Lesson Plan

Year level(s): 1/2 Learning Area/ACARA focus: Science

Date/Time: Thursday 21
st
August, 2014. Lesson Focus: Cloud formation/tornadoes.
Background Information:

Young students should become increasingly curious about the world around them. The weather is a
big part of this world, which already determines what clothes they wear, how much sunscreen they
put on or whether its too wet to play outside. Students should already be aware that the Sun, wind
and rain exist.

Teaching/Learning Purpose(s) (written in terms of outcomes):

Begin to understand the basic science of how a cloud forms.
Develop awareness about the risks of severe weather - dangerous weather event: Tornadoes.

Preparation:

Materials A table central to the class with the following: 2 glass jars with lids, ice blocks, boiled
water, aerosol can, detergent. Test experiments before the day.
Computer linked to projector with pre-played instructional videos. Each video opened in a separate
tab, sequentially, with possibly an assistant to play them on queue. Check sound and footage quality
beforehand.
White board with two whiteboard markers and an eraser.

Learning Experiences:

1. How will I engage the learners?
The table of experimental materials central to the students should have already generated
attention (presence of demonstration materials should engage students).
Lesson to involve different forms of communication video, question/answer,
drawing/labelling on a whiteboard and the delivery of information via an experiment. Also
assessment.
Subject matter common to all. The weather affects students everyday lives.

2. Student tasks and activities (what will the students do to achieve the lesson purpose(s)? (20 mins)
First action is to question students on their opinion/interest in the weather. (2 mins)
State learning outcomes. (1 min)
Play - http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/weather/clouds.html - step by step description
on the formation of a cloud (2 mins)
Use the whiteboard to draw the process, requesting students to label (3-5 mins)
Play - http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Science-experiments+10/How-
to-make-a-cloud-in-a-jar+12511.htm video on how to make a cloud in a glass jar. (2 mins)
Perform demonstration. (3-5 mins)
Introduce dangerous weather event tornadoes. Relate it back to the warm/cold air concept
of cloud formation. Ask the students if theyve seen one before. (1 min)

Assessment and evaluation: (How do you know the students have achieved the learning purpose(s)?

Assessment results should be perfect if Ive achieved learning purposes.

Evaluate your own performance:

I was very happy to hear my mentor teachers feedback that it was the best first class lesson hed seen from a
student. The students performed very well in their assessment, however its hard to judge whether theyd
retain any of it long term.

It was a pleasure to perform a class lesson on something Im enthusiastic about, made it easy. The videos and
demonstrations really engaged the students and provided an experience they would no doubt remember. I
was happy about my planning, timing every component which ended up pretty accurate.

Play - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prG-PD2bmdU Amazing tornado footage (1
min)
Play - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMsUQGL7j5Q Amazing tornado footage (2
mins)
Play - http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Science-
experiments+10/Tornado-in-a-jar-experiment+12759.htm instructional video on how to
make a tornado in a glass jar. (2 mins)
Perform demonstration. (2 mins)

3. Conclusion (how do you summarise the learning and relate it to the lesson purpose (s)? (5 mins)
Hand out small written assessment circle the right answer.
Return to teacher for marking.