Weather and Climate Change

A range of resources for both primary and secondary school science. The weather is an excellent vehicle for teaching and learning a range of important scientific concepts. These resources include practical investigations, video clips, student activities and teacher information.

Aimed at primary-school children, there are a number of resources on this one site. Firstly, there is a straightforward explanation of what climate change is, what the main causes could be and what we can do about it. Then there are presentations, video clips and animations to use with data projectors or white boards. There are also ideas, activities and worksheets including case studies from around the world illustrating the impacts of drought, hydro-power schemes and food production.

These profiles, from the Royal Meteorological Society, show just some of the careers available in weather and climate science. They include weather forecasters, climate researchers, meteorologists, communications officers and television weather presenters.

Much more about weather, teacher resources and information is available from the home page at: www.metlink.org

Investigate the science of the weather with experiments on topics that include:
     Seasons
     Temperature
     Wind
     Clouds
     Humidity
     Rain
     Weather people

Here are some resources and suggestions for measuring and observing the weather.

Plus much more about the weather and ways to teach it from the Metlink home page: www.metlink.org

Great resources to help your children learn about weather and science-related topics, including:
   Temperature
   Science of the weather
   Humidity
   Rain
   Tornadoes
   Seasons
   Climate change
   Weather forecasting

Here are some great investigations and practical activities based on observing and measuring the weather.

Plus much more about the weather and ways to teach it from the Metlink home page: www.metlink.org

Resources that help students see the applications of science in the context of observing, analysing and understanding the weather. There are a range of resources from the Royal Meteorological Society, as well as links to resources from other providers. These include:
   Hurricane tracks and tropical storm risk
   Investigating weather systems
   Weather, climate and climate change
   Ideas for science, environment or weather clubs
   Weather and climate-related experiments and demonstrations.
   Weather words starter activity
   Data analysis

Here are some great investigations and practical activities based on observing and measuring the weather.

Plus much more about the weather and ways to teach it from the Metlink home page: www.metlink.org

From the Royal meteorological Society, these resources help to show students the application of science in understanding the weather, as well as helping them to learn curriculum science. The page links to resources from the Society and other providers.

The topics covered include:
Climate change and extreme weather
Carbon cycles, climate models and climate change
Gravity, forces and movement

Here are some great investigations and practical activities based on observing and measuring the weather.

Plus much more about the weather and ways to teach it from the Metlink home page: www.metlink.org

Four hands-on experiments for 7-11 year olds which teach pupils the investigative science skills outlined in the Key Stage 2 Science curriculum. Children make simple anemometers and measure wind energy; make recycled paper and test its strength; measure heat and control variables; measure and graph the rate at which ice melts. The resource includes lesson plans, worksheets, a climate change poster, stencils and stickers.

The Cool It project aims to educate and inspire young people to take a stand on climate change, it aims to show the impact we have on our environment and lead the way for future generations. The site is created for teachers, students and organisations that have a desire to tackle local climate change issues and engage others.

This site provides a group with an interactive ‘workbook’. The emphasis is that weather is random, however by observing multiple sets of data a pattern can be found which allows us to predict the weather. When small changes occur in the data substantial changes can occur in the subsequent patterns. This is probably a KS4 task but could also apply to the most able KS3 students.

This is the largest experiment to try and produce a forecast of the climate in the 21st century. Climate models may also be downloaded from this site. There are links to the science curriculum and some useful simple practicals alongside the model itself.

This free resource pack includes: an A1 colour classroom poster; an eight-page colour student booklet; teacher notes featuring group activities, ideas for dialoge and debate, curriculum links and tips on differentiation and extension. The pack contains essential information for students on: the key issues of climate change; the causes and effects of climate change; what we can do about climate change; how the greenhouse effect works.

These four short Flash activities increase students' understanding and interest in key aspects of climate change: climate hot spots around the globe; the greenhouse effect; rising sea levels; deforestation. These activities can be used as stand-alone resources or to supplement the printed Climate Change resource pack available free from the BP Educational Service.