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Year 2

The weather where I live and in the UK

You can use weather data to describe the pattern of weather where you live and explain how this might vary across the UK.

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New
New
Year 2

The weather where I live and in the UK

You can use weather data to describe the pattern of weather where you live and explain how this might vary across the UK.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A long-term pattern of weather is called climate and this can vary within the UK.
  2. The climate of the UK shows the south-east and some parts of the south-west, get most sunshine.
  3. The climate of the UK shows the north-west and mountainous areas get the least sunshine.
  4. A meteorologist is someone who investigates and measures weather and climate, and makes predictions.

Common misconception

As pupils first encounter the idea of climate they confuse it with weather.

Keep offering different examples and talk about weather being a snapshot of a moment in time but climate is a long-term trend of weather.

Keywords

  • Average - An average is found by adding two or more numbers together and then dividing the total by the number of numbers added together.

  • Climate - Climate is an average of weather conditions (e.g. rain, sun, wind) in a place taken over a long period of time (usually 30 years or more).

  • Temperature - Temperature is the degree of hotness or coldness of a place.

  • Meteorologist - A meteorologist is someone who investigates and measures the atmospheric conditions that cause weather, and makes predictions.

  • Weather - The weather of a place is the day to day condition of the atmosphere, e.g. sunny, snowing, warm etc.

Go to the Met Office website to find current weather and climate data, maps and charts for your local area and the whole of the UK.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is not a word we use to describe the weather?
wind
rain
temperature
snow
Correct answer: weather vane
Q2.
What does the temperature tell us?
how high something is
how windy something is
Correct answer: how warm or cool something is
how wet something is
Q3.
In the UK, why do we get more hours of sunshine in the summer than in the winter?
We have our holidays in the summer.
It's hotter in the summer.
Correct answer: Summer days are longer than winter days.
Winter is colder.
Q4.
Name the four seasons in order starting with spring
Correct Answer: spring, summer, autumn, winter
Q5.
From the UK, in which direction is the North Pole?
west
Correct answer: north
east
west
Q6.
From the UK, in which direction is the Equator?
north
east
Correct answer: south
west

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
If there is a south wind it means ...?
the wind is moving towards the south
Correct answer: the wind is blowing from the south
the wind is moving east
the wind is moving north
Q2.
Can you match these weather and climate descriptions?
Correct Answer:climate is,measured over a long time - usually more than 30 years!

measured over a long time - usually more than 30 years!

Correct Answer:weather is ,a snapshot of day to day conditions

a snapshot of day to day conditions

Correct Answer:temperature is,the degree of hotness or coldness of a place

the degree of hotness or coldness of a place

Correct Answer:a meteorologist,investigates weather and climate and makes predictions

investigates weather and climate and makes predictions

Q3.
Match the best activity to suit the weather conditions
Correct Answer:sunny and warm,swimming in the sea

swimming in the sea

Correct Answer:snowy ,skiing

skiing

Correct Answer:wet and windy,cinema

cinema

Correct Answer:sunny and breezy,flying a kite

flying a kite

Q4.
Which of these does a meteorologist do? Choose all the ones that fit.
Correct answer: measure rainfall and snow
work in a shop
Correct answer: measure wind speed and direction
count the number of cars on a road
Correct answer: study weather and climate
Q5.
Where would be a good place to watch birds where wildlife is protected?
Correct Answer: a nature reserve
Q6.
On an OS map, what is the symbol for a nature reserve?
Correct Answer: a bird, a blue bird