Weather Review - Teacher Explanation

Welcome to lesson 1.7 in the Year 1 unit on seasonal changes, aptly titled the Weather Review. This lesson is integral to the National Curriculum's objective for pupils to observe and describe the changes across the four seasons, including weather patterns and the variation in day length. The lesson builds on previous ones, specifically Lesson 1.1, Lesson 1.2, and Lesson 1.16. Pupils will engage in hands-on activities involving board pins and scissors, so safety with sharp objects is emphasized. The lesson's cross-curricular links include English, where pupils will undertake a comprehension task, Maths through graph production, and Design and Technology (DT) as they construct an anemometer—a device to measure wind speed.

During this lesson, pupils will analyze weather data collected earlier in Lesson 1.1, where they set up a rain gauge and thermometer. They will create graphs to represent rainfall and temperature data, learning to interpret which months are rainiest, wettest, or sunniest. Additionally, pupils will explore how lightning is formed using a balloon and a fluorescent tube, providing a practical demonstration of static electricity. The lesson culminates with the construction of an anemometer, requiring materials such as a hairdryer, sticky tape, scissors, a board pin, straws, a pencil with an eraser, a hole punch, and cups. This activity will illustrate how wind speed can be visually represented by the spinning of the cups, serving as a basic introduction to meteorological measurement techniques. The lesson promises to be an engaging and educational experience for both teacher and pupils alike.