Children find the weather a fascinating topic to learn. The changes, the mood it brings, and the activities it permits will excite children. Check out these activities to help children learn more about the different types of weather.
We list ten awesome weather-themed activities that will satisfy every curious little mind.
Children reading books about the weather can gain a vast amount of information that helps increase their knowledge on the topic. Exposure to literature will help children build essential skills.
It will increase their vocabulary, improve their comprehension skills, and they will learn to think critically. The site lists ten books to help children explore the different types of weather.
These books are an excellent tool in explaining why the weather changes, the activities they can do, and how they can prepare for a disastrous one. They will learn words related to weather and other scientific facts.
The non-fiction books on the list will allow children to learn about the story elements and problem-solving. As they read about the characters’ experiences, it will help them understand various situations that deal with social-emotional learning.
Use these books with different activities, like experiments and crafts, to enrich their knowledge through valuable hands-on learning.
For this activity, you will need:
- Any age-appropriate weather-themed book
For weather book suggestions, go to EducationOutside.org.
Sensory bottles enable children to use their senses to explore objects resembling weather elements. These are great for centers and fantastic tools in science lessons to explain different facts.
They can name and count the objects they find as they shake or move the bottles at different angles. This will help increase their vocabulary and improve their counting skills.
There are seven weather-themed sensory bottles to make: sunny, cloudy, rainy, storm, windy, hail, and snowy.
Start filling a clean, clear bottle with water but not all the way to the top. Add a few drops of blue liquid watercolor to resemble the sky.
Add the cotton balls. These will absorb some of the water, so add more as needed; leaving some space will allow children to shake the bottle to make its contents move.
Place the cap on and use the hot glue gun to seal it. Wrap a strip of blue electrical tape around the lid and stick the cloudy weather picture to the outside.
For this activity, you will need:
- Empty clear bottles
- Liquid watercolor
- Cloudy weather picture
- Hot glue gun
- Blue electrical tape
- Cotton balls
- Water
For more information on this activity, go to PocketOfPreschool.com.
Weather forecasting is a career that children may love to explore. Incorporate this idea in pretend play areas to help children understand the different types of weather.
Putting on and removing clothes and shoes are excellent self-help skills for children to master early in life. It will also help them improve their fine motor and eye-hand coordination skills.
Set up the pretend play area by choosing various clothing children can wear for weather conditions. Hang these on the clothes rack to make selecting easier. Place a regional map or a map of the U.S.A. on the wall.
Download and print the weather cards from the site. Cut these out and laminate them for durability. Have the children check the weather outside and stick the appropriate cards on the map. Assist them in finding the exact state or town.
Next, let them choose the appropriate clothing and accessories perfect for the weather.
For this activity, you will need:
- A map
- Clothespins
- Printed weather cards
- Assorted clothes
- Assorted footwear
- Assorted weather accessories
- Clothes rack
- Hangers
For more information on this activity, go to Pre-KPages.com.
This collage is a fantastic way to learn about the different types of weather and for the letter W. This artwork can be used as a weather chart during circle time and is perfect for strengthening children’s fine motor skills.
It provides a wonderful sensory experience for children and is a great visual aid for science class.
Cut out a large white letter W and stick it on blue construction paper. Have children dip wine cork in yellow paint and stamp it on the W to make the sun. Let them glue cotton balls for the clouds and snow glitter for the snow.
Have them cut out a white cloud. Stick and add drops of rain by using cotton swabs dipped in blue paint. Let the children stamp blue dots for the raindrops.
Glue a black cloud and cut out thunder from yellow paper for lightning. Finally, stick a white cloud and attach some curled pipe cleaners for wind.
For this activity, you will need:
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Paint
- Cotton balls
- Snow glitters
- Pipe cleaners
- Wine cork
- Markers
- Cotton swabs
For more information on this activity, go to ABCDELearning.com.
Dark clouds, rain, and lightning bolts help children visualize a stormy day. Children can work on their creativity through this process of art that teaches the weather.
They will learn color mixing, and their fine motor skills will improve as they paint and cut paper. Use their artworks to discuss the different things they do during a stormy day. Talk about preparations and safety measures that are needed.
Squeeze some black and white paint on a paper plate. Have the children dip their paintbrushes in these and spread them on the white art paper. This step will create a gray color perfect for the dark clouds.
Let them see the difference in hues as they explore the amount of paints they use. Let the paint dry.
Next, outline raindrops and lightning bolts on blue and yellow construction paper. Let the children cut these out and glue them on the gray background.
For this activity, you will need:
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Construction paper
- White art paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Paper plate
For more information on this activity, go to BuggyAndBuddy.com.
Weather is an intangible concept children need to learn. They will need to use their observations and inferential skills to determine the kind of weather there is.
Weather charts will allow children to remember and associate what they see and experience outside with its name. It helps increase their vocabulary and lets them know other pertinent details aside from the type of weather.
Check out the ten weather charts the site collated that are useful for home and classroom use. Use these during circle time and let children learn to report the weather. This will help build up their oral language skills.
Use these charts to distinguish the differences and similarities between different types of weather. Doing this will reinforce their discrimination skill and attention to detail.
Teach children to monitor the weather all week to help them understand how often changes happen and the need to check them daily to keep them informed.
For this activity, you will need:
- Any of the weather charts on the list
For more information on this activity, go to EducationOutside.org.
An umbrella is an indispensable tool designed to protect and keep us dry on rainy days. Make this adorable umbrella craft that will help children learn color recognition skills and the beginning letter sound of U with this process art.
The cutting, painting, and sticking tasks will help strengthen their fine motor skills. Discuss other accessories and clothing needed for rainy days using this craft.
Have the children wave their umbrella crafts as they chant the rhyme “Rain, Rain, Go Away” during circle time.
Have the children cut the paper plate in half. Draw a line for younger children to use as a guide when cutting. Next, let them paint their umbrellas with their preferred color. Let them add designs using different paint colors.
Once the paint dries, have them glue sequins and other available embellishments. Lastly, let them bend one end of a pipe cleaner to form a hook. Attach the handle to the back of the umbrella.
For this activity, you will need:
- Paper plate
- Pipe cleaners
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Glue
- Embellishments
- Sticky tape
For more information on this activity, go to HappyHooligans.ca.
This craft is perfect for sun and rainbow-themed lessons. Discuss different facts with a science lesson about these topics. The cute smiling sun is best for circle time with the song “Mr. Golden Sun.”
Working on this craft will help improve children’s fine motor skills. It will also help them recognize different colors and shapes. Change the facial expression of the sun to teach emotions. This will help well with social-emotional learning.
Have the children cut the paper plate in half. Let them paint this with bright yellow paint and let the paint dry.
Next, have the children cut out triangles from yellow and orange construction papers to make the sun’s spikes. Let them glue these around the sun.
Ask children to cut strips of rainbow-colored tissue paper and glue these to the bottom part of the sun to make long and colorful tendrils. Have them draw the face using a marker.
For this activity, you will need:
- Paper plate
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Construction paper
- Tissue paper in rainbow colors
- Glue
- Scissors
- Markers
For more information on this activity, go to EasyPeasyAndFun.com.
Clouds vary in appearance depending on the weather, and this activity will help children identify the different types of clouds. Using a cloud identifier tool will help children observe the sky and name the clouds they see.
Discuss the similarities and differences between clouds with a science lesson. Use pictures or videos for children to see differences and to point out unique details. This activity teaches children to think critically.
Naming the clouds will help increase their vocabulary. Children can match identical pictures to help them identify the clouds’ names in real life.
Cut out small rectangular-shaped cardboard. Draw and cut out a square window with a pencil and craft knife. Next, find pictures of different clouds. Print, cut, and glue them below the window part of the cardboard.
Have children use this tool outdoors by holding it to the sky and looking through the cardboard. Have them find a picture of clouds that matches what they see.
For this activity, you will need:
- Cardboard
- Printed pictures of different clouds
- Craft knife
- Glue
- Scissors
For more information on this activity, go to HowWeMontessori.com. Or, check out more cloud activities that will surely be a hit!
This experiment will allow children to explore how clouds are formed. It is a great sensory experience that will help children understand the condensation process that will help develop critical thinking skills.
With a science lesson, help children make and test their hypotheses. Let them document their findings by allowing them to draw what they have observed. It will help children appreciate the scientific process.
Pour a one-third cup of hot water into a clear glass jar. Heat the jar’s sides by swirling the water. Flip the lid and place it on the jar. This position will enable the children to put the ice cubes securely.
Have them put the ice cubes on the lid for twenty seconds. Use this time to practice their counting skills by letting them count to twenty. Next, remove the lid and quickly spritz some hairspray into the jar.
Replace the lid properly and ask the children to observe what happens inside the jar.
For this activity, you will need:
- Jar with lid
- Hot water
- Ice cube
- Hair spray
For more information on this activity, go to GiftOfCuriosity.com.
Conclusion
Introduce children to meteorology and the weather with these awesome hands-on activities. These are perfect for weather unit study and will help children better understand the world they live in.
Consider using these resources in your next weather-themed lesson. Thank you for reading. Come back and check out our other activity articles soon.
