1 - Getting Started ~4 mins
Look at this worn playground marking and the peeling paint on a school fence. Irish weather has been at work. What do you think rain, sun and wind do to materials left outside for a long time?
2 - What Is Weathering? ~4 mins
Irish weather can slowly change things left outside. We call that weathering.
That is why paint on a school fence can go pale and peely after many wet days. Look back at the worn marking or peeling paint. What might rain, sun or wind have done to it?
3 - What Do We Think Happened? ~3 mins
Our question: What does Irish weather do to materials left outside?
Think about paper, fabric, foil and chalk. Which ones do you think changed the most outside? Tell your partner why.
4 - Compare the Samples ~12 mins
Each group has outside samples and matching sheltered ones indoors: paper, fabric, foil and chalk.
- Look and gently feel one pair with the magnifier.
- Say one difference to your group.
- Jot one word or tiny sketch on your Investigation Journal page.
- Move to the next pair.
Word bank: colour · tears · soft · stiff · shiny · dull · crumbled
5 - What Does the Weather Do? ~5 mins
Use what you noticed to answer our question: What does Irish weather do to materials left outside?
Watch the board first: your teacher will score one pair as an example (1 almost the same, 2 a bit different, 3 very different) and say why.
As a class we will score chalk, paper and fabric in our groups. For each one, agree 1, 2 or 3, and be ready to say one change you saw. We will take a quick class vote for foil (and any sample only a few groups scored) so every sample has a class score for the chart.
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