Seasons of the UK

Curriculum Reference

Key Stage 1 (KS1) Geography - Understanding Weather Conditions: Seasons and Weather Patterns in the UK

Lesson Objectives

• Understand the four seasons of the UK: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
• Identify characteristics of each season.
• Explore how seasons affect our daily lives and the environment.

Timeframe

Total Duration: 60 minutes

Materials Needed

• Pictures and illustrations of each season
• A world map showcasing the UK
• Seasonal clothing items and props (e.g., umbrella, sunglasses, scarf)
• A short video clip depicting seasonal changes
• Colouring sheets with seasonal scenes
• Whiteboard and markers

Lesson Outline

Introduction (10 minutes)

• Welcome and Warm-Up: Begin with a welcoming song about the weather and seasons to engage students.
• Discussion Starter: Pose the question: "What is your favourite season and why?" Encourage a few students to share their thoughts.
• Objective Overview: Explain that today's focus is understanding seasons in the UK and how they impact our lives.

Main Instruction (30 minutes)

Part 1: Understanding Seasons (15 minutes)

• Visual Storytelling: Use a world map to locate the UK. Show images of each UK season on the board.

• Characteristics of Seasons:

  • Spring: Flowers bloom, baby animals, mild weather.
  • Summer: Sunshine, longer days, school holidays.
  • Autumn: Leaves change colour, cooler air, harvesting time.
  • Winter: Cold weather, snow in some areas, shorter days.

• Interactive Activity:

  • Match seasonal objects to the correct season on a board (e.g., snowmen, ice cream cones).
  • Questions to prompt thinking: "What should we wear in winter?" or "What happens to leaves in autumn?"

Part 2: Seasons and Daily Life (15 minutes)

• Video Presentation: Show a short video clip that fast-tracks through a year in the UK, highlighting each season's characteristics.
• Class Discussion:
  • How do different seasons affect what we wear, the food we eat, or the activities we do?
  • Discuss how certain animals adapt or behave differently during each season.

Activity and Engagement (15 minutes)

• Seasonal Art Project: Hand out colouring sheets illustrating typical scenes from each season.
• Creative Extension: Encourage students to draw themselves in their favourite season, dressed appropriately for that time of year.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

• Recap & Review: Summarise the key points discussed, prompting students to recall facts about each UK season.
• Final Discussion: Ask students what new thing they learned or found surprising about the UK seasons.

Assessment

• Informal Observation: Monitor participation during discussions and activities.
• Art Project: Evaluate understanding through the completed seasonal art sheets and drawings.

Home Connection

• Assign students to observe and note one change in the environment around their home that shows the current season in the UK. They can share their observations in the next class.

Teacher's Reflection

• After the lesson, reflect on which activities engaged students the most and adjust future lessons to integrate more impactful ideas based on student responses.

This engaging lesson plan combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning approaches to effectively teach young students about the seasons in the UK, aligned with the national curriculum.