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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 drought? (a very windy day / a long period with very little rain / a flood / a snowstorm) → a long period with very little rainPrompt: Rivers and reservoirs dry up.
  2. Which kind of severe weather is this: a snowstorm where you cannot see far? (flood / tornado / blizzard / heatwave) → blizzardPrompt: Is it about water, wind, snow or heat?
  3. Severe weather: which statement is NOT true? (In a heatwave you should drink water and stay in the shade. / Lightning can strike tall objects such as trees. / It is safe to walk through fast-flowing flood water. / Weather forecasts help people prepare for storms.) → 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: drought? (reservoirs and rain barrels to store water / a lightning rod on top of a building / snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads / underground storm shelters) → reservoirs and rain barrels to store waterPrompt: 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? (Upstairs is warmer. / Stairs stop water. / Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor. / To see the river better.) → 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. True or false? Weather warnings are only for scientists. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Hazards cannot be stopped. What can people do?
  2. Why are new homes in flood areas sometimes built with the living rooms upstairs? (Stairs stop water. / To see the river better. / Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor. / Upstairs is warmer.) → Floodwater is less likely to reach the upper floor.Prompt: Where does floodwater go first?

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

    Why do weather services send out warnings before big storms?

    • A. To stop the storm.
    • B. So people have time to prepare and get to safety.
    • C. To change the storm's direction.
    • D. To make the storm smaller.
  2. Question 2

    True or false? Planting trees in cities helps during heatwaves.

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

    Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: drought?

    • A. reservoirs and rain barrels to store water
    • B. underground storm shelters
    • C. flood barriers and houses built on stilts
    • D. storm shutters and strongly fixed roofs
  4. Question 4

    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.
  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: tornado?

    • A. a lightning rod on top of a building
    • B. flood barriers and houses built on stilts
    • C. underground storm shelters
    • D. snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads
  7. Question 7

    Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: lightning?

    • A. reservoirs and rain barrels to store water
    • B. snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads
    • C. a lightning rod on top of a building
    • D. storm shutters and strongly fixed roofs
  8. Question 8

    True or false? Weather warnings are only for scientists.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Designs that reduce damage from weather hazards

  1. 1. B. So people have time to prepare and get to safety.

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. A. reservoirs and rain barrels to store water

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

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. C. underground storm shelters

  7. 7. C. a lightning rod on top of a building

  8. 8. B. False