Cold Weather Fun

Lesson Overview

Subject: Geography

Year Group: Year 1

Unit: Weather Wonders: Hot vs. Cold (Lesson 4 of 12)

Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

UK National Curriculum Link: Key Stage 1 Geography

• Pupils should identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the UK and other parts of the world.
• Pupils should use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features, including weather.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will be able to:

1. Describe the features of cold weather, including temperature, precipitation, and seasonal changes.
2. Identify appropriate clothing and activities for cold weather conditions.
3. Compare their own experiences of cold weather with those of children in colder regions globally.

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Resources Needed

• Large printed images of snowy landscapes, icy lakes, winter clothing, and frosty trees
• Weather thermometer and laminated weather symbols (snowflake, raindrop, sun)
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (or a similar winter-themed picture book)
• A set of real or printed winter clothing items (hat, scarf, gloves, coat, boots)
• White cotton wool for a fun hands-on sensory activity
• A simple pre-cut weather chart for pupils to complete
• Interactive whiteboard with images/videos of snowfall in the UK

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 mins) – Imagining Cold Weather

🧤 Teacher-led discussion:

• Start by asking: "What does cold weather feel like?" "How do we know it's a cold day?"
• Show pupils a large image of a snowy UK landscape and encourage them to describe what they see.
• Read a short extract from The Snowy Day or show a brief video clip of snow falling.

👦 Think-Pair-Share:

• Pupils turn to their partner and describe a time they felt very cold. Encourage sensory details:
  • What did the air feel like on your face?
  • What did they wear?
  • What could they see and hear around them?

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2. Main Activity (25 mins) – Exploring Cold Weather Characteristics

A. Cold Weather Detective Game (10 mins) 🕵️‍♂️

• Present different laminated weather symbols (snowflake, raindrop, sun).
• Use a mystery bag with small items inside: a woolly hat 🧢, sunglasses 🕶️, wellies 🥾, and gloves 🧤.
• One pupil picks an item and guesses: Would you wear this in cold weather? Why or why not?
• Introduce the thermometer and explain how it tells us if it’s cold or warm. Let pupils "read" a simple thermometer (with numbers from -10 to +20).

B. Dressing for Winter Relay (10 mins) 🏃

• Split the class into teams. Give each team a set of winter clothing.
• One by one, pupils take turns choosing the correct item for winter weather and dressing a teammate.
• First team to fully dress their "winter explorer" wins!

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3. Independent Activity (15 mins) – My Cold Weather Chart

🖍️ Pupils will:

• Complete their own cold weather chart, drawing or sticking pictures of what they wear and what they see on a cold day.
• Write or dictate a simple sentence about their favourite thing to do in cold weather (e.g., “I like to play in the snow.”).

📢 Challenge Question: How is winter in the UK different from winter in colder countries like Canada?

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Plenary (10 mins) – Sensory Snowstorm

• Hand small groups a handful of white cotton wool. Ask them to blow it into the air like a snowstorm and observe how it floats.
• End by asking: “What was your favourite thing you learned today?”
• Encourage pupils to use new vocabulary: cold, freeze, snow, ice, winter, frost, shiver, coat, gloves, scarf.

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Assessment Opportunities

✅ Observation – Are pupils able to correctly select clothing items for cold weather?
✅ Listening Responses – Do they understand and describe features of winter well?
✅ Work Review – Are their cold weather charts complete, showing a basic understanding of winter conditions?

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Differentiation & Support

• For EAL (English as an Additional Language) learners: Visual aids (pictures, real clothing) and simplified sentence structures will help comprehension.
• For pupils needing extra support: Provide sentence starters (“In winter, I wear…”).
• For pupils needing challenge: Ask them to compare UK winter with a country that has extreme cold and discuss how people adapt.

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Reflection for Teacher

📝 Were pupils engaged in the hands-on activities?
📝 Did they use key vocabulary confidently?
📝 Do they understand how cold weather affects people’s daily lives?

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This lesson makes the magic of winter come alive through movement, role-play, and sensory activities—ensuring Year 1 pupils truly feel and understand the wonder of cold weather! ❄️