Science · Year 1

Active learning ideas

Measuring Weather

Active learning works well for measuring weather because young children develop concrete understanding through touch and observation. Handling tools like rain gauges and thermometers daily builds familiarity and confidence in recording data independently.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: Science - Seasonal changes

• 15–30 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 15 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Daily Weather Rounds

Gather outdoors each morning. Pass a thermometer around for children to read and call out temperature. Use a shared rain gauge to measure overnight rainfall, then record both on a large class chart with symbols and numbers. Discuss changes from previous days.

Explain how a thermometer helps us measure temperature.

Facilitation Tip

During Daily Weather Rounds, invite one child each day to read the thermometer and rain gauge aloud while the class checks their own predictions.

What to look for

Show students a picture of a thermometer. Ask: 'What does this tool measure?' and 'What happens to the red line when it gets warmer?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 30 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: DIY Rain Gauges

Provide plastic bottles, rulers, and markers. Children cut tops, add stones for stability, and calibrate with water lines. Place gauges outside overnight, measure next day, and compare group results on a shared board.

Compare the rainfall in different seasons using simple measurements.

Facilitation Tip

When making DIY Rain Gauges, remind students to mark measurements in millilitres and place gauges in the same spot each day for consistent data.

What to look for

Give each student a small card. Ask them to draw a symbol for a sunny day and a symbol for rainy weather, and write the temperature they think it is for each.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 25 min · Pairs

Pairs: Weather Chart Design

Pairs draw weekly charts with columns for date, temperature, and rainfall. Use stickers or colours for data entry based on measurements. Swap charts mid-week to predict trends and verify with real data.

Design a simple weather chart to record daily observations.

Facilitation Tip

For Weather Chart Design, model one symbol first, then let pairs practise before sharing their charts with the class.

What to look for

After a week of recording, ask the class: 'Did we have more or less rain this week compared to last week?' and 'What was the hottest temperature we recorded?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 04

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 20 min · Individual

Individual: Home Weather Logs

Send home simple log sheets. Children measure backyard temperature and rain daily using provided tools, then share one entry in class circle time. Compile into a class display for seasonal comparison.

Explain how a thermometer helps us measure temperature.

Facilitation Tip

During Home Weather Logs, send a clear note to families explaining the task to ensure daily participation and accuracy.

What to look for

Show students a picture of a thermometer. Ask: 'What does this tool measure?' and 'What happens to the red line when it gets warmer?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should model the use of weather tools at least twice before expecting independent work. Avoid assuming children understand cause and effect; instead, ask them to predict what will happen when conditions change. Research suggests that young learners benefit from frequent, short practice sessions with immediate feedback, so daily rounds and quick checks work better than weekly reviews.

By the end of these activities, children will confidently use simple weather tools, record measurements accurately, and begin to recognise seasonal patterns. They will communicate findings using symbols and numbers, not just words.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Daily Weather Rounds, watch for students who think the thermometer ‘measures cold’ when the red line goes down.

  Hold the thermometer in ice water and ask students to predict and then observe the red line’s movement, linking it to particle energy changes with teacher-led explanations.

• During DIY Rain Gauges, watch for students who assume rainfall is the same every day.

  Have groups compare their daily measurements and share findings with the class to highlight variability and encourage pattern recognition.

• During Weather Chart Design, watch for students who focus on drawing perfect pictures instead of recording data clearly.

  Provide a model chart with numbers and simple symbols, then rotate pairs to give feedback on data accuracy rather than aesthetics.

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Methods used in this brief

• Outdoor Investigation Session