Arctic Weather!

A PE lesson to get you warmed up, whilst learning about the different weathers of the Arctic!

Lesson steps

Before the lesson begins, mark out a safe space for the children to move around.

Play the Sounds of the Arctic. Get ready, it’s the calm before the storm! Explain that the weather is calm and serene, move slowly in and out of each other.

Tell the children that the weather is changing, and the wind is picking up. Children should move more quickly (jog) in and out of each other.

Explain that the storm has arrived and there’s rain, hail and wind! They should move quickly and dodge in and out of each other, using side-steps and zig zags.

Explain that now It’s a hurricane! Children should find different ways to travel and move low to the ground to avoid being blown away.

Tell the children there’s a tornado! They should use their bodies to twist, pivot and rotate like a tornado.

Children need to respond to the dice, higher the number the faster their body moves!

Explain that the weather keeps changing! Children need to change their movements and speeds as the weather changes.

Use the Arctic Weather Dice to see which weather is next!

Arctic Weather Dice

Spin to see which Arctic weather to act out!

Explain that there’s flooding! Children need to swim to the boats, what strokes will they use? Row the boats and rescue anyone still stranded.

Everyone now needs to clean up the mess. The storm and flood have left lots of mess.

Children need to work together to clear all the plastic and rubbish (different colour bean bags) into the correct bins (matching colour hoops).

Tell the children there are different ways to clear the mess. Try again, but this time they can use different ways and different skills to clear the mess. How quickly can they clear all the mess?

Can the children go quicker? Can they work together?

Explain there is snow and ice! Now children must move in and out of each other and when they hear “Freeze!”, create and hold shapes and balances that represent snowflakes and ice blocks.

Tell the children that now it’s unseasonably hot! The weather has changed - it’s starting to melt the ice and the sea levels are rising! Children should jump from ice floe to ice floe (floor spots) to avoid falling into the sea.

Tell the children that the visibility is poor! Children need to work with a partner and takes turns to lead and follow each other as they jump across the ice floes.

Now children can climb the ice cliffs. When they have reached an ice cliff, use the floor spots as hand and foot holds and move up, across and around the ice cliffs.

Explain that everyone has reached safety, children can move slowly with their partner and talk about what they have learnt about climate change and why they should care about rising sea levels. Ask the children does it matter about rising sea levels if they don’t live near the sea?

Learning outcomes

Recognise some environments that are different to the one in which they live.

Understanding the World

Revise and refine the fundamental movement skills they have already acquired: rolling, crawling, walking, jumping, running, hopping, skipping and climbing

Physical Development

Questions

Can you describe the landscape where you live?

How is the Arctic landscape changing because the Earth is getting hotter?

What should you do with plastic and rubbish?

Do you recycle at home and at school?

Vocabulary

Sea ice

Ice cliffs

Snow

Ice

Storm

Blizzard

Activity ideas

Watch Arctic fact 1!

A quick fact video about climate change and rising sea levels!

Arctic Fact 1

Effect of climate change on Arctic ice.

Watch Arctic fact 5!

A quick fact video about rising temperatures!

Arctic Fact 5

How cold is it in the Arctic?

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Ready for school, home, and everywhere in between!

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Arctic Weather Dice

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Ready for school, home, and everywhere in between!

Lesson plan

real PE

3: Good Health and Well-being

13: Climate Action Ages 3-7 Climate Change Healthy Living

Arctic Weather!

Before the lesson begins, mark out a safe space for the children to move around.

Play the Sounds of the Arctic. Get ready, it’s the calm before the storm! Explain that the weather is calm and serene, move slowly in and out of each other.

Tell the children that the weather is changing, and the wind is picking up. Children should move more quickly (jog) in and out of each other.

Explain that the storm has arrived and there’s rain, hail and wind! They should move quickly and dodge in and out of each other, using side-steps and zig zags.

Explain that now It’s a hurricane! Children should find different ways to travel and move low to the ground to avoid being blown away.

Tell the children there’s a tornado! They should use their bodies to twist, pivot and rotate like a tornado.

Explain that the weather keeps changing! Children need to change their movements and speeds as the weather changes.

Arctic Weather Dice

Explain that there’s flooding! Children need to swim to the boats, what strokes will they use? Row the boats and rescue anyone still stranded.

Everyone now needs to clean up the mess. The storm and flood have left lots of mess.

Children need to work together to clear all the plastic and rubbish (different colour bean bags) into the correct bins (matching colour hoops).

Tell the children there are different ways to clear the mess. Try again, but this time they can use different ways and different skills to clear the mess. How quickly can they clear all the mess?

Can the children go quicker? Can they work together?

Explain there is snow and ice! Now children must move in and out of each other and when they hear “Freeze!”, create and hold shapes and balances that represent snowflakes and ice blocks.

Tell the children that now it’s unseasonably hot! The weather has changed - it’s starting to melt the ice and the sea levels are rising! Children should jump from ice floe to ice floe (floor spots) to avoid falling into the sea.

Tell the children that the visibility is poor! Children need to work with a partner and takes turns to lead and follow each other as they jump across the ice floes.

Now children can climb the ice cliffs. When they have reached an ice cliff, use the floor spots as hand and foot holds and move up, across and around the ice cliffs.

Explain that everyone has reached safety, children can move slowly with their partner and talk about what they have learnt about climate change and why they should care about rising sea levels. Ask the children does it matter about rising sea levels if they don’t live near the sea?

Arctic Fact 1

Arctic Fact 5

Keep exploring

Keep exploring

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Before the lesson begins, mark out a safe space for the children to move around.

Play the Sounds of the Arctic. Get ready, it’s the calm before the storm! Explain that the weather is calm and serene, move slowly in and out of each other.

Tell the children that the weather is changing, and the wind is picking up. Children should move more quickly (jog) in and out of each other.

Explain that the storm has arrived and there’s rain, hail and wind! They should move quickly and dodge in and out of each other, using side-steps and zig zags.

Explain that now It’s a hurricane! Children should find different ways to travel and move low to the ground to avoid being blown away.

Tell the children there’s a tornado! They should use their bodies to twist, pivot and rotate like a tornado.

Explain that the weather keeps changing! Children need to change their movements and speeds as the weather changes.

Arctic Weather Dice

Explain that there’s flooding! Children need to swim to the boats, what strokes will they use? Row the boats and rescue anyone still stranded.

Everyone now needs to clean up the mess. The storm and flood have left lots of mess.

Children need to work together to clear all the plastic and rubbish (different colour bean bags) into the correct bins (matching colour hoops).

Tell the children there are different ways to clear the mess. Try again, but this time they can use different ways and different skills to clear the mess. How quickly can they clear all the mess?

Can the children go quicker? Can they work together?

Explain there is snow and ice! Now children must move in and out of each other and when they hear “Freeze!”, create and hold shapes and balances that represent snowflakes and ice blocks.

Tell the children that now it’s unseasonably hot! The weather has changed - it’s starting to melt the ice and the sea levels are rising! Children should jump from ice floe to ice floe (floor spots) to avoid falling into the sea.

Tell the children that the visibility is poor! Children need to work with a partner and takes turns to lead and follow each other as they jump across the ice floes.

Now children can climb the ice cliffs. When they have reached an ice cliff, use the floor spots as hand and foot holds and move up, across and around the ice cliffs.

Explain that everyone has reached safety, children can move slowly with their partner and talk about what they have learnt about climate change and why they should care about rising sea levels. Ask the children does it matter about rising sea levels if they don’t live near the sea?

Arctic Fact 1

Arctic Fact 5

Keep exploring

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