Resources: Handouts, temperature and rainfall data collected and historical comparison data.
Core Handout (2): A handout with two blank, labelled line graphs for the collected data to be presented on, and questions to support analysing this data compared to historical data.
Stretch Handout (3): A handout with two blank, line graphs for the collected data to be presented on, and questions to support analysing this data compared to historical data and predicting what the temperature and rainfall could be like thirty years in the future.
Enquiry Approach - Observation over time
Observing changes that occur over a long or short period of time.
Enquiry Skill - Interpreting and communicating results
Using information, results and data to present findings, including oral and written explanations.
For this lesson, you will need all the temperature and rainfall data that the children have collected throughout the unit. You will also need some comparison data for the weather thirty or more years ago.
Using the starter slides, ask the children to answer two questions related to the previous lesson: What does COP stand for? What targets were set at the previous meetings?
Using the presentation, link back to work done in the Year 4 unit - Living Things and Their Habitats - Conservation. Ask the children to recall some ways that other species are impacted by climate change. The children will explore how else climate change is affecting the planet as a whole, focusing on the sensitivity of particular animals to withstand climate change. They will also understand how weather data, like the information they have collected, can be compared to historical data to demostrate trends (patterns) that scientists can use to prove the impact of climate change.
Rocket Thinking - Teacher Notes: A key question is an open-ended prompt that can facilitate discussion, address misconceptions or give children the opportunity to probe more deeply into a topic. Prompt the children to explore why some countries have a plentiful supply of water, whilst others consistently experience drought. They may mention the water cycle and connect this to several ideas, such as:
Career Film: This is Ruth Davey. Ruth works as an Experimental Rig Operator for National Nuclear Laboratory.
Expert Film: This is Dr Ian Bedford. Ian is the Head of Entomology at the John Innes Institute. Ian explains how he manages data in his work.
Ask the children to look at the data that they have collected and compare it to a dataset from thirty or more years ago. Using the handout, ask them to plot line graphs to demostrate the daily temperature and weekly rainfall data they have collected. Ask them to compare this to the historical data and draw conclusions about the changes they have observed. Has the temperature/rainfall increased or decreased? What trends can they see?
Challenge Task: Looking at the trends, ask the children to predict what the temperature and rainfall could be like thirty years in the future.
Discuss the comparisons uncovered from the data collected now, compared to 30 years ago. Write a class email to your local MP to explain your findings and comparisons.
To compare data associated with the weather, there are several different types of weather data that can be looked at, including:
Temperature: This is a measure of the warmth or coldness of the air, typically measured in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. Temperature data can be used to compare the average temperatures over time, as well as the range of temperatures and the frequency of extreme events, such as heatwaves or cold spells.
Precipitation: This is a measure of the amount of moisture in the air that falls to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Precipitation data can be used to compare the amount of rainfall or snowfall over time, as well as the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events, such as floods or droughts.
Wind: This is a measure of the movement of air, typically measured in kilometres per hour or miles per hour. Wind data can be used to compare the average wind speeds and directions over time, as well as the frequency and intensity of extreme wind events, such as hurricanes or tornadoes.
Humidity: This is a measure of the amount of moisture in the air, typically measured as a percentage. Humidity data can be used to compare the average humidity levels over time, as well as the range of humidity levels and the frequency of extreme humidity events, such as heat waves or dry spells.
Air pressure: This is a measure of the force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere on the earth's surface, typically measured in millibars or inches of mercury. Air pressure data can be used to compare the average air pressure over time, as well as the range of air pressure and the frequency of extreme pressure events, such as storms or tornadoes.
To compare weather data, it is often useful to look at the long-term trends over time, as well as the frequency and intensity of extreme events. This can help to identify patterns and changes in the weather that may be linked to climate change or other environmental factors.
Address
Developing Experts Limited
Exchange Street Buildings
35-37 Exchange Street
Norwich
NR2 1DP
UK
Phone
01603 273515
Email
[email protected]
Copyright 2026 Developing Experts, All rights reserved.
Unlock expert-designed lessons, resources, and assessments tailored for educators. No credit card required.
Claim Your Free Trial →
