Weather and climate

Geography

Primary

A Florida teacher tackles her pupils' hurricane fears

Teacher Annette Jankowski is determined to turn a succession of hurricanes in Florida into something positive for Surfside Elementary School. Annette attends a teachers' workshop run by a local TV station, inspiring her to begin an ambitious project on weather with the 3rd Grade science unit. The project's tasks include designing a model house, built to withstand a leaf blowing hurricane, whilst learning the importance of design and teamwork in the process. With the help of a TV meteorologist, the pupils research hurricanes to develop literacy and ICT skills, as well as tackle their anxieties about the harsh weather conditions they have experienced.

Hurricane House

Four teachers show how humans survive in the Antarctic region

A group of British teachers embark on a four-week expedition to Antarctica and demonstrate how humans are able to live on the South Pole. Designed for use in KS1/2 geography and science lessons, the programme begins with an explanation of where Antarctica is, what the climate is like and what it takes to live there. The teachers then show what clothes people should wear in Antarctica, how they should travel and what food they should eat in order to survive such cold conditions. They also explore a science project that tests what effect the cold has on their bodies. Teachers in the Freezer caters for both scientific and geography curriculums, covering KS2 geography skill and enquiry elements as well as the Weather Around the World topic and the science topics Unit 4C: keeping warm and Unit 3C(3): choosing materials for a purpose.

KS1/2 Antarctica - Teachers in the Freezer

Teaching the weather to Year 4

At Frampton Cottrell C of E Primary School in South Gloucester, Claire Taylor is teaching the weather to her Year 4 class. This programme shows how Claire uses the weather to access other subject areas and to deepen her pupils' understanding of geography. In an English lesson, Claire uses the pupils' knowledge of different weather conditions to write poetry. In the dance lesson, Claire's students create their own weather dances. The next day, in maths, the class use weather data they have been collecting to learn about line graphs. Finally, the class presents their learning to a real audience by performing a weather forecast. This programme provides a chance to see a well-planned series of lessons in action, aiming to ensure a broad and balanced curriculum that enriches learning.

KS2 Geography - Weather Across the Curriculum 1

Improving gym lessons at KS2

At Frampton Cottrell Primary School in South Gloucester, Claire Taylor has been teaching weather to her Year 4 class, using the subject across the curriculum. In this programme we see Claire using the weather to teach poetry, dance, data handling and ICT. Her class are drawing on their prior knowledge and understanding to develop their learning and access other areas of the curriculum. Our two experts, Alison Bailey, a geography tutor at the University of West of England and Angela Craig, an advanced skills teacher, are watching Claire teach. They comment on Claire's teaching approaches and offer ideas on how the activities Claire uses can be developed and extended.

KS2 Geography - Weather Across the Curriculum 2

Show primary geography pupils the climates of five global regions

Show primary geography pupils this series of five short videos filmed in five different climatic regions. Each short video shows details of the local climate and its significance in that region. The programme begins in the polar region of northern Canada, moving through the cool climate of the Alps and the warm temperatures of Australia's Fraser Island. It also visits the tropical rainforest in Central Uganda and ends in the dry heat of the Sinai desert.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Subjects

> Primary Geography

> Weather and climate

Hurricane House

KS1/2 Antarctica - Teachers in the Freezer

KS2 Geography - Weather Across the Curriculum 1

KS2 Geography - Weather Across the Curriculum 2

Weather Around the World