The Weather Book (Lonely Planet Kids): Further Information & KS2 Weather Learning

Follow-on Questions for Discussion or Research
- What are the main differences between weather and climate?
- How do clouds form, and why are there different types of clouds?
- What causes extreme weather events like hurricanes or tornadoes?
- How does the water cycle work, and why is it important for weather?
- What tools do meteorologists use to predict the weather?
- How does weather affect people’s daily lives and the environment?
- Why do different parts of the world have different weather patterns?
- What can we do to stay safe during severe weather events?
- How might climate change impact the weather in the future?
Key Stage 2 (KS2) Weather Learning Links
The Weather Book (Lonely Planet Kids) is well-suited for KS2 (Key Stage 2) learners in the UK. It supports the following National Curriculum topics:
- Geography:
- Weather patterns in the UK and around the world
- Physical geography: climate zones, biomes, and vegetation belts
- Science:
- States of matter (solid/liquid/gas and the water cycle)
- Earth and space (how seasons and weather are connected to the Sun and Earth's movement)
- Practical Skills:
- Making and using simple weather-measuring equipment (e.g., rain gauges, wind vanes, barometers)
- Conducting experiments (e.g., cloud in a jar, measuring rainfall)
- Recording and presenting data (creating a simple weather report)
Interesting Facts from The Weather Book
- The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 56.7°C (134°F) in Furnace Creek, California, USA.
- Lightning can heat the air around it to five times hotter than the surface of the sun!
- Snowflakes always have six sides, but no two are ever exactly the same.
- Some animals, like frogs or birds, can sense changes in weather before humans can.
Suggested Activities for KS2 Learners
- Create a weather diary for one week: Record temperature, rainfall, wind, and cloud cover each day.
- Make a simple anemometer or rain gauge using household materials.
- Research a recent extreme weather event and present how people responded to it.
- Draw and label the water cycle, explaining each stage in your own words.