The study of weather actually integrates science, math, and reading/writing. When parents or caregivers take the time to explore weather with children, they can help them work on many skills at once. There's something to learn for children of all ages, and adults, too!
As a parent or caregiver, you may want to consider these questions first:
- What do children already know about weather?
- What do they want to learn and how can you help them understand more?
- What questions do children have about the weather and how it affects living things?
The answers to these questions will help you guide children in exploring those aspects of weather that they are curious about, and those concepts that mean something in their everyday lives. Then, you may let their interests, questions, and discussion guide their learning activities.
The Weather Log
A weather log is a good activity for children beginning around
preschool. A four-year-old may, for example, draw or color a
picture of a sunny day and dictate descriptions for an adult to write
down. A six-year-old may be able to check and record the
temperature, and write a brief description of the day's weather. An
older child may write a description of daily conditions, and
branch off into temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Keep lots of
books on hand about weather, including picture books, for
children to peruse.
Rainbows
Children can create a rainbow using a prism, a sprinkler, or even a
garden hose. These activities lead to discussion about colors,
and rain itself. You may show children how to measure the rain using the
bottom of a plastic bottle. Once children start to
observe the rain, they will have many questions about the properties of
water, and they can do their own simple experiments.
Let children explore the puddles outside after a storm, and then check
back and witness their evaporation!
Clouds
Children enjoy "finding" animals, people, and everyday objects in the
clouds. Looking at clouds' movement and shape is not
only a great exercise of the imagination, but it leads to other
subjects. You can teach children about different types of clouds
(cirrus, stratus, etc.) and use that as a bridge to snow, hail, and ice.
Why is the weather different in various parts of the country?
Children may not be able to comprehend complex scientific concepts, but
they understand better when lessons have meaning in
their everyday lives.
The sun
A preschooler may be intrigued by the heat of the sun, and how things
melt underneath it. It's fun for all children to experiment
with ice cubes outside on a warm day.
Air and wind
Children may enjoy blowing bubbles outside. This activity allows them to
practice predicting, measuring, and observing as they
watch the bubbles move with the wind.
Observing the weather is a good activity for a multi-age group. Older children will grasp more complicated concepts. For very young children, the "study" of weather may mean merely experiencing the outdoors and developing an appreciation for nature. As time goes on, they begin to anticipate the change in seasons and the subsequent change in temperature. They become curious about the weather in their own right. So be prepared -- when they're ready, they'll ask questions.
