Weather and climate

The difference between weather and climate, the UK climate, and weather symbols

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
What is the difference between weather and climate? A) Weather is what happens day-to-day; climate is the long-term pattern B) Weather is in summer; climate is in winter C) Weather is hot; climate is cold D) They mean exactly the same thing
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2
Match each weather symbol description to its meaning. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Sun, Cloud with rain, Snowflake, Lightning bolt Right: Sunny, Rainy, Snowy, Thunderstorm
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3
True or false? The UK has a temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers. A) True B) False
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4
Fill in the blank. The four seasons in the UK are spring, summer, ___ and winter.
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5
Which of these would best describe the climate of a desert? A) Very dry, often hot B) Very wet, often cold C) Mild and rainy D) Snowy and cold all year
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6
True or false? It rained today, so the UK climate is now wetter than it was last year. A) True B) False
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7
Which instrument is used to measure rainfall? A) Rain gauge B) Thermometer C) Wind vane D) Barometer
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8
Match each instrument to what it measures. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Thermometer, Anemometer, Wind vane, Rain gauge Right: Temperature, Wind speed, Wind direction, Rainfall
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9
Fill in the blank. The temperature scale used in the UK is measured in degrees ___.
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10
True or false? Places near the equator have a hotter climate than places near the poles. A) True B) False
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Answer key

Weather and climate · for parents and teachers

1
Weather is what happens day-to-day; climate is the long-term pattern
Weather is what happens over a short time (a day or week). Climate is the pattern of weather a place usually has over many years.
2
Sun → Sunny; Cloud with rain → Rainy; Snowflake → Snowy; Lightning bolt → Thunderstorm
Weather symbols use simple pictures: a sun for sunny, a cloud with rain for rainy, a snowflake for snowy and a lightning bolt for thunder.
3
True
True. The UK has a temperate climate. It is mild, often rainy, and rarely very hot or very cold.
4
autumn
The four UK seasons are spring, summer, autumn and winter.
5
Very dry, often hot
A desert climate is very dry. Hot deserts (like the Sahara) are also very hot during the day.
6
False
False. One day of rain is weather, not climate. Climate is measured over many years.
7
Rain gauge
A rain gauge collects rain and measures how much has fallen, usually in millimetres.
8
Thermometer → Temperature; Anemometer → Wind speed; Wind vane → Wind direction; Rain gauge → Rainfall
Thermometers measure temperature, anemometers wind speed, wind vanes wind direction and rain gauges rainfall.
9
Celsius
The UK uses degrees Celsius (°C). Water freezes at 0 °C and boils at 100 °C.
10
True
True. Places near the equator get more direct sunlight all year, so they have a hotter climate than places near the poles.