Weather and Climate: Ages 5-8

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h g i H Written by Roslyn Kay and Wendy Harris http://www.ricgroup.com.au RIC-0513 3.7/327

R.I.C. Publications

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Weather and Climate - Lower Primary Foreword Written by Roslyn Kay and Wendy Harris Weather affects us in all aspects of our life. It is important to have a good understanding of the different elements of weather and how they affect our environment. This package provides a variety of activities that investigate weather in a creative and enjoyable manner. The contents link in well to a variety of curriculum areas including science, social studies and mathematics.

A glossary is included to assist with the development of relevant language. Words found throughout the activities in bold text can be located in the glossary.

© R. I .

C.Contents Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew p r posesonl y• Glossary .......................................................... ii u The Birth of a New Season ............................. 18 Summer .......................................................... 19 Autumn ........................................................... 20 Winter .............................................................. 21 Spring .............................................................. 22 Warm in Winter –␣ Cool in Summer ............... 23 Animals from Hot and Cold Countries .......... 24 Yearly Weather Calendar ............................. 25 Meteorologists ................................................. 26 Australia's under the Weather....................... 27 Measuring the Weather ................................. 28 Make a Weathervane and Rain Gauge ....... 29 Make a Snowflake .......................................... 30 A Wet One - Poem .......................................... 31 One Dark, Stormy Night ................................. 32 Weather Word Sleuth .................................... 33 Testing the Weather ....................................... 34

What is Weather ............................................... 1 Weather Mobile ................................................ 2 Today's Weather .............................................. 3 The Weather this Week .................................... 4 What is Climate?............................................... 5 The Sky .............................................................. 6 Water Cycle ...................................................... 7 Rain ................................................................... 8 What is a Cloud? .............................................. 9 Wet and Dry .................................................... 10 Water............................................................... 11 Hail and Snow ................................................ 12 Thunderstorms................................................ 13 Thunder and Lightning .................................. 14 Colour the Rainbow ....................................... 15 Air and Wind .................................................. 16 Air and Wind (2).............................................. 17

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Glossary H

Each word in the glossary has been set in bold print throughout the package.

Air Air pressure Air temperature Atmosphere Barometer Climate Clouds Deciduous Drought Evaporation Forecast Flood Hail Hibernate Lightning Maximum temperature Minimum temperatre Meteorologist Rain Rain gauge Reservoir Satellite Seasons

Gases that surround the earth.

The weight of the air pressing down on the earth.

The amount of heat in the air.

Air around the earth.

An instrument for measuring air pressure.

Seasonal weather or yearly weather.

Water drops that form in the air.

Trees that lose their leaves.

A severe shortage of water.

Heated water that disappears into the air.

To predict the weather.

When too much rain falls.

Small pellets of ice that fall like rain.

Sleep in winter.

An electric spark in the sky.

The highest or hottest temperature.

The lowest or coldest temperature.

A person who studies the weather and atmosphere.

Droplets of water that fall from the sky.

Measures the amount of rain that falls.

A place where water is stored.

Human-made 'spaceship' that circles the earth.

Four weather divisions of the year being summer, autumn, winter and spring.

Ice crystals that fall from the sky.

The sky above the atmosphere.

Measures the heat in the air.

The noise that occurs with lightning.

The gas from heated water.

The daily conditions in the atmosphere.

An instrument that shows the direction of the wind.

The flow of air over the earth.

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Snow Space Thermometer Thunder Water vapour Weather Weathervane Wind

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What is Weather?

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Each year the Earth follows a pattern of

S E A S O N S and C L I M A T E. There are many signs of weather; for example:

RAIN CLOUDS

LIGHTNING WIND

Three things make the signs of weather: SUN

AIR

WATER

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons Place these words inv the space below.

•f o rr e i ecorrect w pu r po sesonl y• 1.

gives us energy, light and heat.

2.

makes a layer around the earth.

3.

is found in oceans, lakes, rivers and puddles.

What are some other uses of air, water and sun, for example; pumping up a tyre, having a shower, drying the washing.

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Weather Mobile H

Make a weather mobile showing the three weather signs.

You will need a wire coat hanger.

WEATHER

WEATHER

S u n

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Wa t e r

A i r

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Today's Weather H

Today is

.

Colour in the weather for today.

HOT

RAINING

COLD

CLOUDY

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

WINDY

STORMS

SNOWY

HAIL

Yesterday the minimum (coldest) temperature was

.

Yesterday the maximum (hottest) temperature was

.

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The Weather this Week H

Name

Week

Find out how cold and how hot it got each day of the week. Put a tick if it was sunny, cloudy, windy, or if it rained.

Minimum (coldest) temperature

Maximum (hottest) temperature

RAIN

WIND

CLOUD

SUN

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

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C.Publ i cat i ons THURSDAY •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

For how many days of the week did it rain?

For how many days of the week did the sun shine?

Which day was the coldest?

Which day was the hottest? r and Clima athe te We

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What is Climate?

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The weather varies according to where you live. This weather makes your climate. Different parts of the world have different climate. The weather in each part of the world is important to the people, plants and animals that live there. Cut out and glue one plant and one animal from below onto the right climate section of the earth.

The World's Climate Zones North Pole Very cold

Warm

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•Hot Warm Very cold

South Pole

Plants No plants

Animals

No plants Kangaroo

Pine tree

Seal

Elephant

Pineapple

Penguin Gum tree R.I.C. Publications

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Bison

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The Sky H

The sky looks like a big picture. As the weather changes, so does the picture.

Cut and paste some or all of the weather symbols below to make your sky picture. Add extras if you wish by drawing them in. Think of some exciting colours you can use. Is it a sunset, sunrise or a storm perhaps?

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Black/white clouds

Snowflakes

Sun

Lightning Rainbow R.I.C. Publications

Rain

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Water Cycle H

This is how it rains.

Sun

➞

➞

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

➞

➞

➞

➞ The land The sea

Colour in the picture of how it rains.

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Rain H

The sun warms the sea. When the water gets warm, some of it changes into a gas called water vapour and goes into the air to make clouds.

The wind blows the clouds over the land. When the clouds go higher, the water vapour in the clouds gets cooler and turns back into water drops.

The water falls. This is rain.

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Trace over the dots and colour in the rain picture. r and Clima athe te We

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What is a Cloud?

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Clouds are made up of millions of tiny drops of water which float in the air.

Make your own clouds by writing in words under each tiny drop of water. These words should describe your cloud.

+

+

=

+

+

=

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons On a very cold day you can make your own small cloud. Every •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• time you breathe out of your mouth your moist breath meets the cold air. Try it the next time there is a cold day.

Fill in the clouds.

What do you think these two children are saying to each other on this very cold day? r and Clima athe te We

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Wet and Dry H

Answer with 'wet' or 'dry'. .

A desert is A river is

.

Rain is

.

Dust is

.

Under an umbrella it is An ice block is

. .

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C.Pu bl i cat i ons .

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

In a raincoat I stay

Playing in puddles I get

.

Is it a dry day today or a wet day? Draw a picture of today's weather.

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Water H

Trace over the dotted words to complete these sentences.

On farms, water is stored in

, dams and wells.

In the city, water is stored in big

called reservoirs.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• All living things need water.

Solid water is called . It is used to keep food cold, to skate on, and to stop swelling and pain if you have an accident.

A cactus can store

.

helps the garden grow.

A drought is caused by not enough Water is

.

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Hail and Snow H

Trace these weather words and draw a picture for each one.

Hail is frozen raindrops.

Have you ever seen hail?

When?

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Snow is frozen water vapour.

Have you ever seen snow?

When?

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Thunderstorms H

Hot, wet air rises up fast and cools quickly. Dark clouds are in the sky. We see lightning first and then we hear thunder. The bigger the lightning, the louder the thunder!

Lightning is an electric spark. Thunder is the noise made by lightning moving through the air.

Draw a picture of a thunderstorm.

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Thunder and Lightning H

Lightning is electricity in the air.

Water droplets and dust particles rub and pull about and so become electric. This electricity is attracted to the electricity in the same cloud, or other clouds. It is also attracted to other areas like trees, the ground or buildings. It shoots through the air and makes a glow which is a lightning flash.

When lightning flashes through the air it heats up the air and a short time later we hear the sound of thunder.

Lightning comes before thunder.

Apart from lightning, can you name and draw three things you R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons use that need© electricity?

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Apart from thunder, can you name and draw three things that make a loud noise.

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Colour the Rainbow

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G

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R O Y G B I V

= = = = = = =

Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet

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Rainbows are made by the sunlight shining through raindrops.

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Air and Wind H

If air is moving we can feel it. Go outside and list six things you can see moving because the wind is blowing them.

The wind can blow from many directions – north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-west, west, north-west.

Write these wind directions on the weathervane below.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• N N

–W

N

W

S

–E

E

S

–W

–E

S

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Air and Wind (2) H

Moving air, and the wind's direction, come from air pressure and the air temperature. Warm air rises so cold air rushes in below it.

A wind is named after the direction it blows from. An easterly blows from the east. Many people use a weathervane to tell them wind direction.

Why do you think a football team would use a weathervane?

Why would a firefighter use a weathervane?

Why would a person fishing use ab weathervane? © R. I .

C. Pu l i cat i ons

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Make your own weathervane. You will need: 20 strips of coloured paper, a sheet of A4 paper, scissors and glue.

Glue strips to long side of A4 paper.

Roll up from side (a). Use a pencil to help. Glue the side and leave to dry.

(a)

Take your weathervane outside. Is there a breeze blowing?

Can you work out from which direction the wind is blowing? r and Clima athe te We

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The Birth of a New Season H

Trace over the seasons.

December, January and February make up the season of:

March, April and May make up the season of:

June, July and August make up the season of:

September, October and November make up the season of:

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons What is your birth-date?

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Check above to find out what season you were born in.

Make a tally of everyone in your class showing what season they were born in.

Summer

Total

Autumn

Total

Winter

Total

Spring

Total

What was the most popular season?

What was the least popular season? r and Clima athe te We

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Summer H

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

Fill in the missing words to make a summer story.

Vegetables

Hot Camping

Harvest

Christmas

Beach Cricket

Fires

In summer the days are very

. We like to go to the

to keep cool. Some people like to go in the bush, but they must be careful not to start any

.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons We can even play or game the • f or r e vwatch i ewap ur pofosesonl yin• summer holidays. The farmers

their crops and

market gardeners pick the new season fruit and

.

Look through magazines for two different pictures of people doing summer activities.

Can you name some more summer activities?

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Autumn H

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

Autumn is the season of change from the hot summer to preparing plants, animals and people for the coming winter.

Changing colours and falling leaves are a part of autumn. Trees that lose their leaves are called deciduous trees. The leaves on these trees turn yellow, red, orange or brown before they fall to the ground.

Trace your hand below. Write a short poem on your hand called Falling Leaves. Now colour your hand in one or more of the above autumn colours. Cut out your hand and paste it onto a tree trunk with the rest of your class to make an autumn tree.

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Winter H

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

Winter is our cold season when the growth of our plants and trees slows down. The days are shorter and the mornings can be foggy or frosty. We see another change in our lives. Our clothing is heavier and warmer and our food is made up of hot dishes; for example, soup, stews and porridge. Some animals hibernate (go into hiding and sleep). A few places in Australia have snow.

Colour the items of clothing below, then cut them out and dress the person for a winter's day. Unjumble the names of the clothes. nbaiee

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons rsfca •f orr evi ew pu r posesonl y• cktjae

lvoges

sneja

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Spring H

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

Spring is the season of new growth. Trees show signs of life, flowers bloom, and many baby animals are born.

Draw the following spring pictures.

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Spring days are warm. Many families go on picnics.

On farms lambs, calves and foals run around in the fields.

Brightly coloured flowers bloom, making gardens look pretty.

Spring fashion parades and festivals are run for people to enjoy.

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Warm in Winter –␣ Cool in Summer H

A seal has thick layers of fat under its skin to keep the cold out.

A bird fluffs out its feathers to keep warm.

An otter has two coats to keep its skin dry.

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C .P ub(hibernates). l i cat i ons A snake goes © to sleep in the winter

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Pick your favourite animal. What does it do to keep warm in winter or cool in the summer?

Draw a picture.

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Animals from Hot and Cold Countries H

COLD

HOT

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Cut out the animals and paste them into the place where they come from.

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Yearly Weather Calendar H

Fill in the calendar below by writing , drawing pictures or finding magazine pictures of events or activities that take place for each season. These might include sports, clothing, foods, plants, outdoor activities or the weather. ary u r eb F ry, a nu er m

Dec em be r, Ja Su m

ay M il, pr n um

Ma rc h, Au A t

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Meteorologists H

People who tell us what the weather is going to be like 'forecast' the weather. They are called meteorologists. Their job is to tell us if it is going to be hot or cold, wet or windy, sunny or cloudy. They also forecast cyclones and storms.

Answer these questions by circling Yes or No. Should you stay inside if there is a storm?

YES

NO

Should you wear a raincoat in the rain?

YES

NO

Do you wear a hat on a hot day?

YES

NO

Can you fly a kite if there is no wind?

YES

NO

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons Should you put sunscreen on when you •f orr evi ew pur poseso nl y•NO go outside?

YES Can you forecast what the weather is going to be like tomorrow? Draw a symbol for your weather forecast.

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Australia's under the Weather H

Read the weather forecast below. Find the correct weather symbols for each Australian capital city. Colour in, then cut them out and glue them on the map near the correct capital city.

Darwin

Brisbane

© R. I .

C.Pub l i cat i ons Adelaide Sydney Perth •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Melbourne In Melbourne today we can expect more rain. Sydney will be sunny and Brisbane will be cloudy.Perth will be very windy while Darwin will have thunderstorms. Adelaide will be fine but cloudy. Wear plenty of warm clothes in Hobarttodaybecauseyoucanexpect snowy conditions.

Hobart

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Measuring the Weather H

All these things measure the weather.

Rain gauge

Satellite Thermometer

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Barometer Weather balloon .

A rain gauge measures A thermometer measures the

.

A satellite takes

of the weather.

A barometer measures

pressure. r and Clima athe te We

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Make a Weathervane and Rain Gauge H

Weathervane For the weathervane you will need: A cork A drinking straw A pin A small triangle of firm paper or card Push the pin into the centre of the drinking straw and then into the centre of the cork. Glue the triangle onto one end of the straw and secure the cork onto a firm surface where it can turn in the breeze.

Now you can tell which way the wind is blowing.

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Rain Gauge

For the rain gauge you will need: A 1 or 2 litre plastic cool drink bottle Masking tape Water Cut the cool drink bottle in half and put the top half upside-down inside the bottom half.

Stick a strip of masking tape on the outside of the bottle and pour 10 millilitres of water at a time into the bottle. Make a mark on the masking tape at each 10–millilitre level. Empty the bottle and stand it outside away from trees and buildings. r and Clima athe te We

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Make a Snowflake H

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Fold and cut or draw lines or a pattern on the shape to make your own snowflake. r and Clima athe te We

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A Wet One - Poem H

It is wet everywhere.

Fog clouds mist the air.

Hail rattles on the roof.

Snow floats gently down.

Rain pitter-patters on the roof.

Frost glistens on the ground.

All these things are wet - not dry, Have you ever wondered why?

Here are some more weather words. Can you use them to write a poem or story?

Storm Sun Cool © R .

I .

C .

P u b l i c a t i ons Cold Fog Hail Cloud •f orr evi ew pur p oseso nl y• Frost Wind Dry Wet Dew Snow Hot Warm

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One Dark, Stormy Night H

Weather can play an important part in many stories; for example,

Sail Away by Mem Fox and Storm Boy by Colin Thiele Storms at night are great for writing about scary stories .

Read these picture words to do with storms. thunder roaring

wind howling rain beating

lightning flashing

Now use these words to help you write your own scary story starting with…© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons

•f o rr e vi ew pur posesonl y• One dark, stormy night

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Weather Word Sleuth H

Circle these words in the word sleuth below. You can go across or downwards.

Rain Sun Shade

Cold Hot Wet

Dry Snow Hail

Storm Rainbow Wind

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Testing the Weather H

Test yourself on your weather knowledge. Read the clues then fill in the missing letters. The first letter is already done for you.

Moving air.

W

The planet we live on.

E

A season of the year.

A

Noise after lightning

T We have these days in summer.

H E

© R. I .

C.P ubl i cat i ons A direction the wind blows from.

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Water that falls from the sky.

R

Can you remember the missing colours of the rainbow?

R

O

B

Indigo

Yellow

G

V

Colour the summer months yellow, the autumn months orange, the winter months blue, the spring months green.

January April

June

August

September February

December

March

July

October

May

November

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