Everything Weather | KS2 Weather Booklist

National Geographic
Everything Weather

National Geographic: Everything Weather is a vibrant and informative non-fiction book designed to introduce children to the amazing world of weather and meteorology. Authored by Kathy Furgang, the book is bursting with captivating photographs, fascinating facts, and interactive activities. Its pages cover every corner of meteorology-from the formation of clouds and lightning to the science behind tornadoes, storms, and climate. Each topic is presented in a way that’s both accessible and exciting, demystifying complex weather concepts and sparking curiosity in young readers.

In the UK, resources from National Geographic Kids are frequently used in schools and libraries to inspire a love of science and support the curriculum. These books, celebrated for their high-quality visuals and engaging content, provide excellent supplementary material for teachers and parents alike. Everything Weather is especially useful in the classroom for bringing abstract weather concepts to life, encouraging children not just to absorb facts but to ask questions, explore, and experiment. Its hands-on activities encourage pupils to make their own weather observations or recreate meteorological phenomena, reinforcing scientific learning in a fun, memorable way.

KS2 Weather in the UK Curriculum

Weather is a core topic for pupils in Key Stage 2 (KS2), which includes children aged 7 to 11 (Years 3–6). At this stage, students are introduced to fundamental ideas about the natural world and are encouraged to develop their scientific enquiry skills. Studying weather helps them understand the processes that shape our environment and connects directly to their everyday experiences.

Core Weather Concepts Taught at KS2

The Water Cycle: Exploring how water travels through various stages-evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection-and why this cycle is crucial for life on Earth.
Types of Weather: Identifying different weather conditions such as rain, sunshine, wind, clouds, snow, and extreme events like storms and hurricanes.
Weather Instruments: Learning how to use thermometers, barometers, anemometers, and rain gauges to measure and record different aspects of the weather.
Weather vs. Climate: Understanding the distinction between short-term weather and long-term climate patterns and why this matters.
Impact of Weather: Investigating how weather affects daily life, farming, travel, safety, and even hobbies and celebrations.
Forecasting and Recording: Practising how to keep weather diaries, interpret weather symbols and maps, and make simple forecasts based on real data.

Using interactive resources like National Geographic: Everything Weather, teachers can create lessons that go beyond textbooks. Outdoor observations, experiments, and hands-on activities allow children to experience science in action, making weather an engaging and tangible area of study. These practical approaches not only build scientific knowledge, but also foster skills in investigation, recording, and analysis-essential foundations for future STEM learning.

About the Author

Kathy Furgang is an acclaimed writer and editor with a passion for making science accessible and enjoyable for young readers. She has authored and contributed to numerous educational books for National Geographic Kids and other publishers, combining clear, lively writing with a knack for breaking down complex subjects. Her expertise brings the world of weather alive, inspiring the next generation of meteorologists and curious minds alike.

Book Details:

Publisher: National Geographic Kids (Collins)
Format: Magazine
Print length: 64 pages
Dimensions: 23.2 x 0.4 x 27.6 cm
Reading age: 6-10 years old
ISBN: 978-0008267766

Read alongside these topics:

How Hands-On Education and National Geographic: Everything Weather Support KS2 Weather Learning

Hands-OnEducation.com is an online resource for teachers, parents, and homeschoolers. It offers practical, activity-based learning materials tailored to the UK curriculum, including Key Stage 2 (KS2) science topics like weather.

Lesson Plans: Ready-to-use plans guide you through weather investigations, experiments, and model making.
Hands-On Activities: Encourage students to build rain gauges, measure wind, and keep weather diaries, making learning interactive.
Printable Resources: Worksheets, observation charts, and fact cards help pupils record and reflect on their findings.
Cross-Curricular Links: Activities often link science to maths (data collection) and geography (maps and climates).

National Geographic: Everything Weather

National Geographic: Everything Weather is a vibrant, fact-filled book designed to ignite curiosity about weather among children aged 7–11. It’s an excellent companion for KS2 weather studies because it:

Explains Complex Concepts: Clear text, vivid images, and real-world examples make topics like the water cycle, storms, and climate change easy to grasp.
Inspires Curiosity: Fun facts and "try it yourself" experiments encourage pupils to ask questions and investigate further.
Supports Independent Learning: Pupils can use the book for research projects, presentations, or home learning, enhancing engagement and understanding.
Links to Real-World Issues: The book discusses extreme weather and climate change, helping pupils see the relevance of their learning to the world around them.

Bringing Both Resources Together

Combine the hands-on activities from Hands-On Education with the inspiration and information from Everything Weather for a well-rounded, exciting KS2 weather unit. For example:

Start with a weather experiment from Hands-On Education, like making a rain gauge.
Use Everything Weather to learn about how rain gauges are used by scientists worldwide.
Encourage students to research extreme weather events in the book, then present their findings using charts and data from their own weather recordings.

This approach brings weather learning to life, supporting all types of learners and making science memorable and fun!