
Weather and the Seasons
Levels 1 and 2

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Earth Science: Learn how volcanoes and earthquakes change the appearance of the landscape, particularly the effects on mountains and rivers.
Papatūānuku: Ka ako haere me pēhea te rū whenua me te puia e huri ai i te āhua o te takiwā, me ngā pānga ki te maunga, ki te awa hoki.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Levels 1 and 2
Students can recognise patterns occurring in the weather.
Students can explore and discuss major features of the weather, for example, wind, clouds, and rain.
Students can explore repeating environmental patterns associated with the Earth, Sun, and Moon, for example, night and day, seasons, and tides.
The Arts (Dance): Move in response to environmental stimuli.
English (Reading and Viewing): Observe signs and symbols used to identify environmental features and discuss the way in which visual signs convey their meaning.
Mathematics and Statistics (Statistics): Classify environmental events, such as “the sun will rise tomorrow”, “the grass will turn brown tomorrow”, “it will snow when it’s hot”, as certain, possible, or impossible.

Related Topics
Resources

Suzy really bites into this investigation. How do apples grow? Do you know? Why don't you join Suzy and find out?
Level
1-2
Type
Video
Apples: How do apples grow?
Suzy's World
Suzy really bites into this investigation. How do apples grow? Do you know? Why don't you join Suzy and find out?

When we measure atmospheric pressure, we’re measuring the weight of air above us. When the droplets stick together, we get rain or snow. We measure atmospheric pressure with an instrument called a “barometer”. Build your own!
Level
1-4
Type
Experiment
Barometer in a Bottle
Bill Nye The Science Guy
When we measure atmospheric pressure, we’re measuring the weight of air above us. When the droplets stick together, we get rain or snow. We measure atmospheric pressure with an instrument called a “barometer”. Build your own!

We live in a world that is constantly changing. Even things that might be considered immovable such as mountains or rocks are gradually changing. Create miniature landscapes to explore the impacts of natural processes and human activity.
Level
2
Type
Unit
Beneath our feet
Primary Connections
We live in a world that is constantly changing. Even things that might be considered immovable such as mountains or rocks are gradually changing. Create miniature landscapes to explore the impacts of natural processes and human activity.

Joe introduces you to a special word that will help you to build an awesome shelter to survive the night, and hopefully the rain! He has a little help from his friends "Survival Man" and Laura. These are great skills for taking into the outdoors on your next adventure.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Build a Shelter
Whenua Iti Outdoors
Joe introduces you to a special word that will help you to build an awesome shelter to survive the night, and hopefully the rain! He has a little help from his friends "Survival Man" and Laura. These are great skills for taking into the outdoors on your next adventure.

How climate change is affecting Canterbury is what this booklet is all about. We investigate what it will mean for you, your family and friends, and the natural environment.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity Book
Canterbury's Changing Climate: an educational resource for schools...
Environment Canterbury
How climate change is affecting Canterbury is what this booklet is all about. We investigate what it will mean for you, your family and friends, and the natural environment.

Changes to the land and sky occur all the time - what do you see from day to day? Observe and investigate the effects of human interaction on the school environment.
Level
1
Type
Unit
Changes all around
Primary Connections
Changes to the land and sky occur all the time - what do you see from day to day? Observe and investigate the effects of human interaction on the school environment.

Bill Nye’s storming in to tell you all about climates.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2UfI0rXQE
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Climate
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Bill Nye’s storming in to tell you all about climates.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2UfI0rXQE

Climate is the average weather of a given area over a long period of time. This includes seasonal temperatures, rain, sunshine, and large weather events such as storms.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Climate Change
Kids Greening Taupō
Climate is the average weather of a given area over a long period of time. This includes seasonal temperatures, rain, sunshine, and large weather events such as storms.

What happens when you get a cold? Suzy has a cold, she feels awful and looks worse! So, it's a great time to investigate what happens when you get a cold!
Level
1-2
Type
Video
Cold One: What happens when I get a cold?
Suzy's World
What happens when you get a cold? Suzy has a cold, she feels awful and looks worse! So, it's a great time to investigate what happens when you get a cold!

In New Zealand, scientists are gathering data about monarch butterflies. They want to find out where the butterflies fly to and from – and where they go in winter.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 2: ‘Look out for Monarchs’
Ministry of Education NZ
In New Zealand, scientists are gathering data about monarch butterflies. They want to find out where the butterflies fly to and from – and where they go in winter.

People in Aotearoa New Zealand have been predicting the weather for years. From violent storms to warm breezes, by observing patterns in nature people can tell what tomorrow will bring.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2016 Level 2: ‘Sun, Wind or Rain?’
Ministry of Education NZ
People in Aotearoa New Zealand have been predicting the weather for years. From violent storms to warm breezes, by observing patterns in nature people can tell what tomorrow will bring.

Balaclava School has a new greenhouse called the Living Room. The students find out how the environment inside the Living Room helps plants grow during the cold Dunedin winters and investigate which vegetables grow best inside and outside its unique climate.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2017 Level 2: ‘Gardening in the Living Room’
Ministry of Education NZ
Balaclava School has a new greenhouse called the Living Room. The students find out how the environment inside the Living Room helps plants grow during the cold Dunedin winters and investigate which vegetables grow best inside and outside its unique climate.

Crunch Time is a fun interactive quiz game aimed at kids of all ages – with questions about energy, science and sustainability. The game can be played individually or set up so whole classes can play against each other.
Level
1-4
Type
Game
Crunch Time 2.0
Genesis School-Gen
Crunch Time is a fun interactive quiz game aimed at kids of all ages – with questions about energy, science and sustainability. The game can be played individually or set up so whole classes can play against each other.

Nanogirl wants to get the Superpowers of the Earth! Join her as she experiments and investigates how we can use the hidden power that's all around us, above us and buried right under our feet to give ourselves superpowers.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Earth Superpower Series
Nanogirl
Nanogirl wants to get the Superpowers of the Earth! Join her as she experiments and investigates how we can use the hidden power that's all around us, above us and buried right under our feet to give ourselves superpowers.

It doesn’t matter if it’s spring, summer, winter, or fall – Bill Nye is always in season.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9z-aGB3atg
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Earth's Seasons
Bill Nye The Science Guy
It doesn’t matter if it’s spring, summer, winter, or fall – Bill Nye is always in season.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9z-aGB3atg

Erosion is going on all day, all the time. It’s happening right now!
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkralMlDmSA
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Erosion
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Erosion is going on all day, all the time. It’s happening right now!
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkralMlDmSA

Students will have fun growing plants while learning interesting information about garden science. This simple lesson plan explains the activity as well as giving instructions for how students should look after their plants.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Grow a Plant
Science Kids
Students will have fun growing plants while learning interesting information about garden science. This simple lesson plan explains the activity as well as giving instructions for how students should look after their plants.

Here are some things that you can do at home or in your community that lessen the chances of being hurt and/or your home and surroundings devastated.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
It's raining, it's pouring... oh no, a flood warning!
Environment Canterbury
Here are some things that you can do at home or in your community that lessen the chances of being hurt and/or your home and surroundings devastated.

Living on the moon or another planet in our solar system is a fun thing for students to think about and they will enjoy the chance to put their ideas into action by building a future colony for humans.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Living on the Moon
Science Kids
Living on the moon or another planet in our solar system is a fun thing for students to think about and they will enjoy the chance to put their ideas into action by building a future colony for humans.

Make a barometer to measure changes in air pressure and help predict weather changes. How good will your weather predictions be?
Level
1-4
Type
Experiment
Make a Barometer
Science Kids
Make a barometer to measure changes in air pressure and help predict weather changes. How good will your weather predictions be?

Have fun making a kite with your own special design before heading outside on a windy day to test it out. Can you get it to fly high in the wind?
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Make a Kite
Science Kids
Have fun making a kite with your own special design before heading outside on a windy day to test it out. Can you get it to fly high in the wind?

Make a rain gauge and record how much rain is falling from the skies during the next rain fall. Was it a light shower or a heavy storm? Record and compare your results.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Make a Rain Gauge
Science Kids
Make a rain gauge and record how much rain is falling from the skies during the next rain fall. Was it a light shower or a heavy storm? Record and compare your results.

Spring is traditionally when we tidy and clean our homes, ready for summer – so make a special cleaning kit that’s kind to the environment. Show your family and friends how it’s done, or invite them to help.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Make a Spring Cleaning Kit
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Spring is traditionally when we tidy and clean our homes, ready for summer – so make a special cleaning kit that’s kind to the environment. Show your family and friends how it’s done, or invite them to help.