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

Reading weather data

Weather and climate

CCSS NGSS.3-ESS2-1England: KS2 Y3–Y4 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Reading weather data.

  • 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: Measuring the weather

Leads to: Weather and climate zones; Temperature charts: warmest, coldest and range; Compare rainfall month by month

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 (Measuring the weather). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which instrument would you use to measure whether the wind is from the north or south? (wind vane / thermometer / rain gauge / anemometer) → wind vanePrompt: Is it about rain, temperature, wind speed, wind direction or pressure?
  2. What does a barometer measure? (the rainfall in millimetres / which direction the wind comes from / how fast the wind is blowing / whether pressure is rising or falling) → whether pressure is rising or fallingPrompt: Think about what each instrument looks like and does.
  3. Which instrument would you use to measure how fast the wind is blowing? (wind vane / barometer / thermometer / anemometer) → anemometerPrompt: Is it about rain, temperature, wind speed, wind direction or pressure?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
  • Share the objective: Reading weather data. 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: Temperatures (°C) on five days were 20, 13, 11, 17, 11. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.
  • Step 1: (20 + 13 + 11 + 17 + 11) ÷ 5 = 14.4
  • Step 2: So the answer is: 14.4 °C
  • Answer: 14.4 °C
  • 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. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 12, 8, 7, 13, 6. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 9.2 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
  2. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 19, 10, 20, 17, 16. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 16.4 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.

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. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 11, 10, 7, 12, 5. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 9 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
  2. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 20, 16, 22, 14, 14. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 17.2 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.

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: Measuring the 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: Weather and climate zones; Temperature charts: warmest, coldest and range; Compare rainfall month by month.
  • 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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Reading weather data

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 14, Tue 5, Wed 13, Thu 8, Fri 9. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)05101514Mon5Tue13Wed8Thu9Fri

    Answer°C

  2. Question 2

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 12, 10, 6, 12, 4. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

  3. Question 3

    The chart shows the rainfall (mm) in four months. Which month was wettest?

    Rainfall (mm)020406080100120110Jan120Apr20Jul110Oct
    • A. Oct
    • B. Apr
    • C. Jan
    • D. Jul

  4. Question 4

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 13, Tue 17, Wed 22, Thu 19, Fri 19. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)051015202513Mon17Tue22Wed19Thu19Fri

    Answer°C

  5. Question 5

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 9, 15, 6, 10, 14. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

  6. Question 6

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 16, Tue 22, Wed 21, Thu 17, Fri 17. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)051015202516Mon22Tue21Wed17Thu17Fri

    Answer°C

  7. Question 7

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 10, 6, 0, 8, 9. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

  8. Question 8

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 12, Tue 7, Wed 10, Thu 10, Fri 6. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)05101512Mon7Tue10Wed10Thu6Fri

    Answer°C

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Answer key: Reading weather data

  1. 1. 9 °C

  2. 2. 8.8 °C

  3. 3. B. Apr

  4. 4. 9 °C

  5. 5. 10.8 °C

  6. 6. 6 °C

  7. 7. 6.6 °C

  8. 8. 6 °C