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.
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- 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