe weather and staying safe.
  • 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/grade-3.

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

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Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    A town floods every few years. Engineers suggest two plans. How should the town choose?

    • A. Compare how well each plan works, its cost and its effects on people and nature.
    • B. Pick the one with the longest name.
    • C. Choose at random.
    • D. Do nothing and hope.
  2. Question 2

    True or false? Flood barriers stop rain from falling.

    • A. True
    • B. False
  3. Question 3

    Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: hurricanes (strong storms)?

    • A. snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads
    • B. storm shutters and strongly fixed roofs
    • C. reservoirs and rain barrels to store water
    • D. shade trees, light-coloured roofs and cool public spaces
  4. Question 4

    Why are new homes in flood areas sometimes built with the living rooms upstairs?

    • A. Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor.
    • B. To see the river better.
    • C. Upstairs is warmer.
    • D. Stairs stop water.
  5. Question 5

    True or false? Storing water is useless during a drought.

    • A. True
    • B. False
  6. Question 6

    Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: drought?

    • A. flood barriers and houses built on stilts
    • B. shade trees, light-coloured roofs and cool public spaces
    • C. a lightning rod on top of a building
    • D. reservoirs and rain barrels to store water
  7. Question 7

    Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: blizzard (heavy snow)?

    • A. snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads
    • B. storm shutters and strongly fixed roofs
    • C. flood barriers and houses built on stilts
    • D. underground storm shelters
  8. Question 8

    Why do cities plant trees and build parks that can soak up rain?

    • A. Concrete soaks up more water than soil.
    • B. Parks make storms smaller.
    • C. Trees stop rain falling.
    • D. Soil and plants soak up heavy rain, so less water floods the streets.

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Answer key: Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards

  1. 1. A. Compare how well each plan works, its cost and its effects on people and nature.

  2. 2. B. False

  3. 3. B. storm shutters and strongly fixed roofs

  4. 4. A. Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor.

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. D. reservoirs and rain barrels to store water

  7. 7. A. snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads

  8. 8. D. Soil and plants soak up heavy rain, so less water floods the streets.