Exploring the Weather

Curriculum Information

Subject: Geography
Year Group: Year 1
Unit: Weather Wonders: Hot & Cold (Lesson 1 of 12)
Curriculum Link:
Aligned with the National Curriculum for England – Geography (KS1):

• Identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the United Kingdom.
• Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key weather conditions.

Lesson Overview

Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand what weather is and why it changes.
• Identify different types of weather (sunny, rainy, windy, snowy).
• Use simple weather-related vocabulary.
• Recognise how weather affects daily life and clothing choices.

Resources Needed

• Weather picture cards (sunny, rainy, windy, snowy).
• A class weather chart.
• A sensory weather box (with props such as a spray bottle for rain, a handheld fan for wind, warm scarves for cold, sunglasses for sun).
• A soft ball for the “Weather Word Catch” game.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 mins) – What is Weather?

Hook: Begin with a quick question: "What was the weather like when you came to school today?" Encourage students to share observations.

Explanation:

• Introduce the idea that weather is what the air is like outside (sunny, rainy, windy, or snowy).
• Use simple language and visuals (weather picture cards) to help children understand.
• Briefly mention that weather can change throughout the day.

Engaging Activity:

• Show real-life photos of different UK weather conditions and ask students to describe how they would feel going outside in that weather.

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2. Sensory Weather Experience (15 mins) – Feeling the Weather

Activity Title: "What Does Weather Feel Like?"

• Using the Sensory Weather Box, students will experience different weather types:
  • Use a spray bottle to mimic rain.
  • Let children feel a handheld fan to represent wind.
  • Pass around a pair of sunglasses to represent sunny weather.
  • Hand out scarves or mittens to represent cold, snowy weather.

Discussion Points:

• How does each type of weather feel?
• What clothes would you wear for each type of weather?

Encourage students to act out different weather scenarios – e.g., pretend they are shivering in the snow or feeling warm in the sun.

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3. Weather Word Catch Game (15 mins) – Expanding Vocabulary

Activity Title: "Weather Word Catch"

• Stand in a circle and use a soft ball to play a game where students catch the ball and say a weather word (sunny, rainy, windy, or snowy).
• If a student catches the ball but struggles to remember a word, prompt them by pointing to a picture card.
• Add challenge: Ask students to describe how that weather feels (“Windy feels cold and blowy”).

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4. Class Weather Chart (10 mins) – Observing the Weather

Creating a Daily Weather Chart:

• Look outside the classroom window. As a class, decide: What weather do we see today?
• Stick a matching weather picture on the class Weather Chart.
• Discuss: What clothes would we wear today? What activities can we do?

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5. Plenary (10 mins) – Exit Question & Reflection

• Ask each student one question before they leave:

  • “Can you name one type of weather?”
  • “How does rain feel?”
  • “What would you wear if it was snowy?”

• Wrap-up thought: “Weather changes all the time – we will be weather detectives all week!”

Home Challenge:
Ask students to look at the sky at home and tell someone what the weather is like outside.

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Assessment

• Observation: Are students using correct weather words?
• Participation: Did they engage in the activities?
• Questioning: Can students describe different weather types?

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Teacher Reflection

• Did students grasp the basic weather types?
• Was there enthusiasm in the sensory experience?
• Were students able to link weather to clothing choices?
• What adjustments would enhance engagement next lesson?