Our class weather chart
Children learn weather words, explain what they like with "because", read a short forecast and set up a class weather chart they fill in all week.
At a glance
- From
- Level 1, Next Steps English: Week 15, Weather and seasons
- Grammar
- because
- Key language
- sunny, rainy, cloudy, windy, snowy, hot, cold / What's the weather like? It's sunny. / I like sunny days because I can play outside.
- Children make
- A class weather chart and a personal weather diary for five days.
- Class size
- Works with 10 to 50 children; pair and group steps say how to scale.
Objective
Children describe the weather and give a simple reason with "because", and start recording the real weather each day.
Success criteria for children
- I can say what the weather is like today.
- I can say what weather I like and why.
- I can record the weather on our chart.
Timing: 60 minutes
| Minutes | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | Warm-up: look outside | Children look out of the window and describe the sky. |
| 5 to 15 | Weather words | Teach symbols and words with actions. |
| 15 to 25 | I like... because... | Model reasons; pairs say their favourite weather and why. |
| 25 to 37 | Reading: the weather report | Read Weather Will's forecast; answer and match days to symbols. |
| 37 to 52 | Project: set up the class chart | Make the chart, choose weather monitors, record today. |
| 52 to 60 | Exit ticket | Write one weather sentence with because. |
Materials
- A large sheet of paper or part of the board for the class chart (five columns: Monday to Friday)
- Weather symbols drawn on the board: sun, cloud, rain, wind, snow
- Worksheet, pencils, crayons
- Make a weather chart (free, linked from Week 15)
- Level 1 reading (free, linked from Week 15)
Before the lesson: Look out of the window before the lesson so you know today's weather. If you teach in a place with no snow, keep "snowy" as a fun word and add "stormy" instead.
Step by step, with teacher talk
0 to 5 minWarm-up: look outside
- Take the class to the window (or show the window). Ask "What can you see? Is it sunny?" Accept any English.
"Look outside. What's the weather like today? Is it sunny? Is it cloudy?"
5 to 15 minWeather words
- Point to each symbol and say the word with an action: hands as rays for sunny, fingers as rain for rainy, sway for windy, shiver for cold.
- Play "Weather wizard": you make an action, the class says the word; then a child is the wizard.
- Do you need an umbrella on a rainy day or a sunny day? (Rainy.)
- Is it hot or cold on a snowy day? (Cold.)
15 to 25 minI like... because...
- Model: "I like rainy days because I can read a book. I don't like windy days because my hair is crazy!"
- Write the frame on the board. Children tell a partner, then three children tell the class.
- "I like sunny days because I can swim." Which part is the reason? (Because I can swim.)
25 to 37 minReading: the weather report
- Read the report aloud like a TV presenter. Children point to the symbols as they hear them.
- Children read again and draw a symbol for each day in task 1.
- Check answers together.
37 to 52 minProject: set up the class chart
- Draw the class chart: Monday to Friday across the top, "Weather", "Hot or cold?" and "Monitor's name" down the side.
- Choose one weather monitor (or a pair) for each day. Today's monitor looks outside, draws the symbol and says the sentence to the class.
- Children start their own diary in task 2 with today's weather.
"Every morning, our monitor looks outside and tells us: Today it's... We draw it on the chart."
52 to 60 minExit ticket
- See below. Collect and read three aloud as a "forecast".
Differentiation
Support
- Children draw the symbol and copy the word rather than write a sentence.
- Give the frame: "Today it's ___ . I like it because I can ___ ."
Stretch
- Add temperature: "It's 25 degrees. It's hot."
- At the end of the week, write a summary: "On Monday it was sunny." (preview of the past tense)
- Compare two days: "Tuesday was colder than Monday."
Reading passage
Good morning! I'm Weather Will. Here is the weather for this week.
On Monday it's sunny and hot. Wear a hat! On Tuesday it's cloudy, but it isn't cold.
On Wednesday it's rainy. Take an umbrella to school. On Thursday it's windy. It's a good day to fly a kite!
On Friday it's sunny again. I like Fridays because I can play football in the park. Have a good week!
Questions
- What's the weather like on Monday?
- Is it cold on Tuesday?
- What do you need on Wednesday?
- Why is Thursday a good day for a kite?
- Why does Will like Fridays?
Printable worksheet
Prints on its own A4 page. Use Print the worksheet above, or print the whole plan and the worksheet starts on a new page. One copy per child, or one per pair to save paper.
The weather this week
Weather Will's report
Good morning! I'm Weather Will. Here is the weather for this week.
On Monday it's sunny and hot. Wear a hat! On Tuesday it's cloudy, but it isn't cold.
On Wednesday it's rainy. Take an umbrella to school. On Thursday it's windy. It's a good day to fly a kite!
On Friday it's sunny again. I like Fridays because I can play football in the park. Have a good week!
1. Read Weather Will's report. Draw the weather.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2. My weather diary. Look outside every day. Draw and write.
| Day | Draw | Write: It's... |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | ||
| Tuesday | ||
| Wednesday | ||
| Thursday | ||
| Friday |
3. Finish the sentence.
- I like days because .
Answer key
Reading passage questions
- Sunny and hot.
- No, it isn't. It's cloudy.
- An umbrella.
- Because it's windy.
- Because he can play football in the park.
Worksheet
- 1: Monday sun, Tuesday cloud, Wednesday rain, Thursday wind, Friday sun.
- 2: real weather, so answers vary. Check the word matches the drawing.
- 3: answers will vary. The reason should make sense with the weather.
Exit ticket
On a slip: "Today it's ___ . I like / don't like it because ___ ." Read three slips aloud as the class forecast.
Homework
Fill in your weather diary every day this week. On Friday, bring it to class and compare with the class chart.
Teaching this to a whole class?
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Start free with LitlingsMore lesson plans
- Level 1, Week 15: Weather and seasons (the curriculum week this plan comes from)
- Types of weather (Met Office)
- All reading texts, dialogues, scripts, worksheets and answer keys on this page are original to Litlings and free to copy for classroom use.