Come rain or shine, learning about the weather can be fun! In the video above and blogpost below, you will find a range of learning tips to teach kids about the weather. Plus, each activity supports both school and home learning.
1. Rainbow Crafts for Kids
Make learning about the weather extra fun with rainbows! During COVID-19, there has been a worldwide display of crafty rainbows on windows, pavements and roads. When introducing weather to kids, rainbows are a fascinating scientific phenomenon, whilst also helping children to develop colour recognition. To create a rainbow as seen in the video above, you will need coloured card, cotton wool balls, a stapler, scissors and glue. Carefully cut the card into strips 4cm wide. Each strip will need to be less in length. Stack the strips and staple at one end, before creating a rainbow shape and stapling the opposite end. Apply glue to each end of the rainbow and affix cotton wool clouds.
2. Free Weather Resources
Beginning with Early Years resources, little ones can learn about the different types of weather with a Daily Weather Display. This handy resource helps children to identify the weather in their day-to-day life and can encourage understanding of how the weather relates to the seasons. Moreover, children can learn about the weather with this cute cut and stick Weather Matching Activity. The charming illustrations and colourful design of this resource will capture children’s attention. With both of these resources, children can develop their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills when cutting out the weather cards. Download more home learning printables for National Curriculum subjects from WordUnited’s fast-growing Free Resources Hub.
3. Science Books for Kids
When teaching children about the weather, there are wonderful books for kids to nurture learning. For example, toddlers will love Elmer’s Weather, a brightly-coloured tabbed board book. Alternatively, children aged 5 years and above may enjoy Usborne Wipe-Clean Weather and Seasons, a charming activity book with a wipeable pen included. The wipe-clean pages create opportunities for endless practice, with answers and secret notes for grown-ups at the back of the book. Similarly, Mason Jar Science is a fantastic book bursting with science experiments for kids and will stimulate young minds as they learn how to create a tornado in a jar! Discover more science experiments for kids here. Mesmerised by clouds? A World of Information includes interesting facts about cloud classification.
4. Kids’ Learning Toys
Children can learn about the weather, seasons and more with a Magnetic Weather Board. Designed from high quality, responsibly sourced materials, this wooden toy enables children to describe different types of weather. Additionally, children will learn how the weather relates to the seasons and the seasons to the yearly calendar, whilst the magnetic pieces develop dexterity. Explore thousands of kids’ learning toys here.
5. Weather Observation
Observing the weather each day can help children to apply their knowledge to everyday life. During wetter seasons, simultaneously enhance mathematical and scientific skills by measuring rainfall. Using measuring cups to create a rain gauge, children can track how much water is collected in the cups each day. Alternatively, use outdoor thermometers to investigate the sun and heat during warmer months. Activities such as these are wonderful ways to encourage children to engage with, and improve their understanding of, the natural world.
6. Homemade DIY Kite
Create fond kite-flying memories with your kids by making a DIY kite! Head outdoors to find 2 straight sticks (one shorter than the other), then locate string, glue and A1 card or paper. Create a cross with the two sticks and secure in place at the center using string. Next, children can design their kite with card to match the shape of the kite frame. Glue the card kite to the sticks and tie a long piece of string where the sticks cross. Now for the exciting part – flying the kite! Children can investigate the direction and strength of the wind to see how this affects their kite.
7. Online Learning About the Weather
Online learning can complement lessons at home or school. With the internet at your fingertips, knowledge can be deepened and expanded. For online lessons and games about the weather, check out BBC Bitesize and NASA. Moreover, children can look at online weather forecasts to see the weather where they live and around the world. Not only does this help children understand the changes in weather in their local area, it also demonstrates varying climates in different countries.
For more learning tips, head to wordunited.com/blog and browse thousands of kids’ learning toys, resources and books at wordunited.com!
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