Do you live in a place where there are lots of thunderstorms? Do you get a lot of snow? Perhaps you’ve had hurricanes or tornadoes. These dramatic weather events are scary for students but make capturing their attention and interest easy. If you’re looking for a way to get your students interested in science, weather activities are a great place to start!
Teaching about the weather is fun and engaging for students because everyone is affected by the weather. It’s something that is quantifiable and measurable and you can start teaching the topic at your students’ current level, whether they’re just learning to read or are able to do some math and graphing.
Teaching about the water cycle during a rainstorm makes it easy for students to pay attention! And for more ideas for your weather unit, see this earlier blog post.
Fun Weather Activities
A fun way to start your weather activities is by having your students keep a weather journal. Give each student a piece of construction paper and have them fold it in half to make the cover for their journals. Then they can staple some weather recording sheets in the middle. Click here to find weather recording sheets appropriate for your students. Let them decorate their journal covers with crayons or markers, or give them pictures of different weather symbols that they can cut out and glue to the cover.
Take a few minutes at some point during the day to have your students work on their weather journals. You can discuss the weather first, or provide prompts. You can set up these journals to go for whatever length of time you choose.
Make a Classroom Cloud!
Kids are usually fascinated to learn that fog is really a “cloud.” Show them how fog forms with some simple materials. All you’ll need is a glass jar, hot water, 3 or 4 ice cubes, and a small strainer.
Start by filling the jar with the hot water. Leave it in for about a minute, then pour out most of it, leaving only about an inch of water in the jar. Set a strainer over the top of the jar and place the ice cubes in it. As the hot water and air meet the cold air from the ice cubes, water will condense and fog will form. Instant cloud!
Tiny Thunderstorm!
Here’s another fun, visible weather activity. Create a convection current and show how thunderstorms form. You’ll need a clear plastic container about the size of a shoebox, hot water dyed with red food coloring, and ice cubes made with blue water.
Using room temperature water, fill the container about two-thirds full. Place a blue ice cube in one end of the container and give it a few minutes for the blue dye to show up in the water. Then gently pour some of the red hot water into the other end of the container. You and your students will see the cold blue water (a cold air mass) stay low and the warm red water (a warm air mass) will rise up and over the top of the blue water. If the temperature difference is great enough, you may even see a convection current forming!
Engage Students With Colorful Weather Posters
Add to your classroom décor with weather posters!
This Weather Photo Poster Display Pack can be used for classroom displays, as well as being a super visual resource to engage students as they begin their learning journey about types of weather! Lots of talking and listening, plus many questions should ensue!
The photo posters are colorful and vibrant, and each includes a name label. All labels have been written in the singular form. All you need to do is to print them out on cardstock or photo paper. If you laminate them they’ll last for years!
Teaching weather activities in your classroom is an easy way to connect with your students. Weather is something that affects us all in so many ways, from what we wear each day to our leisure activities.
Have you tried a fun weather activity? We’d love to hear about it!
