W is for Wonderful Weather

• Read “Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book” by Lucy Cousins … informative, colorful, interactive Maisy book!
• Sing “The Weather Song”
  1. Each day this week, look out the window at the weather
  2. Sing this song to the tune of “Oh My Darling Clementine” … click here for the tune.
  3. Then decide what the weather is today!

The Weather Song What's the weather? What's the weather? What's the weather today? Is it windy is it cloudy? Is there sun or is there rain?

 

• Weather Sticker Chart … my kids love stickers, so I know this will be fun for them each day.
  1. Print out this weather log from Montessori for Everyone.
  2. Each day, look out the window and discuss the weather.
  3. Let the kids choose which weather sticker(s) they think fit best. If they notice that the weather has changed during the day, let them choose another sticker to add to the day!
  4. OTHER OPTIONS:
     • You can also just draw the weather (a sun, a cloud, a raindrop, squiggly lines for wind…)
     • Or print these free weather cards from PreKinders.
     • Or use a simple weather pocket chart. This Weekly Weather Calendar Chart comes with days of the week cards, 1-31 number cards, 56 weather cards and more.

• Raindrop Counting … we get a lot of rain around here, so chances are our weather will be rainy. My kids will love this raindrop counting game inspired by PreKinders!
  1. Use a piece of blue paper as a counting mat.
  2. Have a bowl of clear, flat, floral marbles (they are the raindrops!) The dollar store always has these.
  3. Have the kids listen to thunderclaps (me clapping my hands).
  4. They place that many “raindrops” on the paper.
• Weather relay
  1. Gather several items (clothing & accessories) for different types of weather and put them at one end of the room. Ideas:

     Rainy rain boots rain coat rain hat umbrella

     Sunny shorts flip flops sunglasses sun hat

     Snowy boots winter coat winter hat scarf gloves

  2. Have the kids start at the other end of the room.
  3. You say, “The weather is … rainy!”
  4. The kids take turns running down, choosing one thing they would need for rainy weather (they could even put it on!) … and run back.
  5. Let them explain why they chose what they did, then start again with another type of weather.

Air

• Use straws to blow things
1. Blow a candle out
2. Blow bubbles in milk & water
3. Blow a ping pong ball or pom-pom across the table.

     

• Make a pinwheel … simple step-by-step instructions here.
• Air Balloon Races!
1. Tie a long string between 2 chairs.
2. Cut a 2" piece of straw and thread onto string.
3. Blow up balloon & tape it to the straw.
4. Let go and watch the balloon zoom across the string!
• Hide 10 straws around the room and find them.

Snack Idea: put a candle on your snack and blow it out

Rain

• Grab an umbrella and rain boots and go for a walk in the rain!

 

• Paper Boats!
  1. Fold paper boats and float them down a small stream or rain gutter.
  2. Instructions for folding a paper boat can be found here.
• Rainy Day Romp Obstacle Course
  1. Use clear contact paper to attach rain puddle cutouts to the floor.
  2. Tape a large paper rainbow to the tabletop.
  3. Suspend several cloud cutouts from the ceiling (within jumping height).
  4. Take turns jumping on each puddle, crawling under the rainbow (table) and jumping to touch each of the clouds.
• Play fun rainy day music
  1. "Singing in the Rain" by Gene Kelly
  2. "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" by BJ Thomas.

Wind

 

• Go out and fly a kite!
• Make a pinwheel.
• If possible, visit a turbine field and watch them spin in the wind!

WINTER

• Winter Sorting ... Cut out copies of clipart relating to a variety of holidays including several Christmas & winter pictures. Place two hoola hoops (or yarn circles) on the floor and label one "Winter" and the other "Not Winter." Have the kids sort the pictures appropriately!