Weather and Seasons

Lesson Overview

Subject: Geography
Year Group: Year 1
Unit: Weather Wonders: Hot & Cold
Lesson Number: 1 of 10
Lesson Title: Introduction to Weather
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 30 students

National Curriculum Links

Key Stage 1 - Geography

• Place Knowledge: Understand daily weather patterns in the UK.
• Geographical Skills & Fieldwork: Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features such as weather.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Explain what weather is in simple terms.
2. Identify different types of weather conditions.
3. Describe their personal experiences of hot and cold weather.

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity – Weather Watch! (10 minutes)

Objective: Engage students with real-world weather observations

• Begin by asking the class: "What is the weather like today?"
• Take students to a window or outside (if possible) for 2 minutes to observe the weather.
• Guide a short discussion with prompts:
  • Is it sunny, rainy, windy, or cloudy?
  • Is it warm or cold?
• Record responses on the board in a simple chart.

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2. Introducing Weather (10 minutes)

Objective: Define what weather is and explore different types

• Show three large pictures:
  1. A hot, sunny day
  2. A cold, snowy day
  3. A rainy, windy day
• Ask students to describe what they see. Use questions like:
  • What do you think it would feel like in this place?
  • What clothes would you wear in this weather?
• Write the word "Weather" on the board and define it simply:
  • "Weather is how the air around us feels, like warm or cold, sunny or rainy."

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3. Hot vs Cold Sorting Game (15 minutes)

Objective: Help students distinguish between hot and cold weather conditions

• Lay out two large hoops on the floor: one labelled HOT 🔥 and one labelled COLD ❄️.
• Hand out 10 large picture cards featuring weather scenes, clothing, or activities (e.g., sunhat, snowman, umbrella).
• Students take turns coming up, choosing a card, and deciding which hoop it belongs in.
• Reinforce learning by asking:
  • Why did you choose that hoop?
  • Have you ever worn/seen/done this in hot or cold weather?

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4. Personal Experience Discussion (10 minutes)

Objective: Allow students to connect learning to their own lives

• Pair students to discuss times they felt really hot or really cold.
• Encourage prompts:
  • Where were you? What were you wearing? What did it feel like?
• Invite a few students to share their experiences with the whole class.

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5. Creative Activity – Weather Drawing (10 minutes)

Objective: Express understanding of different weather types through art

• Provide each student with a blank A4 sheet. Ask them to:
  • Draw a picture of their favourite kind of weather.
  • Include items like clothing, sun, rain, clouds or snow.
• Encourage them to use bright colours and add details.

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Plenary – Mini Weather Talk (5 minutes)

• Ask a few students to hold up their drawings and describe the weather in their pictures.
• Revisit the question: "What is weather?"
• End with a fun chant:
  • "Weather can be hot, weather can be cold, sometimes it's sunny, sometimes it's bold!"

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Resources Needed

✅ Large weather pictures (sunny, snowy, rainy, windy)
✅ Sorting game picture cards
✅ A4 paper and colouring pencils
✅ Two labelled hula hoops (HOT 🔥 / COLD ❄️)

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Adaptations for Different Learners

• Visual learners: Use plenty of pictures and hands-on activities.
• Auditory learners: Encourage discussions and chants.
• Kinesthetic learners: Engage with sorting games and outdoor observations.

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Assessment Opportunities

✔️ Informal questioning during discussions.
✔️ Observing student participation in the sorting game.
✔️ Listening to personal weather experiences.
✔️ Reviewing weather drawings for understanding.

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Homework Task (Optional)

• Weather Diary Challenge: Over the next 3 days, draw a picture of the weather outside your window. Bring it to the next lesson to share with the class!

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🌦️ Well done! You’ve now introduced your students to the exciting world of weather! 🌞❄️