AC9S1U02_E1
Make and record observations of weather, seasonal changes in plants, leaf colour, falling leaves, flowers and fruit growth.
About This Year 1 Science Topic
Weather and seasonal patterns create changes in the environment that people can observe over time. These changes may include temperature, rainfall, wind, cloud cover, daylight, plant growth, flowering, fruiting and leaf colour.
In this topic, students make and record observations of daily weather and seasonal changes in local environments.
They explore how weather indicators and seasonal patterns help people plan activities, select suitable clothing and make decisions in everyday life.
Students investigate how changing weather and seasons affect plants, animals and humans, including animal behaviours such as hibernation and migration.
They also recognise the extensive knowledge held by First Nations Australians about weather patterns, seasonal changes, landscapes and concepts of time.
These activities support the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0 content descriptor AC9S1U02 and its associated elaborations.
Australian Curriculum Alignment
AC9S1U02
Describe daily and seasonal changes in the environment and explore how these changes affect everyday life.
AC9S1U02_E2
Notice how daily weather indicators and seasonal patterns help people plan activities in everyday life.
AC9S1U02_E3
Investigate how seasonal changes affect plants and animals, including animals that hibernate or migrate.
AC9S1U02_E4
Investigate how changes in weather affect plants, animals and humans.
AC9S1U02_E5
Explore how people choose clothing using weather predictions and knowledge of seasonal changes.
AC9S1U02_E6
Recognise the extensive knowledge of daily and seasonal weather patterns and landscapes held by First Nations Australians.
AC9S1U02_E7
Explore how First Nations Australians’ concepts of time and weather patterns explain changes in the world around them.
Learning Intentions
Students will learn to:
- identify common types of weather;
- observe and record daily weather conditions;
- identify changes that occur across seasons;
- describe seasonal changes in plants;
- describe how weather affects animals and humans;
- explain how seasonal changes affect living things;
- identify examples of hibernation and migration;
- use weather information to plan activities;
- choose suitable clothing for different weather;
- compare daily weather and seasonal patterns;
- recognise First Nations knowledge of weather and seasons;
- communicate observations using drawings, charts and sentences.
Student Success Criteria
I can describe today’s weather.
I can record a weather observation.
I can identify changes that happen in different seasons.
I can describe how plants change across seasons.
I can explain how weather affects animals.
I can explain how weather affects people.
I can identify an animal that hibernates or migrates.
I can use weather information to plan an activity.
I can choose suitable clothes for the weather.
I can describe First Nations knowledge of weather and seasons.
Key Vocabulary
weather
season
environment
temperature
rainfall
wind
cloud
sunny
rainy
windy
stormy
forecast
observe
record
pattern
change
hibernate
migrate
landscape
seasonal knowledge
Teacher Guide
Recommended Materials
- daily weather chart;
- weather symbol cards;
- outdoor thermometer;
- rain gauge;
- wind sock or simple wind indicator;
- season picture cards;
- photographs of local plants across different seasons;
- animal migration and hibernation picture cards;
- clothing and activity cards;
- calendars and observation journals;
- drawing materials and clipboards;
- community-approved First Nations seasonal resources.
Suggested Teaching Sequence
- Introduce common weather conditions and weather symbols.
- Begin a daily class weather observation chart.
- Discuss how weather can change from day to day.
- Introduce the concept of seasonal change.
- Observe how local plants change over time.
- Investigate how animals respond to seasonal changes.
- Explore hibernation and migration.
- Discuss how weather affects people and daily routines.
- Match clothing and activities to weather conditions.
- Explore First Nations knowledge of weather and seasons.
- Compare observations and identify simple patterns.
- Assess learning through drawings, explanations and charts.
Teacher Questions
- What is the weather like today?
- What evidence supports your observation?
- How is today’s weather different from yesterday’s?
- What changes do you notice in this plant?
- What usually happens during this season?
- How might this weather affect an animal?
- Why do some animals hibernate?
- Why do some animals migrate?
- How does the weather affect our plans?
- What clothing would be suitable today?
- What patterns can you see in our weather chart?
- How can seasonal knowledge help people care for Country?
Common Misconceptions
Weather and seasons mean the same thing
Explain that weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, while seasons are recurring periods of the year associated with broader environmental patterns.
Every day in one season has the same weather
Use daily observations to show that weather can vary within the same season.
All animals hibernate in winter
Explain that some animals hibernate, some migrate and others remain active but change their behaviour.
Plants stop changing outside spring
Observe that plants can grow, flower, fruit, lose leaves or become dormant at different times.
A weather forecast is always certain
Explain that a forecast is a prediction based on current information and may change.
Year 1 Earth and Space Sciences Activities
Activity 1: Daily Weather Watch
Students observe cloud cover, temperature, wind and rainfall at the same time each day.
They record the conditions using symbols, drawings or short sentences and compare observations across the week.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E1
Activity 2: Seasonal Plant Observation
Select a tree or garden area to observe regularly.
Students record changes such as leaf colour, falling leaves, flowers, fruit or new growth.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E1
Activity 3: Plan for the Weather
Present different weather forecasts and possible activities.
Students choose suitable activities and explain how the weather information helped them decide.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E2
Activity 4: Hibernation and Migration Sort
Provide pictures of animals that hibernate, migrate or remain active during seasonal changes.
Students sort the animals and describe how each behaviour helps the animal respond to environmental changes.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E3
Activity 5: How Weather Affects Living Things
Compare examples of hot, cold, wet, dry and windy weather.
Students explain possible effects on plants, animals and humans.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E4
Activity 6: Dress for the Forecast
Give students clothing cards and a selection of weather forecasts.
Students choose suitable clothing and justify each choice.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E5
Activity 7: Weather Pattern Graph
Use class weather observations to create a picture graph or tally chart.
Students identify the most common conditions and discuss simple patterns.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E1 and AC9S1U02_E2
Activity 8: First Nations Seasonal Knowledge
Explore an appropriate local or regional First Nations seasonal calendar using authoritative, community-approved sources.
Students identify connections among weather, plants, animals, landscapes and seasonal activities.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E6
Activity 9: Time, Weather and Country
Discuss how changes in plants, animal behaviour and weather can indicate that a particular time or season is approaching.
Students create a labelled sequence showing one example.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02_E7
Activity 10: Seasonal Change Poster
Students choose one season and create a poster showing typical weather, plant changes, animal responses, clothing and activities.
They present the poster and explain the connections.
Curriculum connection: AC9S1U02
Differentiation
Support
- use familiar weather photographs and symbols;
- focus on one weather feature at a time;
- provide labelled picture cards;
- use oral responses before written recording;
- provide sentence starters and word banks;
- complete class charts together;
- use matching and sorting tasks;
- provide partially completed observation tables;
- allow students to draw instead of writing full sentences.
Extension
- compare weather data across several weeks;
- calculate simple totals from a weather chart;
- compare two seasons in detail;
- research an unfamiliar migrating or hibernating animal;
- explain how a weather change could affect a food chain;
- create and present a short weather forecast;
- compare local seasons with another region;
- investigate changes in daylight across the year;
- design a seasonal activity plan using evidence.
Science Sentence Starters
Today the weather is _____.
I observed _____.
The weather changed because _____.
In this season, plants _____.
This animal hibernates because _____.
This animal migrates because _____.
The weather affects people by _____.
This clothing is suitable because _____.
We planned _____ because the forecast showed _____.
The pattern I noticed was _____.
First Nations seasonal knowledge shows _____.
This change in Country tells us _____.
Assessment Ideas
Observe whether the student can:
- describe daily weather conditions;
- record observations using symbols, drawings or words;
- identify seasonal changes in the environment;
- describe changes in plants across seasons;
- explain how weather affects plants, animals and humans;
- identify examples of hibernation and migration;
- use weather information to plan an activity;
- select clothing suitable for a forecast;
- identify a simple pattern in weather observations;
- recognise First Nations knowledge of weather and seasons.
Quick Exit Ticket
- Describe today’s weather.
- Name one way it affects people.
- Name one way it could affect a plant or animal.
- Choose suitable clothing and explain your choice.
Printable Teacher and Student Resources
Use the buttons below to open the available AC9S1U02 teaching materials and printable activities in a new browser tab.
Animal Hibernation and Migration
Choosing Clothes for the Weather
Daily and Seasonal Changes Activities and Worksheets
First Nations Seasons, Time and Weather
First Nations Time and Weather Concepts
First Nations Weather and Seasonal Knowledge
First Nations Weather Patterns and Landscapes
How Weather Affects Plants, Animals and Humans
Observing Weather and Seasonal Changes
Planning Activities Using Weather and Seasons
Recording Daily Weather and Plant Changes
Seasonal Changes in Plants and Animals
Weather and Seasonal Clothing Choices
Weather Effects on Living Things
Weather Patterns and Daily Planning
Resources open in a new tab.
Home Learning Ideas
Families can observe the weather at the same time each day and record it using drawings, symbols or short sentences.
Children can compare clothing, outdoor activities, plant changes and animal behaviour across different weather conditions.
Ask questions such as:
- What is the weather like today?
- How is it different from yesterday?
- What clothing is suitable?
- What activity could we plan?
- How might this weather affect a plant?
- How might it affect an animal?
- What seasonal change can you see?
- What pattern have you noticed this week?