Exploring climate graphs

Last updated: 15/11/2023
Contributor: Susan Jones
Exploring climate graphs
Main Subject
Key stage
Exam board
Category
Geographical applications and skills: Statistical skills
Resource type
Student activity
Worksheet

Use this climate graph worksheet to teach your KS3 and GCSE geography students how to interpret, describe and draw climate graphs. The activities are scaffolded to build skills and confidence in analysing and interpreting climate graphs. 

Students begin by understanding that climate graphs display two pieces of information: precipitation (or rainfall) and temperature. Then students move on to compare and contrast climate graphs for Hong Kong and the Himalayas, taking note of the different scales used on each climate graph. 

Students will have an opportunity to build their graph and data skills with the final activities. First completing a climate graph for Bejing, then drawing a climate graph from scratch using the climate data provided for the Gobi desert.

The worksheet provides prompt questions and key words to use when describing a climate graph, along with tips on how to compare and contrast two climates.

Student task 4

You are now going to describe a climate graph.

When describing the temperature ask the following questions:

  • Is the temperature the same all year round?
  • Which season is the warmest? Is this warm (10-20°C), hot (20-30°C) or very hot (30°C)?
  • Which season is the coolest? Is this mild (0-10°C), cold (-10 -0°C) or very cold (below -10°C)?
  • What is the range of temperatures? 

When describing rainfall ask the following questions:

  • Does rainfall occur all year round?
  • What is the pattern of the rainfall (i.e. which season(s) is/are drier or wetter than others)?
  • Is the rainfall high, moderate or low?
  • What is the total annual rainfall (adding each month's total together)?
  • What is the range of rainfall?

All reviews

Have you used this resource?

5

30/04/2021

Hi where can I find the answers for the worksheets

Devi Metla

24/01/2021

5

30/04/2021

Hi where can I find the answers for the worksheets

Devi Metla

24/01/2021