What is the difference between weather and climate?

Climate is the long term average of daily weather conditions allowing for seasonal variations and viewed on a regional scale. Elements which make up climates are: temperature, rainfall, wind, pressure, humidity, cloud, sunshine and fog. 

This activity allows learners to compare the climate with the weather on the day they are completing the activity, using up to date World Meteorological Organization data. 

This activity is provided by © Royal Geographic Society (with IBG) under an 'All Rights Reserved' license.

Royal Meteorological Society climate change content quality mark

~ 1 hour
KS3

Preparation

What you need

Location

  • indoors

RGS Postcard Template.pdf 43.02 KB
RGS_Images_Extreme_Weather.ppt 1.67 MB
RGS_Climate_Location_Cards_2.doc 63.5 KB
RGS_Climate_Location_Cards_1.doc 64 KB

Step by step

Use the instructions below to guide learners through the activity, making use of the resources listed above.

Starter

What is out the window?

  • Have a look outside your classroom window, what do you see? What's the temperature? Is it raining or snowing? 
  • Look at the images of extreme weather; heat, hurricane, blizzard, sandstorm. 
  • How does the extreme weather make you feel? 
  • What would a typical day be like for you in summer, winter, spring and autumn?

Main Activity

In your groups, look at the location cards: Card selection one and card selection two. 

Between you, create climate graphs for each place using this WMO (World Meteorological Organisation) link. 

Compare the climate for each location with the weather it is experiencing today using the WMO data.

Plenary 

Wish you were here? 
Write a postcard from a holiday in a place in the UK or abroad. Describe what the climate in your location is normally like, and compare this to the weather on the day you are writing the postcard and over the course of your holiday. Have you experienced any extreme weather?
 

Curriculum links