10 Fun Weather Activities for Kids


 When Punxsutawney Phil   poked his head out of his   burrow and DID NOT   SEE his SHADOW, that   meant   spring was right   around the corner. 


As winter comes to an end and the grass starts turning green, it is the perfect time to start a weather unit!
So...Why not bring some weather fun into your classroom to learn more about the ever-changing weather with these integrated weather activities for kids and craft ideas? You can bring weather to life with this weather mini unit, which includes science, writing, math and much more to cover more than just science.

We all know that that integrating science, math, ELA and other subject areas creates a more comprehensive and engaging learning experience, which prepares students for the challenges of the future...even in first and second grade!


So Why a Weather Unit for Kids?

☀️ Teaching kids about weather goes beyond simply learning about meteorology. It helps them understand the world around them and develop critical thinking skills. By studying patterns, children can learn about cause and effect relationships, such as how temperature affects cloud formation or how wind speed influences the movement of objects.

💨 Teaching kids about weather fosters their curiosity and encourages them to ask questions about the natural world. It promotes scientific inquiry and helps children develop observation skills as they learn to analyze conditions and make predictions based on their observations.

☔️ Understanding weather is crucial for building resilience and preparedness. By teaching kids about severe weather events, such as hurricanes or thunderstorms, they can learn how to stay safe and take appropriate actions when faced with these situations. Weather education empowers children to become active participants in their communities and make informed decisions regarding their safety and well-being.

Weather Activities for Kids - Printable Fun

Your time as a teacher is valuable and adding one more thing to your plate is not what we want to do. So we have made this easy peasy and included some printables that you can just print and use for your weather unit.

First, we have a sun worksheet where students can update and write interesting facts about the weather. They can use this form throughout the entire unit and write down facts they find interesting. This is a great way to practice sentence writing too.

Also, check out this fun weather booklet where you can transform your students into meteorologists. They can track the weather throughout the unit, fill out the tally chart and graph of the weather, and be a like the weather newscasters on TV too. Grab this printable weather booklet tracker and the WEATHER MINI UNIT here today!

Want to Emphasize and Promote Critical Thinking Skills Integrating Weather?

We have you covered. Students will answer questions like how did you decide what clothes to wear today, what is wind, which includes a science experiment for wind, and so much more. There are differentiated vocabulary cards and activities, too! There is not enough space to show you all the weather activities that ar in this 104 page resource!


Weather Crafts for Kids

Our favorite weather craft is easy to print and use and it open-ended, which allows for differentiation to meet student needs! There are many options included, but our favorite is a Weather Mobile Craft.

Students use the templates to write facts they have learned about each type of weather. Such as sunny, cloudy, tornados, snow, lightning, and more. It can also be used as an end of unit weather assessment.
It can be an ongoing craft idea as well! As students learn about different types of weather, they can write what they learned and as they learn more, add a template until they have learned about all the weather forms.
Our fun umbrella craft (which is also an option) is a great way for students to write what they know about the weather. You can use this as a spring bulletin board idea and a fun assessment for the end of your unit as well OR use it for a weather book report or story summary. Click here to grab this craft today!
Cloud and rainbow strips craft. This craft is also perfect for a spring themed bulletin board. We suggest using different colored paper strips to make the craft more vibrant. Snag this fun craft printable here today.

Weather Science Activities

In addition to printable weather activities for kids we find that adding hands on science experiments are just as important for learning about the weather. Take your teaching to the next level through fun science activities such as 

    • A tornado in a jar

    • Snow storm in a jar

    • Instant ice

    • How clouds make rain

    See directions and more weather science experiments HERE

Teaching kids about the weather is a fun way to learn about the world, develop a plan of what to do in bad weather and storms, and foster a curiosity about the environment. From making weather crafts, to science, writing and no prep weather booklets try out this variety of integrated weather activities for kids this spring.





We all know that in the winter kids get a little stir crazy because of the colder weather. Which is why all teachers need to have fun hands-on activities for kids to do in the classroom to not only burn off their energy but to also keep them learning.

Snowman-themed literacy games


That is why we created this free snowman-themed literacy game pack that you can download here today.


Why wait? CLICK HERE to sign up and GRAB these FREE activities!


Why you should use these free winter activities for your literacy centers

Literacy centers are important: 

  • For gaining independence
  • For students to take ownership of their learning
  • As it is an effective strategy to help young learners practice skills while gaining social skills and writing skills.
  • Centers can be used as informal assessment
  • Centers meet individual learning styles and are usually hands on learning.
  • Centers can be differentianted in that you assign slkills according the various student needs.

Also, while kids are working independently at centers it gives you a chance to work with small groups of students and differentiate instruction based on students needs.

Snowman-Themed Literacy Games Freebie Includes

First of all,


This free printable pack includes a compound word game activity. Students will build snowmen and compound words and record their finding on the paper provided.
It includes making snowmen by matching antonym words. This can be used as a different center or a rotating center all winter long.


Next up on this free winter printable pack,

Next up on this free winter printable pack it includes making snowmen by matching antonym words. This can be used as a different center or a rotating center all winter long.


Also, included in this free printable snowman-themed literacy games pack

A pronoun and proper noun matching activity. Students will create snowmen by matching the proper noun to the matching pronoun.

And...there's MORE,

We also include a free synonym snowman matching game too! Students will find words that mean the same thing to create the snowman.

In addition,

We include a contraction snowmen matching activity that will make practicing contractions fun and more hands-on than just a worksheet.

Finally,

In this freebie we have igloo sentence making activity as a free bonus activity. Students will look at the words on the cards and match the naming part on one igloo to the action part on another igloo to make full correct sentences.

Ways to Turn These Free Printables into Games

Not only are these free but you can easily take these literacy centers and turn them into snowmen-themed literacy games to practice mastering these skills in a more hands-on way.

Here are some ways to turn these free printables into snowmen-themed literacy games:

  1. Make it a competition by having students compete against each other to match all the snowman first.

  2. Create an obstacle course to grab the second part of the snowman and match it to the right top half of the snowman.

  3. Use these printables as a game of scoot. Place the snowman cards in circle and have students walk around to match their snowman to the other part. Then they can share with the class the answer.

  4. Use them as a way to create partners or a seek and find for a particular skill where you give a student one part of the snowman and they need to seek and find their partner.

Make your literacy centers easy with these snowman-themed literacy games and free printables today! Grab the link here





With a Wintery Mix Coming Our Way, I'm Ready to Talk SNOW!


Do I love snow?  Not really...BUT...I absolutely do LOVE the first snowfall, which we are supposedly getting on Monday!! I love that snowed in feeling...looking out the window and catching a glimpse of the early morning sun encouraging the snow to sparkle and glisten like tiny diamonds all around.... the white snow dust that swirls across the landscape as the wind crackles!  YES! That part I LOVE!

There's one more...there is one thing that really excites me and that is perceiving the snow through the eyes of a child...the excitement and squeals of the snow falling.  Everyone running to the classroom windows to see the tiny bits of snow falling down from the clouds...that's what it is all about...they simply LOVE the snow!

So...Let's Talk SNOW...snow resources and activities to ignite that learning. 



⛄ Here's a Wintery Mix of Snow-Themed Ideas and Activities: 

⛄ Any Story written by Caralyn Buehner; especially her snowman series is worth reading to ignite your students' imagination and creativity!  My all time favorite is Snowmen at Night.

Everytime I read this story, I think of another idea of snowmen might just do at night and the ideas that students share amazes me everytime!

If you are looking for a way for your primary students to write creatively, this definitely fits the bill.

You can take a look at the complete resource here and see what you think!   

Here is what is included:  ⛄3 different sized circles to trace and cut to make a snowman. These can be used as tracers or simply run them off onto card stock, cut and glue. 

Various templates for hats, shirts, a tie, and bow     


⛄2 easy writing frames.


⛄1 longer writing frame for stronger writers with handwriting lines. 


⛄1 longer writing frame for stronger writers with only lines for writing. 

⛄1 planning sheet for jotting down ideas and a few extra writing ideas.


⛄ 
Beginning Middle and End frames for easier writing or just simply writing what the snowman may do for a rough draft and then writing a good copy to display. 

⛄I then add lots of beads, scraps, tissue, shape stickers, and all kinds of craft media materials to assist creativity. 


⛄An idea with an outline of directions for a lesson. 


⛄Sample craft. 

 ⛄  Want a Digital version of Snowmen at Night created for Google Slides™?  click here!

⛄ Have Some Fun with Snow Dough!

⛄  All kids love snow or at least most of them do...

If they have ever played in snow, they will remember the cold icy feeling of making a snowman, snow angel or snowball.

You can make snow dough with only 2 ingredients...YES...I did say 2.  Baking soda and water.  All you need is one cup of Baking soda and 1/4 cup of water and you will bring that cold snow right into your classroom.  

Here are a few ideas to use SNOW DOUGH in your classroom:


⛄Make it and simply let your kiddos play with it...this "snow" feels cold, which makes it even "cooler" to manipulate.  This is great for sensory needs and you can talk a little about Science!


⛄Create a snowman. Name the snowman and use a frame from the packet above or your own frame to write a story about your snowman.


Create a snow scene by adding small trucks, people, cars, houses etc.  Maybe even create a cooperative town!


There is another recipe for "SNOW" that I found the other day that is super fun "playing" with snow.

It is simply: 

1 cup of Baking Soda
1 cup of shaving cream
1 tablespoon of water...(we added a tad more baking soda and stirred until it was the right consistency.

Here is the result:

                                       







Have you tried writing sight words in the SNOW?  

 
We have...this  image is with a mat underneath, but if you know it will be snowing, get out there and have some fun with your sight words...if you are a homeschooler...what a fun way to learn your words!!! Even in school, walk outside and grab a tray of snow and get writing! OR simply use the recipe  above and start writing those words!




⛄What about Some Fun and Easy Science Experiments for Home or School?

These fun experiments for every month of the year from  igamemom are perfect!  These 10 Easy Snow Experiments are3 educational and fun for all ages!



⛄ You might also enjoy these ideas to make a snowy day a FUN DAY!   
















⛄ Snowy Winter Station and Center Activities are Always a Great Idea

I  love creating centers/ work stations that fit the seasons and that students can rotate through in a week or two.
It gives me a chance to meet with Guided reading Groups or work one on one with students to meet individual needs of all students. Chatting about my ELA Centers/Stations is for another post, but if you are interested in some activities with a snowy theme, here are some that I used with much success!  It even includes a Reader's theater!

⛄ Snowy Winter Animal Research Reports is a great way to integrate winter and writing.  


Although the information included in this resource focusses on Polar Bears, Penguins and Reindeer, the worksheets to write the information are generic and can go beyond these winter animal.  See if this is something you might to use when the chill of winter passes through your classroom. \

⛄ Snowy Winter Writing Prompts

Encourage creative writing with prompts related to winter adventures, snowy days, winter holidays special days celebrated in January and more with these Seasonal Monthly Writing Prompts.  Here is one for January

⛄ AND LET'S NOT FORGET CREATING SNOWFLAKES TO DECORATE YOUR CLASSROOM OR HOUSE. 

Just imagine how excited your students or children will be when their classroom or house turns into a winter wonderland!

As the snowflakes dance and the chilly air wraps around us, these delightful winter activities and resources for primary learners promise endless joy and learning. From crafting snowflakes to a mix of winter writing, these experiences foster not just fun but also growth and discovery. 

Embrace the magic of winter and watch as these simple moments create lasting memories for all.

Let's make this winter a season of laughter, exploration, and endless delight for our young adventurers!


I hope these ideas bring a little "SNOW"shine your way!   Thanks for stopping by!




Jingle All the Way: Fun Writing Ideas for First Graders this December

Getting kids to focus on anything in December is a task in itself! 

They are preoccupied with thinking about their time off and you are busy trying to make school fun while balancing all your holiday shopping too.  I totally get how hard this season is which is why I created this easy no prep writing pack for December. 

Jingle All the Way: Creative Writing Prompts for First Graders
Make writing enjoyable for this crazy season with some engaging holiday themed writing prompts.  Here are some examples of the fun and festive writing prompts included for first graders:

🦌 If I Were a Reindeer ... 

This prompt allows children to imagine themselves as one of Santa's reindeer and write about their adventures. They can describe what they would do, where they would go, and how they would help Santa deliver presents.

🎄 My Favorite Holiday Tradition is...

This prompt encourages children to write about their favorite holiday tradition. They can describe what they do, who they do it with, and why it is special to them. This prompt not only helps children practice their writing skills but also allows them to reflect on the traditions that bring joy to their lives.

🎁 The Best Gift I Ever Received was...

Children can write about the best gift they have ever received during the holiday season. They can describe what the gift was, who gave it to them, and why it was so special. This prompt allows children to express gratitude and appreciation for the gifts they have received.
In my no prep writing bundle you will find over 40 different writing prompts and activities for a complete December writing journal.    

🕎  My Favorite Holiday is...

Students can write about their favorite holiday and share holidays and customs that their families celebrate that may be different or the same as their peers.   This encourages opportunities for students to write about Hanukkah, Los Posadas, Diwali and many other holidays celebrated.

These are just a few samples of the prompts that are included in this amazing writing resource.


Do you know how many special days are recognized during the month of December? I didn't think so. I didn't either until I started researching National Holidays for my December Writing Pack.   Here are just a few of the days your students can write about in December!


In addition to creative writing prompts and writing frames to celebrate special days, there are prompts to write memos, lists, thank you notes and friendly letters.








And...to make a bit easier for you and your kiddos, we've included ideas for writing lists, memos, thank you notes and friendly letters right at your fingertips!!!


We are not done YET...These Festive Writing Activities for First and Second Graders to Celebrate the Holiday Season is JUST the beginning!

HERE are several festive writing activities and suggestions that are not included in the December Writing packet that first and second grades can engage in to celebrate the holiday season. 

🎉 Creating Holiday Cards    

First graders can create their own holiday cards for their family and friends. They can write personalized messages inside the cards, expressing their love and holiday wishes. This activity not only allows children to practice their writing skills but also encourages them to spread joy and cheer to others. Check out all the ideas here from Lake Mac Family Life Digital Magazine

✏️ Writing Letters to Santa

Writing letters to Santa is a classic holiday activity that first graders can enjoy. They can write about their wishes, dreams, and what they have been good at throughout the year. This activity not only helps children practice their writing skills but also encourages them to think about others and express their desires in a thoughtful manner.


📝 Keeping a Holiday Journal

First graders can keep a holiday journal where they can write about their daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings during the holiday season. They can document their favorite moments, activities, and traditions. This activity not only helps children improve their writing skills but also allows them to reflect on the joy and excitement of the holiday season.

In my December journal that is print and go you will find letter writing activities in there already done for you!  Take a look here

Tips for Encouraging First Graders to Write during the Holiday Season

Keeping first graders engaged in writing during the holiday season can be challenging, as they may be distracted by the festivities and excitement around them. 

Here are some tips for encouraging first graders to write during the holiday season:

⏰ Set aside dedicated writing time


Create a schedule that includes dedicated writing time for first graders. This can be done at home or in the classroom. By setting aside specific time for writing, children will understand that it is an important activity that needs to be prioritized.

😊 Incorporate fun holiday-themed prompts


Use these creative writing prompts that are related to the holiday season. This will make writing more enjoyable for first graders as they can express their thoughts and ideas in a festive context. By incorporating holiday themes into their writing assignments, children will be more motivated to write.

⭐️ Provide positive reinforcement and feedback

Encourage first graders by providing positive reinforcement and feedback on their writing. Celebrate their achievements and improvements, and provide constructive feedback to help them grow as writers. By acknowledging their efforts, children will feel motivated to continue writing and improving their skills.

Make your life easier too by downloading my December journal writing pack that includes letter writing activities, explanatory writing prompts, and everything else fun and seasonal that your kids will love! December Writing Prompts

I hope you find these ideas helpful to encourage your students and children to WRITE ON and ON and ON!


Happy Holidays!



Wow! I blinked and it was almost November....where did October go annnnnnddddd everyone is forgetting November because Michael's had Thanksgiving items for 50% off and the entire store was decorated for December Holidays on October 15th same for Home Goods!!!


I can't even think about December yet...November just about to start...this is cray cray!!

With that being said, I want to quickly give you some fun days in November you can celebrate at home or with your students. I am not including Thanksgiving because that is a well known holiday!

So...Here we go!  6 Fun Days to Celebrate in November!

1.  Did you Know that November 8th is STEM/STEAM DAY? 

Everyday activities at home or in school can be fun and transformed into STEM challenges with the right questions to motivate STEM thinking!

Use of the correct questioning technique can encourage your kiddos to think outside the box, which is exactly what is needed with STEM activities.
  • Ask questions that require more than one-word answers, which allows for students to think deeper to answer and promotes higher order thinking.
  • Ask questions that focus on processes and reasoning, not solutions.
  • Ask “why” questions that require examples and reasons as the justification and make sure studentes explain their thinking.

I found these great Stem activities at THE STEM Laboratory. Check them out to celebrate STEM DAY!

2.  I am pretty sure that most of your classrooms have a set or 2 of Dominoes.  Guess what?  November 10th is Domino Day!


AND......I am willing to guess that you might have more than 2 sets depending on the Math program your district uses...am I right?

I am sure your brain is bursting with ideas for Domino Day, but just incase your brain is fried from teaching all week, here are a few ideas:

I thought this was a bit different in that the sums are provided and the kiddos have to find the part/part that equals the sum to complete the puzzle or game.


This Domino resource is exactly one of the ways that I used Dominoes in my classroom to learn math facts. The Kiddos loved it and it became a popular choice activity after our "Have to" math was completed!  



Another fun idea might be to play dominoes exactly the way the kids love to play them and we all know what that is...simply line them up and knock them down. You might even want to time them and see if they can arrange the dominoes in a different way to beat the clock or who has the longest run of dominoes knock down. Here is a fun one I found that is just fun to watch!

Any way you decide to celebrate Domino Day will be fun for everyone...oh and before I forget, here is a Wikipedia about dominoes. You can pick out a few ideas to share with your kiddos: Dominoes


HERE is MY ALL TIME FAVORITE DOMINO CRAFT...

Have you met Domino Dominic and Domino Dominique? You haven't?  Well let me introduce this couple to you NOW! This would be a great Domino Day Craft after teaching domino fact families or part- part -whole with dominos!  


This fun craft also includes poster to teach or reteach how to find domino sums using the PART-PART-TOTAL concept.

This is one you will not want to miss!






3.  Veteran's Day is celebrated on November 11th!  Why not teach your students about the meaning of Veteran's Day? 
Need a video that explains Veteran's Day?  Here You GO!

Here is a cute and easy idea for your little learners or not so little learners:
Tissue paper crumbled flag and a cute poem you can copy to use.

For the flags simply use white
8 1/2 x 11 cardstock.  If you are doing these with an older class, you can create the flag with the correct amount of stripes, but with 5 or 6 year olds, I would just worry about making sure there are red stripes with white between them.

The blue tissue won't really matter as long as it looks proportional. Older children can try to fit 50 stars, which are simply small silver sticky stars.
The poem is an easy one that is written in kid friendly language.  You might want to use it as a morning message and look for rhyming words, 1-2 or 3 syllable words and any skill you are working on with your class.

This is a great anchor chart for Veteran's Day that really summarizes the day!

4.  We can't forget World Kindness Day on November 13th!

Teaching kids kindness is so important for building community and character education.
I firmly believe that we should celebrate kindness every single day of our lives.  
Here is a post that I that I thought would be perfect to share with you here:  


I know I said I would not mention Thanksgiving since it is an obvious day in November to celebrate BUT...this is a great activity to use for your family and classroom family to understand and show Gratitude. 

Teaching gratitude has many social and emotional benefits; such as, encouraging well-being, supporting optimism and positivity, building confidence, encourages empathy, supports giving to others, reduces materialism and stress. It supports children in being thankful for what they have and to be less materialistic.


This Gratitude Thanksgiving activity will support your children in their journey to understanding and showing gratitude.





 




5. OOPS! I almost forgot about Button Day! 

Yes in 1938 November 16th was set aside as National Button Day to celebrate those who collected buttons. Here is a cute craft with some math and ELA ideas to have a little fun with buttons!
So there you have it...a few awesome days with educational ideas to integrate into your daily learning to bring a little fun back into learning.

So, there you have it...a few days to celebrate in November to bring some fun activities into your classroom...ENJOY!

Please comment and share your November activity ideas!