You’ll love this free The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm Worksheet for your child to mark off the month, season, and weather each day. Also, I have this fun Free Weather Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning post for more teaching ideas.
It is a fun and colorful worksheet that you can print for each week to write on, or you can laminate it and use a dry-erase marker to make it a reusable resource.
One of the first formal things that you can do with a young child is track the weather every day and for that I have also created a felt weather chart.
It’s quick, easy, and inexpensive.
If you include your child in the making of it then it will take on even more meaning and get them excited to learn.
I truly believe that younger children should have lots of fun hands-on activities, rather than a lot of sit-down desk time.
It’s a wonderful time to explore the world around them, read wonderful books together, and learn through play.
I have all that and more for you today to create a super weather unit for kids of multiple ages from my own craft and worksheets to facts, more hands-on activities, and great resources.
5 Weather Facts
- Weather includes things like wind, lightning, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, rain, hail, snow, and more.
- Weather happens when different parts of the Earth get different amounts of heat from the Sun, this creates different climates.
- A weather forecast is a prediction of what the weather will be like over a period of time.
- Lightning is caused by a buildup of static electricity inside a storm cloud. Tiny water molecules called hydrometeors bumping around each other create a static electric charge- much like rubbing your socks over the carpet.
- Fog is a cloud that touches the ground. Amazing, it happens when it’s very, very humid – 100%.
Also, you’ll love some of these beautiful books about weather.
I lean toward living books first then add in books for reference too.
13 Weather Resources and Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To
Grab some of these fantastic weather resources and books to engage your youngest learners about what is weather.
Will it be warm or cold? Should we wear shorts or pants? Shoes or rain boots? What Will the Weather Be? uses colorful, simple diagrams to explain meteorology in a fun, engaging way. Perfect for young scientists and budding meteorologists, this bestseller features clear explanations of everyday weather instruments like thermometers and barometers.
- Nature's most destructive force can be observed and enjoyed in the palm of your hand.
- Hold Pet Tornado from top or bottom and rotate wrist form amazing funnel clouds.
See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.
Drip. Sip. Pour me a cup. Water is water unless...it heats up.Whirl. Swirl. Watch it curl by. Steam is steam unless...it cools high.This spare, poetic picture book follows a group of kids as they move through all the different phases of the water cycle. From rain to fog to snow to mist, talented author Miranda Paul and the always remarkable Jason Chin (Redwoods, Coral Reefs, Island, Gravity) combine to create a beautiful and informative journey in this innovative nonfiction picture book that will leave you thirsty for more.
What triggers a tornado? What can you see in the eye of a hurricane? What's the difference between a thunderbolt and a thunderclap? Popular author and artist Eric Sloane proves why weather is something best understood by seeing it. His illustrated book shows weather "happening." In fact, there's not a sunny page in it—nothing but cyclonic storms, whirlwinds, waterspouts, lightning bolts, and other fascinating, weather-related topics. More than seventy pages of drawings and diagrams make the weather come alive in a book that examines everything from storm mechanisms and cold fronts to the birth of a thunderhead.
"Amateur weather forecasters (which includes just about everyone) will find this volume an informative and entertaining account of the why and how of the weather." -- The Nation In simple language, Eric Sloane explains the whys and wherefores of weather and weather forecasting -- and does it in a style that's universally appealing. With humor and common sense shining through in a book that's also lively and informative, Sloane shows readers how to predict the weather by "reading" such natural phenomena as winds, skies, and animal sounds. This beautifully illustrated and practical treasure trove of climate lore will enlighten outdoorsmen, farmers, sailors, and anyone else who has ever wondered what a large halo around the moon means, why birds "sit it out" before a storm, and whether or not to take an umbrella when leaving the house.
A midwestern summer thunderstorm as seen through the eyes of artist/etcher Arthur Geisert, and depicted in unprecedented detail, beautifully hand-colored.
Thunderstorm follows the course of a storm through midwestern farm country minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, from late morning into late afternoon. As always with Arthur Geisert, it is a meticulously executed and visually stunning piece of work. Other than the timeline that runs along the bottom border of the illustrations, there is no text, and the illustrations are continuous.
Through keen observation, Geisert beautifully captures the nuances and details of a midwestern thunderstorm, from the ever-changing color of the sky, to the actions of the human inhabitants, to the reactions of the natural world to the wind and rain. America's heartland is somewhat unfamiliar territory in the realm of picture books, but in Thunderstorm, Geisert has provided readers with valuable, breathtaking insight into one of its most natural occurrences.
A book about weather, from the animated television series on the Learning Channel.
Rain, Hail, Sleet & Snow was first published by Nancy Larrick in 1961 and served as an introduction to elementary students about how weather conditions are formed. The book has been out of print for quite some time and modern books do not offer this age group such an approachable discussion of how inclement weather is formed and the conditions that effect it. While it does not discuss the most modern tools of meteorology, it does mention the use of airplanes, satellites, and other tools of measurement. Other topics besides rain, hail, sleet and snow that are discussed are tornadoes and hurricanes, lightning and thunder, fog, humidity, water vapor, condensation, ice crystals, and the different types of clouds.
A delightful blend of serious meteorology and beautiful illustrations, this informative book displays the many talents of Eric Sloane. A writer, landscape painter, weather forecaster, and authority on early American history, Sloane takes readers with him on a voyage of discovery as he traces a single air mass from the Canadian Rockies to northern New England. A vivid narrative and the author's own pen-and-ink sketches describe the progress of the air mass over America, and tell about its encounters with other elements of weather systems and with Americans from a variety of backgrounds.
In this eye-opening trove of outdoor clues, acclaimed natural navigator Tristan Gooley shows us how, by "reading" nature as he does, you'll not only detect what the weather is doing (and predict what's coming), you'll enter a secret wonderland of sights and sounds you've never noticed before. Discover the ways that weather can reveal a hidden world with every step you take—through the woods or down a city street.
- A turbulent sky with mismatched clouds predicts bad weather.
- Snowflakes get smaller as the temperature drops.
- Dry weather and morning frost follow a clear moon.
- Gliding birds mean stable air and thus, fair weather.
- Honeybees don't leave their hives below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Crickets chirp faster as the temperature rises.
- Pine cones close their scales in high humidity.
- Perching birds face into the wind.
- Cows don't lie down before rain, but they do head home.
Simple, kid-friendly text explains the origins of fog, clouds, frost, thunderstorms, snow, fronts, hurricanes, reinforcing the explanations with clear, well-labeled drawings and diagrams. Newly revised, this edition of Weather Words and What They Mean has been vetted by an expert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Best of all, the book features a fun list of weird weather facts!
o you know a child who is scared or feels uneasy during thunderstorms?
The Wonder of Thunder is a lighthearted children’s rhyming picture book that helps tame fears while highlighting all the wondrous things thunderstorms can do.
Children will adore Sally Storm, a lovable character who excitedly shares all the good she can do as she swirls and tumbles overhead. This early learning picture book introduces the topic of storms, thunder, lightning and rain in a fun and non-threatening way.
Colourful and captivating illustrations pull children into the story and hold their attention through to the end, where Sally shares more fun facts about thunderstorms and engages children through direct questions.
Next, add in some fun hands-on activities.
Hands-on Weather Activities
- Be sure to include my Weather In A Bottle | How To Make An Amazing Tornado In A Jar.
- The Water Cycle In A Bag is a pretty simple activity that helps make the concept of water cycles a little more concrete.
- Easy Breezy Windy Art: A STEAM Activity for Kids.
- Also, check out my Free Weather Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning.
- A cute sensory tray and another handful of ideas are over on my Hands-on Weather Activities for Kids and Awesome Weather Sensory Tray post.
- If you are talking winter you want to make these Winter STEAM: Symmetrical Snowflakes.
- 5 Simple Wind Energy Activities For Kids & Fun DIY Anemometer.
- This Rainy Day Window Art is a simple and sweet craft that even little toddler hands can do.
- Practice fine motor skills while you talk about Storm Cloud Threading.
- And of course, at the end of a storm, we get a beautiful rainbow that you can recreate with the Coffee Filter Rainbow Craft.
Also, look how to make this felt weather chart.
Felt Weather Chart – The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm Worksheet
Have your child simply step outside or even look out the window each day and encourage them to independently choose and put up the weather symbols that match the weather.
We are also going to add a cute little thermometer to it to give them an easy introduction to hot and cold temperatures.
You will need:
- 12×18 Light blue felt (or 8×12)
- 8×12 felt in various colors
- Felt adhesive or iron-on letters
- Round dowel, rods, or flat craft sticks
- Paint Pens or Markers
- Glue gun
- Scissors
Hot glue your dowel or craft stick across the top of your felt, be sure that it is centered.
Apply more hot glue along the wood and then fold it over one time so that it has a clean and neat finish.
Repeat the same at the bottom of the felt.
Now, sit down with your little one and talk about the different kinds of weather, help them draw different weather symbols like a sun, raindrops clouds, lightning, etc., and cut them out of felt.
Next, you can use permanent markers or paint pens to add any features or details you would like.
While you are probably not going to be doing your weather chart during a tornado you might still just make one to talk about what a tornado is and if you live in an area with tornadoes, it is a good time to talk about what to do during one.
You don’t want to use regular paint and paintbrushes because you don’t want to add any weight to your felt pieces or take away from the “stickiness”.
Kids DIY Felt Weather Chart
For our snowflakes, we folded up squares of white felt and cut little triangles and rounded corners out of them just like you do when creating paper snowflakes.
Now, on the bottom, right corner, we’re going to create a “thermometer” by tracing, a small round object for the bulb at the bottom and using a ruler for the street vertical part of the thermometer you can make it as small or large as you want but you want to make it large enough to fit felt pieces on.
I started by tracing them with a pencil and then filling it in with a silver paint marker just outside the edges of what I traced so that when the felt was on you could still see the “glass” of the thermometer.
To create the color indicators for the thermometer, trace the round object again on dark blue felt. Then make them equal sizes of rectangles from blue, yellow, orange, and red felt.
Apply hot glue to the thermometer, smoothing it out as much as you can, press down each piece blue at the bottom, then yellow, then orange, and finally red.
Cut out a little black felt arrow for your child to move to indicate the temperature on the thermometer.
Add your sturdy stickers to the top to spell out Weather.
I added a little extra hot glue to the back even though they were adhesive to be sure they were secure.
Your child can then use the big open space to change out the weather each day.
To store unused pieces, I really love these sturdy bags, you can fit all the pieces plus a few books and other resources in them.
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