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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 the rainfall in millimetres? (barometer / rain gauge / wind vane / anemometer) → rain gaugePrompt: Is it about rain, temperature, wind speed, wind direction or pressure?
  2. What does a wind vane measure? (how much rain fell today / which direction the wind comes from / how warm the air is / air pressure) → which direction the wind comes fromPrompt: Think about what each instrument looks like and does.
  3. Which instrument would you use to measure wind speed? (anemometer / rain gauge / wind vane / thermometer) → 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 6, 2, 9, 0, 10. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 5.4 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
  2. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 10, 9, 9, 18, 17. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 12.6 °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 10, 18, 20, 13, 18. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 15.8 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
  2. Temperatures (°C) on five days were 17, 16, 16, 15, 19. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 16.6 °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

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 12, 12, 12, 4, 11. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

  2. Question 2

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

    Rainfall (mm)02040608010012050Jan40Apr80Jul120Oct
    • A. Jul
    • B. Jan
    • C. Oct
    • D. Apr

  3. Question 3

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 10, Tue 11, Wed 20, Thu 12, Fri 19. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)0510152010Mon11Tue20Wed12Thu19Fri

    Answer°C

  4. Question 4

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 15, 12, 18, 10, 15. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

  5. Question 5

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 8, Tue 10, Wed 2, Thu 9, Fri 3. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)05108Mon10Tue2Wed9Thu3Fri

    Answer°C

  6. Question 6

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 18, 11, 18, 11, 19. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

  7. Question 7

    Midday temperatures (°C) for one week: Mon 8, Tue 8, Wed 9, Thu 7, Fri 5. What is the range (highest − lowest)?

    Midday temperature (°C)05108Mon8Tue9Wed7Thu5Fri

    Answer°C

  8. Question 8

    Temperatures (°C) on five days were 13, 11, 10, 8, 7. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

    Answer°C

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Answer key: Reading weather data

  1. 1. 10.2 °C

  2. 2. C. Oct

  3. 3. 10 °C

  4. 4. 14 °C

  5. 5. 8 °C

  6. 6. 15.4 °C

  7. 7. 4 °C

  8. 8. 9.8 °C