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Heatwaves Lesson Plan
The Heatwave Lesson Plan provides teachers and students with an opportunity to investigate the elements that contribute to a heatwave, its effects and how to stay safe and healthy.
This lesson challenges students to learn more about heatwaves by asking them to:
An Assessment Guide for teachers is also included within this lesson plan.
Key Learning Areas
The Key Learning Areas (KLAs) for this lesson plan include:
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- SOSE (research, mapping)
- The Arts
- Science
Objectives
The objectives of this lesson plan are to ensure that students are able to:
- understand what determines a heatwave
- understand how it occurs
- begin to learn about heatwave survival
- outline the various areas in Australia that have been effected by major heatwaves
- develop their knowledge of heatwaves from around the world.
Please note: This lesson can be modified to incorporate other KLAs and to meet the needs of the students and specific content taught.
Get the Facts
Students should revisit the Heatwave – Get the Facts page and the Heatwave – Ready and Able page and pay particular attention to:
- the areas in Australia that are affected by heatwaves
- the effects heatwaves have on life forms and materials
- the ways to cool down.
Take Time to Investigate!
The following activity will allow students to observe the changes in plant life when there is a heatwave. You will require:
- a plant
- a box that will cover the plant
- a thermometer.
As a class, discuss the varying effects a heatwave can have on different life forms, especially plants.
In order to study the effects of the heat and heatwaves on life forms, a plant will be used. The plant needs to be currently lush and green (may have flowers and fruits).
The experiment will involve creating an environment where temperatures rise, where it is continually hot and there is no moisture. Explain how the box traps in the heat, causing the temperature to rise.
Do you think a darker coloured or lighter coloured box will be more effective for this experiment? As a class, observe the changes and record your observations.
Note: This experiment/activity can also be carried out in the same manner using various materials such as plastics, paper, metal and water in a small container.
Assessment Guide
Teachers can assess with questioning, through group discussion and direct observation of students’ engagement in discussions and brainstorming activities and in the recording of the experiment.
Students could each be assigned a plant – in individuals or in pairs. To facilitate further learning, the plants could be of various species and be found in many regions of Australia and around the world so as to observe how long they can withstand the heat. Some plants that could be used are:
- cacti
- maize or wheat
- a herb
- lavender or other flowering plants
- bottle brush or other Australian species.
Teachers can also observe individual participation in the experiment by assessing and marking the student’s log/observation book.