Resources: Computers/tablets, temperature and rainfall data collected and comparison data.
Core Handout (2): Children answer questions to compare their data with the comparison data from 30 years ago.
Enquiry Approach - Observation over time
Observing changes that occur over a long or short period of time.
Enquiry Skill - Observing and measuring
Using the senses and taking measurements, using a range of equipment, to make observations about a scientific enquiry.
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 30 years ago.
Ask the children to answer 2 questions related to the previous lesson: What does COP stand for? What targets were set at the previous meeting?
Link back to work done in the Year 4 unit - Living Things and Their Habitats - Conservation. See if the children can recall some ways that other species are impacted by climate change. Explore how else climate change is affecting the planet as a whole, focusing on the sensitivity of particular animals to withstand climate change.
Again, reiterate to the children that climate change is not solely their responsibility.
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.
The children will look at the data that they have collected and compare it to a dataset from 30 years ago. They will look at trends and draw conclusions about the changes they have observed. Has the temperature/rainfall increased or decreased? The children could use a spreadsheet to create comparative graphs.
Challenge Task: Looking at the trends, ask the children to predict what the temperature and rainfall could be like 30 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.
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:
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.