PR-6171IRE Science A STEM Approach - 1st Class

Lesson 3
Earth and the Environment
IN THE SKY AND ON THE LAND
Lesson Plan
Introduction:
1. Review and consolidate the previous learning by reading through the interactive game Day Sky,
Night Sky at . As a class, construct a day sky scene by clicking on the
options on the right-hand side. Ask pupils questions such as What other things might you see in the
sky, like the clouds? What if it was raining? What if there was a storm?
Development:
2. Display the online weather chart tool at . Click on the red button to
display the weather icons. In pairs, pupils discuss
each icon and write what they think it means on a
mini whiteboard; for example, sunny, sunny with
some clouds, rain, snow and so on. Discuss the
possible descriptions and what they mean, and how
they relate to the sky’s appearance.
3. Complete the online weather chart as a class, by
selecting today’s weather. Pupils will need to observe
the sky before deciding on an appropriate icon for
the weather.
4. Discuss what other icons might be needed to
describe the sky’s appearance. In pairs, pupils draw
another weather icon that would help show how the
sky looks during certain weather. How many different
types of clouds have you seen? What might you see if
the weather is dark and gloomy? What might you see
during a light shower? Have you ever seen a foggy morning?
5. Pupils share their creations with the class for others to decipher.
6. For the remainder of the week or up until the next science lesson, pupils work in pairs to record
a brief weather report video each day using a tablet computer. Like a meteorologist, they should
focus on cloud coverage and the amount of sunshine in the sky. Ensure they film what the sky looks
like and describe the clouds and sunshine to predict what kind of weather this might mean for the
day. Use page 143 as a guide. Alternatively, a class weather chart can be set up on the working wall
and a rota devised so that a different pupil updates it every day.
Differentiation
• Challenge pupils to include more detail into their weather observation such as temperature
and the chance of rain during the day. Pupils can participate in guided group work to make the
videos or mixed ability groups where each member takes turns in predicting the weather and
appearing in the video.
Reflection:
Viewing sample
7. Pupils view each other’s videos daily and compare if they all predicted the same weather. Did you
all see the same things in the sky? What did the clouds look like? What did the sunshine look like?
Who saw something different? Why?
142 Science:
A STEM APPROACH
1st
CLASS
978-1-912760-15-2 Prim-Ed Publishing – www.prim-ed.com