Covers: Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Play Outside

Activity 1

Play Outside

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Activity Pack 1
Activity Two - UK Weather Forecast

Activity 2

UK Weather Forecast

Activity Pack 2
Activity Three - Measuring Wind Direction

Activity 3

Measuring Wind Direction

Activity Pack 3
Activity Four - Measuring Precipitation

Activity 4

Measuring Precipitation

Activity Pack 4
Activity Five - Measuring Temperature

Activity 5

Measuring Temperature

Activity Pack 5
Activity Six - Types Of Clouds

Activity 6

Types Of Clouds

Activity Pack 6

6. Different Types of Clouds Video

Activity Seven - Measuring Cloud Cover

Activity 7

Measuring Cloud Cover

Activity Pack 7
Activity Eight - Sundial Investigation

Activity 8

Sundial Investigation

Activity Pack 8
Activity Nine - Design A Snowflake

Activity 9

Design A Snowflake

Activity Pack 9

9. All About Snowflakes Video

Weather
Booklist

Weather Booklist

Weather Activities

Activity One - Play Outside

Activity 1

Play Outside

Hands-On Activities:
  • n/a
Activity Two - UK Weather Forecast

Activity 2

UK Weather Forecast

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Three - Measuring Wind Direction

Activity 3

Measuring Wind Direction

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Four - Measuring Precipitation

Activity 4

Measuring Precipitation

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Five - Measuring Temperature

Activity 5

Measuring Temperature

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Six - Types Of Clouds

Activity 6

Types Of Clouds

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Seven - Measuring Cloud Cover

Activity 7

Measuring Cloud Cover

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Six - Sundial Investigation

Activity 8

Sundial Investigation

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Six - Design A Snowflake

Activity 9

Design A Snowflake

Hands-On Activities:
Weather Topic

How does Hands-On Education help me teach about the weather?

Hands-On Education provides engaging activities to teach about weather in Key Stage One (ages 5-7) through hands-on experiences. The "Play Outside" activity encourages outdoor exploration throughout the year, prompting children to observe and discuss seasonal changes, weather conditions, temperature, wind, rainfall, and clouds in various outdoor locations. The "UK Weather Forecast" activity uses a printed UK map and daily weather forecasts to teach about UK geography and weather patterns. Children place weather symbols on the map, discuss the four UK countries and their capitals, and compare local weather to other parts of the country. By repeating this activity over time, children can observe long-term weather patterns. These hands-on approaches make learning about weather engaging and memorable, aligning with Key Stage One geography curriculum goals related to weather patterns and UK geography.

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How do I use these key stage one Weather topic activities?

Weather Activity

The Key Stage One Weather topic activities are designed to help children aged 5-7 learn about weather patterns and geography through hands-on experiences. The first activity, "Play Outside," encourages outdoor exploration throughout the year to observe seasonal changes and weather patterns. Children are prompted to discuss current weather conditions, temperature, wind, rainfall, and clouds while visiting various outdoor locations. The second activity, "UK Weather Forecast," involves using a printed UK map to place weather symbols based on daily forecasts, helping children learn about UK geography and weather variations across the country. These activities aim to make learning about weather engaging and memorable for young children, aligning with Key Stage One geography curriculum goals.

This resource meets the following aspects of the National Curriculum of England: Art, Geography, Mathematics and Science. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our key stage one topics where you will find great curriculum standard activities for your classroom or home educated children. There are plenty of subjects for you to choose from, so you’ll be delighted with the wide range when planning your day.

What are the best ways to engage Key Stage One students in weather-related activities?

Weather Activity

Here are some engaging ways to teach Key Stage One students about weather:

  1. Outdoor exploration: Take children outside regularly throughout the year to observe and discuss seasonal changes, weather conditions, temperature, wind, rainfall, and clouds. This hands-on approach helps children notice changes in weather and nature through firsthand experience.
  2. Weather tracking: Have students create and maintain a weather journal or log to record daily weather conditions, temperature, precipitation, and wind speed. This helps them see patterns over time and practice using weather symbols and terminology.
  3. Immersive classroom environment: Display weather posters, create a weather vocabulary word wall, and showcase weather books and tools to create an engaging atmosphere.
  4. Weather forecast activities: Have students create weather forecast posters using symbols and illustrations.
  5. Interactive activities: Make a "rain cloud" using a clear bowl, shaving cream, water, and food colouring to demonstrate how clouds release rain.
  6. Hands-on experiments: Observe how pine cones open and close based on humidity.
  7. Cloud watching: Take students outside to observe and discuss different cloud types, encouraging creativity and wonder.
  8. Weather-themed games: Play vocabulary games or charades using weather terms to reinforce learning in a fun way.
  9. Multi-sensory learning: Create a sensory tray with materials representing different weather elements (e.g., cotton balls for clouds, blue gravel for sky) for students to interact with and create weather scenes.
  10. Weather-related art projects: Incorporate weather themes into art activities to reinforce learning and encourage creativity.

These activities combine outdoor exploration, hands-on experiments, creative projects, and interactive learning to make weather education engaging and memorable for Key Stage One students.

How can I incorporate an Okta grid into my weather lesson plans?

Weather Activity

An Okta grid can be incorporated into your weather lesson plans as an engaging hands-on activity to teach Key Stage One students about measuring cloud cover. This tool, used by meteorologists to estimate the amount of cloud cover in the sky, can be introduced through a simple yet effective activity. Provide students with a circular template divided into eight equal sections, each representing one "okta" or one-eighth of the sky. Take the class outside to observe the current cloud cover and have them estimate how many of the eight sections would be filled if the visible clouds were consolidated.

Students can then shade in the corresponding number of sections on their Okta grid, learning that 0 oktas means a completely clear sky, while 8 oktas indicates complete cloud cover. Encourage discussion about their estimations and explain how this method helps meteorologists describe cloud cover consistently. This activity not only introduces students to a real meteorological tool but also helps develop observational skills and introduces the concept of fractions in a practical context.

For long-term tracking, incorporate the Okta grid into daily weather observations, allowing students to look for patterns over time. This hands-on approach aligns with Key Stage One geography curriculum goals related to weather patterns and makes learning about weather engaging and memorable. By using an Okta grid, you're providing students with a practical tool used by real meteorologists, making the lesson more authentic and fostering a deeper understanding of weather observation techniques.

What materials do I need to measure temperature accurately for young students?

Weather Activity

The Key Stage One Weather topic activities provided by Hands-On Education offer engaging ways to teach young students about weather patterns and geography. The activities are designed for children aged 5-7 and align with the Key Stage One geography curriculum goals.

One of the main activities is "Play Outside," which encourages outdoor exploration throughout the year. This hands-on approach helps children observe and understand seasonal and daily weather patterns in the United Kingdom. Parents or teachers are advised to take children outside regularly, discussing current weather conditions, temperature, wind direction, rainfall, and cloud types. The activity emphasizes the importance of free play and exploration in nature, allowing children to notice changes in weather and their environment. Suggested locations for these outdoor experiences include nature walks, parks, beaches, forests, and national parks.

Another key activity is the "UK Weather Forecast" exercise, which teaches about UK geography and weather forecasting. This activity likely involves using a printed UK map and accessing daily weather forecasts online. Students can place weather symbols on the map, learning about the four countries of the UK and their capitals while comparing local weather to other parts of the country. By repeating this activity over time, children can observe long-term weather patterns and develop a better understanding of UK geography. These hands-on approaches make learning about weather engaging and memorable for young children, fostering a deeper understanding of their environment and promoting quality time between educators and students.

Are there any interactive games or activities for teaching weather to Key Stage One students?

Weather Activity

Yes, there are several interactive games and activities that can be used to teach weather concepts to Key Stage One students (ages 5-7). These hands-on approaches make learning about weather engaging and memorable while aligning with the Key Stage One geography curriculum goals.

One effective activity is playing weather vocabulary games. Teachers can use various game formats to help students learn weather words and their definitions. For example, students can take turns guessing weather words based on descriptions, or play charades by acting out weather terms for classmates to guess. Another option is to split the class into teams and have them compete to come up with sentences using as many weather vocabulary words as possible in a set time limit. These gamified approaches help reinforce key terminology in a fun, interactive way.

Another engaging activity is creating a weather forecast poster. Students can look up actual weather forecasts and then design their own poster to present the expected weather. They can use weather symbols, illustrations, and terminology to show what the weather will be like. This activity allows students to practice using weather terms and symbols while also developing their presentation skills. Teachers can extend this by having students create forecasts for different areas around the world and present them to the class, incorporating geography learning as well.

A third interactive option is cloud watching and observation. After reading a book about cloud types, teachers can take the class outside on a day with varied cloud cover. Students can lie down in a comfortable spot and observe the clouds, discussing what shapes or objects they see. This activity encourages a connection to nature, reinforces science content about cloud types, and nurtures students' creativity and sense of wonder. Teachers can extend the learning by having students create artwork based on their observations, write descriptions of what they saw, or practice identifying different cloud types using a simple cloud identification chart.

How can I use cloud types to teach about weather in a fun way?

Weather Activity

Teaching about cloud types can be an engaging and fun way to introduce weather concepts to Key Stage One students. Here are some interactive activities you can use to make learning about clouds enjoyable and memorable:

One effective approach is to start with a cloud observation activity. Take the students outside on a day with varied cloud cover and have them lie down in a comfortable spot to observe the sky. Encourage them to use their imagination and share what shapes or objects they see in the clouds. This activity not only helps students connect with nature but also nurtures their creativity and sense of wonder. After the observation, you can introduce basic cloud types like cumulus, stratus, and cirrus, explaining their characteristics and what kind of weather they typically indicate.

Another fun activity is cloud crafting. Provide students with cotton balls, blue construction paper, and glue. Teach them about different cloud types and their shapes, then have them create their own cloud scenes. For example, they can make fluffy cumulus clouds by stretching out cotton balls, or create wispy cirrus clouds by pulling the cotton very thin. This hands-on approach helps reinforce the visual characteristics of different cloud types while allowing students to express their creativity.

You can also incorporate cloud learning into storytelling and drama activities. Create simple stories about different types of clouds and the weather they bring, and have students act out these stories. For instance, students can pretend to be cumulus clouds growing bigger and darker as they transform into cumulonimbus clouds, complete with thunder sounds and rain movements. This kinesthetic learning approach can help students remember cloud types and their associated weather patterns in a fun and interactive way. Additionally, you can use cloud identification charts and have students play a game of "Cloud Spotter" during outdoor playtime, encouraging them to identify different cloud types they see in the sky.

Related activities and topics for your class or home learning space!

6. Different Types of Clouds Video

Hands-On Education focus is on Primary ages educational activities that are engaging and fun. Within key stage one we cover most points of the national curriculum for England. Use our resources if you are teaching your children or students about habitats polar, how plants grow, or the united kingdom. You will find tonnes of videos, activity sheets and easy to understand activity plans to support children in their learning journey!

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