Thunderstorm activities for kindergarten will make a big impact if they are fun and hands on to get and keep your child’s interest. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.
Today I have a fun puffy fingerpaint thunderstorm sensory activity.
Your child will love this along with plenty of other resources like books, videos, and more hands-on activities.
Thunderstorms? Those massive, dark clouds aren’t just your average weather event; they are a display of the wild energy that’s going on up in our atmosphere.
And thunderstorms come with lightning, thunder, and sometimes even hail, which can be scary, but they’re also cool.
For our curious learners we’re going to break down how thunderstorms form and what they include through fun activities.
BOOKS ABOUT WEATHER FOR KIDS
First, look at some of these weather books for kids
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, here is some information to share with your kindergartener as you learn about the power and beauty of thunderstorms.
THUNDERSTORM FACTS FOR KIDS
What is a thunderstorm?
A thunderstorm is a storm with lightning and thunder. It is caused by the buildup of static electricity in the atmosphere.
How do thunderstorms form?
Thunderstorms form when there is a lot of warm, moist air near the ground. This air rises and cools, causing water vapor to condense into clouds.
As the clouds grow taller, they become unstable and the updrafts and downdrafts in the cloud become stronger. This causes the cloud to become electrified.
What is lightning?
Lightning is a bolt of electricity that travels between two objects with different electrical charges. In a thunderstorm, lightning can travel between the clouds, between the clouds and the ground, or even between the ground and the clouds.
What is thunder?
Thunder is the sound that is made by the shockwave that is created by lightning. When lightning travels through the air, it heats the air around it.
This causes the air to expand rapidly, creating a shockwave that travels through the air at the speed of sound.
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THUNDERSTORM RESOURCES & ACTIVITIES
Thunderstorms are fascinating and educational experiences for children of all ages.
Here are a wonderful variety of activities that you can do with your child to help them learn more about thunderstorms.
Spell out weather words like ‘thunderstorm’ with letter tiles and have your child identify each letter and the sound it makes.
Make a Fun Felt Weather Chart & Free The Magic School Bus Kicks Up A Storm Worksheet to keep track of the weather every day including thunderstorms.
Dig deeper into the science of thunderstorms with this What Causes a Thunderstorm Science Activity.
Little busy hands will love exploring this Thunderstorm Play Dough as you read about how and why they happen.
Watch Thunder and Lightning on YouTube and discuss the different aspects of thunderstorms that are covered.
Create a Lightning Storm in a Cup Luminary to demonstrate the lightning and make a cute little night light that your child can put on their bedside table.
Observe a thunderstorm from a safe distance. Explain to your child what is happening during the storm, such as the formation of clouds, the lightning and thunder, and the rain.
Point out different types of clouds, such as cumulonimbus clouds, which are associated with thunderstorms.
Discuss the different stages of a thunderstorm, such as the developing stage, the mature stage, and the dissipating stage. Count the seconds between the lightning and thunder to determine how far away it is (then divide by 5) if its 20 seconds the lightning is 4 miles away.
Building a Thunderstorm Sensory Bin makes an amazing activity while your child is learning through listening.
Learn about thunderstorms with books, videos, and flashcards like this eboo set.
It’s a favorite that we reach for time and again with nature topics.
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITIES FOR KINDERGARTEN – FINGER PAINTING
You will need:
- Craft paints
- Paper plate
- Sensitive shave cream
- Art paper
First, make a small pile of shaving cream for every color you wish to use.
Add washable craft paint to each pile, good options for a thunderstorm are white, gray, black, and of course yellow for the lightning.
Stir each one together well to combine paint and shaving cream.
Set out thick paper with your DIY finger paints.
Encourage your child to use their hands (or a brush) to swirl, smash, swirl, and squish paint all over the paper to create a dark chaotic stormy sky.
Let them layer colors and vary the thickness, exploring with the paint.
Of course, they will want to add some zig zagging lightning streaking through the sky.
Allow the painting to dry and make another if they like. Perhaps create a different weather fingerpainting to compare the two.