Weather
Primary 4 · English
Weather
Lesson 2 of 5
40 min
“Yesterday it rained all afternoon,” says Umutoni. “We played games inside the classroom.” Habimana remembers: “And last night the wind was so strong that it blew my mother's washing off the line!”
Today you will read an old story about the Sun, the Moon, the Rain and the Wind. Then you will learn to talk about weather in the past.
This story comes from the African Storybook. Look for verbs that tell us about the past, like wanted and decided.
Long, long ago, Sun, Moon, Rain and Wind were fighting.
The trouble was that Sun wanted to shine the whole day. Moon wanted to shine her light every day. Rain wanted to rain every day, and Wind wanted to blow every day. They didn't want to give each other a chance.
They decided to sit together and talk about it. Sun asked Moon, “What do you do that helps the earth?” Moon answered, “I shine at night so that the animals can hunt.”
Moon asked Rain, “What do you do that helps the earth?” Rain answered, “I give the earth water so that the trees and plants can grow well. I give water for animals to drink.”
Rain asked Wind, “What do you do that helps the earth?” Wind answered, “I sweep the earth clean. I scatter the rain over the whole earth.”
Wind asked Sun, “What do you do that helps the earth?” Sun answered, “I give the earth light and warmth, so that animals and plants can live.”
Sun, Moon, Rain and Wind listened carefully to each other.
Then Sun said, “It is true that each of us helps the earth in our own special way.” “Yes”, said Moon, “Not one of us is better than the others.” “We can work together,” said Rain. Wind said, “Then let us share the days.” They all agreed.
And that is why you sometimes see the moon when the sun is shining. And sometimes you feel the wind when it is raining. Sun, Moon, Rain and Wind work very well together. They understand each other.
Why were Sun, Moon, Rain and Wind fighting?
Because each one wanted to have every day for itself.
How does Wind help the earth?
It sweeps the earth clean and scatters the rain over the whole earth.
How did they solve their problem?
They listened to each other and agreed to share the days.
Do you think this is a good way to solve a fight between friends? Why?
Possible answer: yes, because when everyone listens, they see that each person is important.
To describe the weather in the past, use it was + a weather word:
Or use a weather verb in the past simple:
| Now | In the past |
|---|---|
| it rains | it rained |
| the sun shines | the sun shone |
| the wind blows | the wind blew |
| there is a storm | there was a storm |
yesterday, last night, last week, this morning, two days ago
Teacher: What was the weather like yesterday?
Umutoni: It was sunny in the morning, but it rained in the afternoon.
Teacher: What did you do?
Umutoni: We played games inside the classroom.
Monday: It was sunny and hot. The sun shone all day.
Tuesday: It rained all afternoon. We stayed inside.
Wednesday: It was cloudy and cool.
Thursday: The wind blew very hard. It was cold.
Write a weather diary for the last three days. For each day, write what the weather was like and one thing you did because of it.
Speak: The story ends with a question: do you like the sun, the moon, the rain or the wind best? Draw the one you like best. Then tell a friend: “I like the … best because …”
Tip
Yesterday? Use WAS or -ED. It was windy. It rained. Two tricky ones: the sun shone, the wind blew.
Write your answers in your exercise book, then check.
Complete: Yesterday it ___ (rain) all afternoon.
Answer: rained
Complete: Last night the wind ___ (blow) very hard.
Answer: blew
Change to the past: It is cloudy.
Answer: It was cloudy.
What does Rain give the earth in the story?
Answer: Water, so that plants can grow and animals can drink.
Answer: What was the weather like yesterday?
Answer: Example: It was sunny and warm, but it was windy in the evening.
What you learned today
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