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Fieldwork: Planning and collecting microclimate data
I can collect microclimate data on my school site.
Lesson 4 of 14
New
New
- Year 7
Fieldwork: Planning and collecting microclimate data
I can collect microclimate data on my school site.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A microclimate is the local climate and will differ from place to place.
- Land use and aspect can affect the microclimate, increasing or decreasing the temperature.
- The microclimate can be measured using weather instruments such as thermometers and anemometers.
- We can use our knowledge of microclimates to generate questions that we can study in our fieldwork enquiry.
Keywords
Microclimate - the climate of a small area which is likely to be influenced by local factors
Aspect - the position of a feature in relation to the sun
Prevailing wind - the most common direction that the wind blows from
Land use - the purpose or function of different areas of land
Common misconception
Areas of high wind speeds are colder.
While windy areas may feel colder on our bodies, geographers measure air temperature which is unlikely to be affected by the strength of the wind speed.
Collecting microclimate data gives learners an excellent opportunity to handle simple quantitative data and think about degrees of accuracy.
Teacher tip
Equipment
A clipboard. Digital thermometer. Anemometer. A map of the school grounds.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is fieldwork in geography?
What is fieldwork in geography?
Writing about places from a textbook
Research done in a library
Watching a documentary
Q2.Which of the following is a piece of equipment used to measure temperature?
Which of the following is a piece of equipment used to measure temperature?
Barometer
Rain gauge
Anemometer
Q3.Why might geographers measure weather in different locations during fieldwork?
Why might geographers measure weather in different locations during fieldwork?
To make the data harder to understand
To waste time
Because one measurement is always enough
Q4.What does a rain gauge measure?
What does a rain gauge measure?
Wind speed
Temperature
Air pressure
Q5.Why is it important to use the same equipment for all measurements in fieldwork?
Why is it important to use the same equipment for all measurements in fieldwork?
It makes your results look better
To save time
It doesn’t really matter
Q6.How can you make your fieldwork results more reliable?
How can you make your fieldwork results more reliable?
Only take one measurement
Guess when you’re unsure
Change the equipment halfway through
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of these is a factor that can affect a microclimate?
Which of these is a factor that can affect a microclimate?
Latitude
Tectonic plates
Moon phases
Q2.What does the term 'aspect' describe in geography?
What does the term 'aspect' describe in geography?
How tall a hill is
The type of rock in the soil
How much rain falls in an area
Q3.What is the prevailing wind?
What is the prevailing wind?
The strongest wind in a storm
The least common wind direction
Wind that only blows in winter
Q4.A common mistake is assuming that high wind speed always means lower temperatures. Which statement is most accurate?
A common mistake is assuming that high wind speed always means lower temperatures. Which statement is most accurate?
Wind speed always increases temperature.
Wind speed only matters in deserts.
Wind speed and temperature are not connected.
