Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 minutes
Compare rainfall month by month
Weather and climate
CCSS NGSS.3-ESS2-1CCSS NGSS.SEP 4England: KS2 Y3–Y4 Working scientificallyEngland: KS2 Geography links
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Compare rainfall month by month.
- 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: Reading weather data
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 (Reading weather data). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Temperatures (°C) on five days were 14, 8, 16, 18, 11. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 13.4 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
- Temperatures (°C) on five days were 17, 10, 15, 14, 17. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 14.6 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
- Temperatures (°C) on five days were 7, 7, 10, 4, 8. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place. → 7.2 °CPrompt: Add the temperatures.
Hook · 6 min
- Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
- Share the objective: Compare rainfall month by month. 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: The rain gauge shows 0 mm for a whole month. What does this tell you?
- Step 1: An empty gauge means a dry month (if the gauge was working and not blocked).
- Step 2: So the answer is: No rain fell that month.
- Answer: No rain fell that month.
- 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.
- Why should a rain gauge be placed in an open space, away from trees and buildings? (It does not matter where it goes. / So it stays in the shade. / So birds can drink from it. / So rain can fall straight in without being blocked or dripping off leaves.) → So rain can fall straight in without being blocked or dripping off leaves.Prompt: What could a tree do to the rain falling over the gauge?
- What instrument measures rainfall? (a thermometer / a rain gauge / a wind vane / a barometer) → a rain gaugePrompt: It collects rain in a container marked in millimetres.
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.
- What instrument measures rainfall? (a wind vane / a thermometer / a barometer / a rain gauge) → a rain gaugePrompt: It collects rain in a container marked in millimetres.
- The rain gauge shows 0 mm for a whole month. What does this tell you? (It rained every day. / The gauge measures sunshine. / The month was very cold. / No rain fell that month.) → No rain fell that month.Prompt: What does the gauge collect?
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: Reading weather data.
- 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