Weather Theme Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Activities

"It Looked Like Spilt Milk" by Charles G. Shaw is a favorite book to read to young children. The simple story line and pictures are very appealing to this age group. The emergent reader "Cool Clouds" would be used as a follow-up shared reading experience.

Accompanying Emergent Reader - Introduces Letter "Cc"

The printable emergent reader "Cool Clouds" is offered in both color and black white versions. As well, it includes the enlarged pictures to be used to make a big book version. It is used to introduce the letter "Cc" and its accompanying sound. The song "Cool Clouds" from the Alpha Tunes CD also reinforces the "c" sound. A sample page from the reader can be found in the link below:

Cool Clouds Reader Sample Page

Sample Page from the Reader

Emergent Reader 2

Connection to Literature

The "The Umbrella Party" by Janet Lunn could be read prior to reading the predictable chart together.

Under the Umbrella - Emergent Reader - Letter "u"

You will find a sample page from the emergent reader "Under the Umbrella" in the link below. It introduces the letter "u" within its story context. The song "Under the Umbrella" on the Alpha Tunes CD also reinforces the letter "u" sound.

Under the Umbrella Sample Page

Emergent Reader 3

Connection to Literature

The book "Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book" by Lucy Cousins is a great book to use for introducing different weather conditions. This would be read prior to using the predictable chart below.

Introduces Weather Words by Using A Predictable Chart

Using a predictable chart is a good introduction to using weather words. This would be used to model the reading process.

The chart could use the following predictable text line: What's the weather like?
It is hot. It is cold. It is cloudy. It is windy. It is raining. It is snowing. It is stormy. It is a blizzard. We like it when it is sunny.

Only a portion of the chart is shown.

In the members' area you will find weather photographs, clips and accompanying emergent reader to follow the text line.

Sample Weather Photograph

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader

Bonus Readers - Total of Five Readers

The readers "Rolling, Rolling" and "We Can Exercise In All Kinds of Weather" can also be used within in this theme unit. Sample pages from these readers can be found in the links below:

Exercise In All Kinds of Weather Sample Page

Rolling, Rolling Emergent Reader Sample Page

Picture Mnemonics

Letter "Cc" Recognition - Picture Mnemonic

This craft activity involves children actively participating in associating the picture to the letter sound. The purpose is to have them associate the letter "c" to the initial sound heard in "cloud". This is a great activity to use in conjunction with the emergent reader "Cool Clouds" and the song "Cool Clouds" from the Alpha Tunes CD. The children would be introduced to the letter and the corresponding sound within the context of the reader and singing the song. After they would complete the activity displayed to the left. The children would paint or use another method to color the "c" blue for the sky. After, cotton balls would be added to represent clouds.

Picture Mnemonic for Letter "Uu"

The children children will cut, color or paint and the letter "Uu" shaped umbrella as shown in the photograph to the to the right.

Sorting Pictures and Matching Pictures

In the member's area or theme unit you will find both color and black and white pictures for sorting cold/cool temperatures and hot/warm temperatures. As well, there are words printed on each picture. The children could also be matching the printed word with the one displayed on the picture.

Learning Games - File Folder Games
Weather Game - Counting and Directional Game - Played in Partners

The children shake the die and move their game player accordingly. They must say what the weather is like that is indicated on the square they land according to the picture displayed (the pictures are taken from the predictable chart). This is a counting and directional game. The person who reaches the end of the game board first is the winner.

Game board is found in the member's area or the theme book.

Shape and Letter Review Game - Played in Partners

Two sets of bingo chips with the review letters "u" and "c" and the shapes introduced in this theme are printed on them to match the game board. These are placed in a container along with a few blank ones. Each player takes a turn picking up a chip. They must say the name of the shape or letter printed on it. If they get this correct, they place it on the matching picture on the game board. The first person to have their game board completed is the winner.

Writing Center

The umbrella and cloud templates found in the theme unit can be used for making shape writing books. The children can freely write and draw or they can use the sorting pictures with the words printed on each picture to use as a model.

Printing:

In the link below you will find a printing book, with some ideas for teaching printing.

Printing Book

Weather Theme Crafts

Dressing for the Weather - Cool and Cold - Winter

Version 1

The children color or paint the clothes on the body. The body is cut (this would likely require adult intervention) The child's head shot would be cut and added (this would require cropping to fit the body). The children would color and cut the hat, scarf and assemble it to the body.

Version 2

The children would color the clothes on the body. They would also add facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) to the head. After, the body would be cut. The children color the hat, scarf and cut it out. This would be added to the body.

All the templates to complete these projects are found in the theme unit or member's area

Dressing for the Weather - Hot and Warm - Summer

Version 1

The children color or paint the clothes on the body. The body is cut (this would likely require adult intervention). The child's head shot would be cut and added (this would require cropping to fit the body). The children would color and cut the hat and add it to the head.

Version 2

The children would color or paint the clothes on the body. They would also add facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) to the head. After, the body would be cut. The children color the hat and add it to the head.

Dressing for the Weather - Raining - Spring

Version 1

Version 2

The children would color the clothes on the body. They would add facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) to the head. After, the body would be cut. The children would color and cut the umbrella and the rain hat; these would be added to complete the project.

Math - Shape Crafts

Oval Shape

The focus math concept for this theme is shapes and learning about the calendar. This concept is integrated into learning about the weather. After reading the emergent reader "Cool Clouds" and singing the song the children will be introduced to the oval shape. They will be turning the oval shape into a cool cloud like displayed in the photograph.

Circle and Triangle Shapes - Simple Snowflake for Cold/Cool Weather

After working with ice cubes and thermometers from the lesson plan, the children will be making a snowflake to represent cold/cool temperatures. The circle would be cut with pinking shears and the triangles colored blue to make a simple snowflake.

Star and Circle Shape - Sun for Hot/Warm Weather

After doing a simple experiment outlined in the lesson plan introducing the concept of hot and warm, the children will be introduced to the star and circle shape (review). They will make a sun similar to the one displayed in the photograph for hot/warm temperatures.

Rectangle and Square Shapes - Rainy Weather

The children will color or paint the umbrella and cut it out. After, the shapes would be colored and cut and added to the dotted lines on the umbrella. Prior to this, the children would have been introduced to the rectangle and square shapes. They would have also done the rain experiment that is outlined in the lesson plan.

Diamond Shape Kite - Windy Weather

After, the children experiment with wind (from the lesson plan) they will be introduced to the diamond shape for kite. The children will be blowing through a straw to spread the paint on their kite (pretending to be the wind). After, colored diamond shapes would be added to the kite and crepe paper for the tail.

Rainbow Craft

The children would have done the rainbow experiment outlined in the lesson plan previous to this craft. After, the would complete the craft displayed. They would use the sun that they previously made.

Literacy and Craft Follow-up

Cloud shape templates can be found on pages 45-50 in the "Suggested Center Ideas" These can be traced on cardstock or a plastic lid of an ice cream pail (to be reused every year). The children would pick their favorite cloud and make a scene displaying this page. They would place the outline tracer on paper and sponge-paint blue around the outline to make a silhouette of the cloud. The shape can be secured by tape or sticky tac. The words representing the page would be given to each child in a mixed-up order and they would cut, arrange and paste the words to the page in the correct order. Younger children can just cut and paste the sentence representing the page.

Connection to Science

In the theme unit or member's area you will find weather related experiments that would be conducted in relation to doing this theme unit.

Connect the Dots Weather Number Picture

The children can make an umbrella by connecting the numbers in the link below:

Connect the Number Dots

Visual Discrimination Integrated With Connect the Dots

The children cut and paste the words in the links below to match the sentences on the connect the dots picture.

Sort the Words to Match the Sentences

Music Integration

Alpha Tunes CD

The Alpha Tunes CD includes the songs for Weather theme called "Cool Clouds" and "Under the Umbrella". These are great to used for introducing the letters "c" and "u".

All emergent readers and templates can be found in the theme book or member's area.

Information on How to Gain Access to This Theme CLICK HERE