Learning Lessons: Simple Activities to Teach Preschoolers about Weather

By Tanisha Turner

If you have a preschooler in your family, chances are you’ve been asked about the weather. Why does it rain? What is thunder? Why does it get cold in the winter and hot in the summer? It’s easy to offer children the simplest explanation possible when it comes to these questions, but the concept of weather is a perfect topic to explore with little ones and lends itself to lots of family fun!

Children learn best when they can see, touch, smell, hear, and even taste something. Weather is full of sensory experiences for children to explore, like the feeling of rain on their skin, the sound of wind in the trees, or the changing colors and textures of leaves in fall. Because of this, it is easier to create meaningful learning experiences around weather for your child.

Following are some ideas to take learning about weather to the next level for your little scientist.

At Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway, each day begins with students peeking out the window to observe the weather, then they discuss what they see with their teachers. Make this a daily ritual at your home. Ask your child questions to encourage observation. Is it sunny or raining? Is it foggy or clear? If it’s windy, talk about how you’ll need a coat before going outdoors; or if it’s sunny, point out that your child might need a hat. By learning how the weather relates to them, children begin to understand it better.

Read all about it. Books can help open your child’s eyes to many different aspects of weather, especially if you live in an area of the country that doesn’t regularly experience certain weather conditions, like snow, or doesn’t have distinct changes in the weather each season. Try Clifford and the Big Storm by Norman Bidwell, Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson, Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch & Devin Asch, or Little Cloud by Eric Carle.

Make it fun. Do a weather-related art activity together, like creating a tornado in a bottle (get instructions on the internet) or making a rainy-day picture using cotton balls for clouds, small paper cut-outs for rain drops, and aluminum foil for lightning and puddles. Have your child make up a rainy-day story to go along with the picture.

Teach weather safety. As you explore weather with your child, take the opportunity to explain the importance of safety. Ask questions like, “What do we do in a thunderstorm?” or “How can we be careful around ice?” and explain the proper safety measures to help young children be more prepared for potentially dangerous weather situations. Find more tips, games, and resources for teaching preschoolers about safety visit at www. primroseschools.com/blog/topic/safety/

The next time your little one asks about the weather, use one of these easy-to-do ideas to make the most of her curiosity and take her learning to the next level. You’re sure to rediscover the magic of weather and have lots of fun together along the way!

Tanisha Turner is Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com

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