Wacky Weather Fun!

One of my favorite units to teach is weather and the seasons! We incorporate weather into our calendar time every morning so the kids usually have a little background knowledge to work with when we get started. I have classroom jobs, one of which is the calendar helper, and that person looks out the window every morning and reports the weather: How does the sky look? How does it feel outside? Once we learn the seasons we talk about what season we are currently in.

I have lots of books on weather and the seasons and here are some of my favorites:

 

We do this unit for two weeks and the first week we focus on weather vocabulary and observing the weather. In their science journals every day the kids would illustrate the weather: 

In addition to talking about the weather, we discussed what we would need to wear in different kinds of weather:

Later in the week, the kids had to illustrate each kind of weather in their own weather book:

I try to incorporate at least one or two crafts for every unit. These two are some of my faves:

Our second week is all about the seasons! We learn the name for the seasons and what makes them special. After reading several books about the seasons we did a season sort as a whole class:

We also played a super fun sorting game from Lakeshore where the kids had different objects and symbols from each season and they had to place them in the correct season:

 

The kids did a web for each season where they drew different things found or worn during that season:

  

 

Finally the kids drew their favorite season and we made a class book:

 

 

If you enjoyed these activities, check out my weather unit by clicking on the picture below! The first three people to comment with their email will get a free copy! 

Weather and the Four Seasons!

Last week was our unit on weather where we learned to observe and record the weather! I used several activities from my weather unit. We had lots of fun looking out the window and debating what the sky looked like. During calendar time, we would record the weather on our weather chart. The kids also recorded the weather in their science journals and kept track on a weather graph:

I'm going to have them track the weather for a few more weeks so we can have more data for our graph. Then I'll have them tally the data and answer questions about it. 

On Monday after recording the weather, we did a fun sun craft. The kids cut out a yellow circle (pre-drawn by a parent volunteer) and I gave them two eyes and a mouth piece. They cut out the rays using orange and yellow construction paper. I hung up their finished work and it really brightened up our classroom!

On Tuesday after recording the weather, we talked about the four seasons and the characteristics for each. In their vocabulary folders, the kids wrote two definitions for seasons (mine and in their own words) and illustrated a picture. We then did a season sort with the whole class. Each kid got a few cards that had a month, holiday, weather or type of clothing. We took turns placing our cards under the correct season. (I forgot to take pictures of it! WHOOPS!)

On Wednesday, after recording the weather, we talked about temperature and thermometers. In their vocabulary journals, the kids wrote two definitions (mine and in their own words) and illustrated a picture for each word. We then talked about how the weather affects the environment and living things. In their science journals they had to illustrate what it would be like in 100 degree weather and 30 degree weather:

On Thursday, after recording the weather, we talked about precipitation and how clouds produce both rain and snow. I then had the kids do a cloud craft. The kids cut out a cloud shape (pre-drawn by a parent volunteer) and glue on eyes, mouth, snowflake and raindrop. They really made the clouds unique by adding their own fun details. They turned out precious!

Finally on Friday, after recording the weather, the kids got to decorate their own rainbows. We talked about the order of the colors, but I let the kids color their rainbows any way they wanted. When they finished, they got to do a weather word search. 

We read several books about the weather and the four seasons over the week. Here are some of my favorites:

We have a vocabulary board in our room called "Words We've Caught." Over the week, anytime we learned an important word, I would write it on a index card and clip it up on the board. We keep track of science, social studies and math words. We "caught" a lot of words this week about weather! 

If you liked these activities, please click on the picture below! Also, check out my post from last year to see what other activities are in my unit.

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Wacky Weather Fun

The kids learned all about weather a few weeks ago so I wanted to show you all of the fun activities we did! To start, we brainstormed all the different kinds of weather we knew of after watching a weather video and reading a weather book. We read many different weather books including Weather and Seasons, Four Seasons for Little People and The Wind Blew.

 

 

For the whole week, we tracked the weather in our science journals by writing the date and drawing a picture of the weather outside. The whole week consisted of a bunch of suns! :) 

The next day we made our own weather book where each child illustrated the different kinds of weather. 

 

  

  

         

The next day we talked about what kind of clothing we would need to wear in each type of weather. The kids drew what they would wear in their science journals in each type of weather. 

 

 

Next we talked about the four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) and what the weather USUALLY is like in each season. Of course, living in Texas, we talked about how summer seems to be the longest season! :) It took me almost the whole Science time to draw these four pictures. My kids were just amazed at my drawings. They told me I should draw for "a living!" HAH! So Sweet.

 

On the last day of our unit, we reviewed the types of weather and seasons and we made a class book of our favorite seasons. I was amazed that at least 3 or 4 kids chose each of the seasons. Their illustrations turned out wonderful! 

        

 

Unfortunately we ran out of time and couldn't make my cute weather crafts! Fortunately I get my kids for 2 years so I'll save these for next year!

Today we had a meterologist come talk to the kids about weather and how she uses maps and technology to help her predict the weather. The kids absolutely loved it! She filmed some of it and they will be on the news tomorrow morning! I can't wait to see them! 

Please click on the picture below to check out my weather unit! :)