Year 1 · Science · Earth and space sciences
Weather and seasons
Children observe daily weather and talk about how hot, cold, wet or windy days change what we wear and do across Australia's seasons.
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These lessons were written around Australian Curriculum strands and matched to UK year groups by age (Year 1 is the year a child turns 6 in England). They are not mapped to the National Curriculum in England or the curricula of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, so check them against your own plans.
This lesson uses some Australian examples (places, animals or contexts). Swap in local examples from the UK as you teach.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Observe and describe the weather each day.
- Explain how the weather changes what we wear and do.
- Name the four seasons and describe the usual weather in each.
Success looks like
- I can look outside and say what the weather is like today.
- I can choose the right clothes for hot, cold, wet and windy days.
- I can name the four seasons in order.
The big idea
Weather is what the air outside is like. It can be sunny, cloudy, rainy or windy. It can be hot or cold. Some days it is stormy or foggy.
We find out about the weather by using our senses. We look at the sky, feel the air on our skin and listen for wind and rain.
A wind streamer helps us see the wind. If it hangs still, there is no wind. If it flaps about, it is windy.
The weather changes what we wear. On hot, sunny days we wear a hat and sunscreen. On rainy days we wear a raincoat or take an umbrella. On cold days we put on a jumper.
The weather also changes what we do. We might play in the sprinkler on a hot day, read a book inside on a stormy day or fly a kite on a windy day.
A season is a long part of the year with its own usual weather. Many places have four seasons that come round again every year: summer, autumn, winter and spring.
- Summer is usually the hottest season. Autumn is cooler and leaves on some trees change colour and fall. Winter is usually the coldest season. In spring the days warm up and many plants flower.
Some places, especially warm places, have a wet season and a dry season instead. Wherever you live, you can watch how the weather changes through the year.
Worked examples
What is the weather today?
Look outside and decide what today's weather is.
- Look at the sky: there are a few white clouds and the Sun is out.
- Look at the wind streamer: it is moving gently.
- Feel the air: it feels warm.
- Draw a Sun and a small cloud on the weather chart.
Answer: Today is warm and mostly sunny with a light wind.
Dressing for the weather
It is cold and windy outside. What should you wear to play?
- Cold means we need to keep our bodies warm.
- Windy means the wind will make us feel even colder.
- Choose a jumper or jacket, long pants and closed shoes.
Answer: A jumper or jacket, long pants and closed shoes.
The seasons go round
Which season comes after winter?
- Say the seasons in order: summer, autumn, winter, spring.
- Find winter and move one step on.
- After spring the order starts again with summer.
Answer: Spring comes after winter.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
What should you wear on a hot, sunny day?
A hat and sunscreen — A hat and sunscreen protect your skin from the Sun.
What could you take outside on a rainy day?
An umbrella — An umbrella helps keep you dry in the rain.
Which season is usually the coldest?
Winter — Winter is usually the coldest season.
Which season comes after summer?
Autumn — The order is summer, autumn, winter, spring.
The wind streamer is flapping hard. What is the weather like?
Windy — Moving air makes the streamer flap, so it is windy.
Which season is usually the hottest?
summer — Summer is usually the hottest season.
There are grey clouds and water is falling from the sky. What is the weather?
rainy — Water falling from clouds is rain.
Which season comes after winter, when many plants start to flower?
spring — Spring follows winter and many plants flower.
Watch out for
- Children often mix up weather and seasons. Weather can change from day to day, or even within a day; a season lasts for a few months.
- Some children think every cloud brings rain. Many white, fluffy clouds float by without any rain at all.
- Children may think they cannot get sunburnt on a cool or cloudy day. The Sun can still burn skin, so sun protection still matters.
Tips for parents
- Check the weather together at the same time each day and add a picture to your weather chart.
- Before going out, ask 'What is the weather like? What should we wear?' and let your child decide.
- Safety: never look straight at the Sun, wear sun protection outdoors, and stay inside during storms with thunder and lightning.
Go further
- Keep a weather chart for a week and count how many sunny, cloudy and rainy days there were.
- Draw yourself dressed for each of the four seasons.
- Choose one tree near your home and draw it every few weeks to see how it changes through the year.
About 30 minutes
You'll need
- Paper and crayons to make a weather chart
- A ribbon or strip of plastic bag tied to a stick (a wind streamer)
- A window or a safe spot outside
- A few items of clothing: a sun hat, a raincoat, a jumper
Key words
- weather
- What the air outside is like each day: hot or cold, wet or dry, windy or still.
- season
- A part of the year that has its own usual kind of weather.
- sunny
- When the Sun is shining and there are few clouds.
- rainy
- When water falls from the clouds as rain.
- windy
- When moving air pushes on leaves, flags and our hair.
- cloudy
- When clouds cover a lot of the sky.
Still tricky?
For parents
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Next steps (Year 2)