Minds On
Making predictions
From our daily observations about how the world around us works, we can make predictions.
Predicting is when you make a guess about what you think will happen next.
Observing daily and seasonal changes helps us predict the weather.
Knowing a little bit about what to expect helps you to know when it will be very hot and very cold! Use the following checklist to help guide you in making prediction.
When I make a prediction, I…
Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Did You Know
Did you know?
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Ontario was 42℃ in Atikokan.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Ontario was −58℃ in Iroquois Falls.
Action
Investigate!
This learning activity highlights people, places, or innovations that relate directly to the province of Ontario. Enjoy the exploration!
A grade one class investigated the temperature in their Ontario community over two days. One day was sunny, and the other day was cloudy.
To conduct their investigation, the students used…
- an experiment journal
- a thermometer or an online weather app on a computer or device
For their investigation, the students…
- recorded their prediction before they started collecting observations
- recorded the temperature every hour from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days
When people do experiments, they make observations. This means that they record what they are noticing.
Explore their observations in the following table and compare the temperatures on both days.
| Time | Sunny day temperatures
|
Cloudy day temperatures
|
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. | 15℃ | 14℃ |
| 10 a.m. | 16℃ | 15℃ |
| 11 a.m. | 17℃ | 15℃ |
| 12 p.m. | 19℃ | 16℃ |
| 1 p.m. | 22℃ | 17℃ |
| 2 p.m. | 22℃ | 18℃ |
Was the temperature higher or lower on the sunny days?
Press ‘Answer’ to learn if the temperature was higher or lower on sunny days.
The temperature was higher!
Now I know
Describe what you’ve learned from this experiment in your own words. Is there anything that you weren’t expecting?
Record your surprising observations as words or pictures using a method of your choice.
Use your observations to select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Why is it important to keep observation times the same?
Press ‘Answer’ to access a possible answer.
When gathering observations to try to notice a difference, it is important to keep as many things the same as possible.
How can you explain your findings to a partner?
Press ‘Answer’ to access a possible answer.
You can explain that as the day goes on, the temperature goes up and then it goes back down in the evening.
Does the day warm up even when it is cloudy? Can you explain?
Press ‘Answer’ to access a possible answer.
Even when the sun isn’t shining, it is still warming the earth.
Consolidation
Using our observations to make predictions
The temperature of the air, land, and water increases throughout the day from morning to afternoon thanks to the sun, then starts cooling again. When the sun goes from high in the sky to lower in the sky and it starts to set, the temperature goes down.
Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Do you think that you would have the same findings in winter vs. summer? What would be the same and what would be different?
Press ‘Answers’ to access some possible answers.
You would probably find that the day gets warmer in the afternoons both in the summer and winter, but the temperatures you record in the winter will be colder.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.