Teaching kids about the weather is valuable for so many reasons. Kids learn abstract information they need as they grow. But the weather is something tangible they experience every day.
The weather often dictates what they wear, where they play, and what activities they can do. Helping children understand the impact of weather can help them make independent decisions.
A printable weather chart is a great way to introduce weather concepts to young children. Weather charts allow kids to keep track of the weather they observe daily. They are also a great tool to help introduce new vocabulary.
Free Printable Charts for Tracking the Weather
Weather charts are a great learning tool for all ages. They help young kids track and observe weather patterns in a fun and creative way.
They work well for older children who can use them to create detailed weather logs. But they are also fantastic for preschoolers who are new to weather concepts.
A visual representation of different weather concepts can be beneficial for younger children. They are learning new ideas but also new vocabulary to describe the weather they see around them.
Incorporate your weather chart into your morning routine. Ask your kids to step outside and observe the weather. When they come back inside, you can show them the chart and ask them to identify the weather they noticed. This is an interesting activity because they might experience many forms of weather. It could be sunny but very windy, or it could be cloudy and foggy.
This is a great weather chart for the classroom and a fun way for kids to learn about the weather they observe.
Weekly Weather Chart
This free printable is ideal for a weather journal. It is a quick and easy way to help children record the weather each day. They will practice their fine motor skills by coloring in the boxes. But they will also learn the days of the week and weather concepts.
Monthly Weather Tracker
This monthly weather chart can help kids learn how a calendar works. It also shows them how to observe and record data over a long period.
Older kids can write down what the weather is doing each day. For younger children, drawing pictures of the weather might work best.
It may be helpful to keep a weather journal with your printable weather chart inside. That way, kids can observe the weather in the morning and in the afternoon. The weather can be unpredictable and often changes. It is interesting for kids to track the different weather patterns in one day and a month.
How to Introduce Weather Concepts to Children
There are so many ways to introduce weather concepts to kids that you may struggle to choose a few. The best option is to get outside and experience it. Teaching kids about weather concepts takes a little imagination and the right clothing.
Weather Journal
Starting a weather journal is one of the easiest ways to help kids notice weather patterns.
Kids can use free printable weather charts to record daily weather conditions. They can also keep track of things like temperature, rain amounts, and even humidity.
An interesting idea is to fill in a daily weather chart based on the weather forecast for a week. Then your kids can compare today’s weather with what the forecast predicted. This opens up interesting conversations about how you predict weather and how quickly it changes.
Plan a Picnic
Look at the weather forecast and decide on the best day based on weather conditions. Discuss with your kids what that means if it is a sunny day. For example, a sunny day often means it is hot. On a hot day, you should consider wearing a hat and sunscreen and having a bottle of water.
Learning about the weather is more than just understanding concepts. It also teaches kids how they can prepare and adapt to different weather conditions. You can also discuss what will happen if the weather suddenly changes. This will encourage kids to consider different weather conditions and how they will affect the picnic.
Talk About Different Types of Weather
Talk with your kids about different types of weather and how the weather changes with the seasons. You can incorporate calendar months into this exercise. Kids can also learn about seasonality and how the weather changes throughout the year.
Look at Weather Around the World
Explain to your kids that it might be sunny where you live but that it could be snowy and cold in another part of the world. Teaching kids that weather patterns are different across the globe can be an exciting concept for them.
This is also a great time to bring up extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and typhoons.
Use Weather-Themed Activities
1. Make Weather Sensory Bottles
Create weather sensory bottles. Use colored water, cotton balls, glitter, glass beads, pipe cleaners, and other exciting bits you have lying around.
Use your free printable weather chart and let kids look at the pictures of different weather conditions. Let them get creative as they make a sensory bottle based on their understanding of that weather concept.
2. Make a Weather Mobile
Use free printable weather pictures to create weather-themed mobiles. For example, on the snow-themed mobile, you could include pictures of a beanie, gloves, scarf, and snowflakes.
3. Mud Sensory Play
Check the weather forecast for a sunny day, and then head outside for some muddy, water fun. Let your kids explore and experience the joy of muddy play, knowing that you can wash them off easily when they are done.
Let your kids make their own mud. That way, you can explain what happens to dry sand on a wet and rainy day.
4. Weather Sensory Bin
Make a weather sensory bin using food coloring, shaving cream, and water beads. To create a cloudy, stormy sensory bin, you can add glass beads, sequins, glitter, pipe cleaners, and pom poms.
5. Make a Kite
Make a kite, and then watch the weather forecast for the next windy day. Explain to your kids how the kite’s shape helps it fly, and then head outside to test them out.
Read Books about the Weather
- The Wonder Of Thunder: Lessons From A Thunderstorm by Sharon Purtill
- The Kids’ Book of Weather Forecasting (Kids Can!) by Mark Breen
- Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today?: All About Weather by Tish Rabe
- When the Sky Roars by Katie Weaver
- Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons
Benefits of Learning about the Weather
- When kids understand how storms work, it can help them feel less afraid of lightning and thunder.
- Learning about the weather can help children be safer when encountering storms, snow, or extreme weather events.
- The more kids learn about the weather, the more they understand the importance of climate change and taking care of the earth.
- Weather can be wild and unpredictable, encouraging kids to get curious and ask questions.
- Being mindful of the weather allows kids to think critically and fosters independence.
- Learning about the weather is a fun way to introduce science and geography concepts and new vocabulary.
Benefits of All-Weather Play
- Playing outside in different weather conditions can stimulate kids’ immune systems.
- It offers a multi-sensory experience that enhances learning.
- Dealing with varying weather states helps encourage creative thinking and gross motor skills.
- It encourages kids to observe their surroundings and adjust their behavior accordingly.
Learn Academic and Life Skills using Weather Charts
Learning about the weather is much more than noticing what is happening outside. When learning about the weather, children improve their vocabulary, gain independent thinking skills, and broaden their imagination.
There are so many fun and creative ways to introduce weather concepts to children but using printable weather charts is a quick and easy first step.