Resource Needs: access
to the internet, projector, forecast worksheet.
Learning Objectives: Children will
understand how to access and interpret weather forecasts, both
on TV or radio and on the Internet, by participating both in
a whole-class activity and by completing a research guide as
they work in pairs.
Prior Knowledge/Skills: Basic internet
usage skills, understanding of climate and weather terminology,
map reading skills, clear understanding of how to work collaboratively.
Key Definitions:
Weather Forecast: a report about
what the weather will likely be like (e.g. rainy, sunny, partly
cloudy)
In order to warm the children up prior to this lesson, bring
in a recorded weather forecast from a local or national radio or television
station. Play the tape and discuss the elements of the forecast with the
children before you begin the activities.
As a whole group, go onto the Met Office's Weather Centre
to access the UK's weather forecast. Gain access to your region's three
day weather forecast, and explain how to read the forecast using the key provided
at the bottom of the page.
Example:
Use the KEY provided
by the MET to explain to the children the symbols for the maps. Perhaps
blow this map up and put it on the wall.
Now let the children
are going to go onto the MET site to access weather forecast information about
a region in the southern hemisphere, such as Africa, Australia or India.
YOUR DECISION: you can either let the children choose a city in the southern hemisphere themselves,
or you can choose one or two for them and simply send them off to that specific
site. I would err on the side of giving them too much, rather than too
little information. The worksheet below sends them to investigate a specific
city - if you want to give them more choice, amend the worksheet accordingly.
Give the children
this FORECAST research worksheet (in MS Word or PDF format) to complete in pairs.
TEACHERS
