Weather for kids is a great topic to add to STEM learning and hands-on science. Grab teaching resources and fun weather for students lessons, crafts for weather, and kids activities for snow, rain, clouds, wind direction, tornadoes and hurricanes and more! Fun weather and climate activities for kindergarten through older students that are great for for all year (from winter lessons to spring activities for fun with weather).
Learning About Weather For Kids: 48+ Weather Activities and Lesson Plans
Whether you’re looking for weather worksheets for middle school, learning how to read a weather report for kids for an interactive weather for kids lessons, or how to make it rain for a weather for kindergarten STEM lesson, you’ll find something on this list if you’re wondering how do you teach kids about weather! So many ideas for weather lessons and a fun weather unit for all ages, including preschool weather activities!
What is a fun way to teach weather?
Fun Weather Activities and Crafts for Kids
- Make a lightening storm in your mouth for fun weather experiments!
- Create weather centers based on different weather types
- Make a tornado sensory jar / storm in a jar for storm activities
- Learn about thunder snow for a fun topic
- Track a storm (like a thunderstorm or a snow storm) on an online weather map (great for weather activities for middle school and create graphs on the tracking statistics and weather forecast activity for students!)
- Study the water cycle after it rains
- Grow a snowflake and learn all about snowfall
- Use pinecones to predict weather
- Plant vegetables outdoors and track the affects of weather on the plants
- Do a rainbow craft while learning the science behind rainbows
- Track weather patterns and make a weather chart for kids to see
- Make a blizzard in a bag ice cream for hands on weather activities
- Learn how wind speed is calculated
- Do a season tree project with changing leaves
- Learn about air pressure with a fun experiment
- Cook some weather themed food recipes
- Make a different types of cloud poster with cotton
- Study the different names of clouds and their Latin word origins
- Keep a journal of the daily weather and predict future weather based on patterns
- Do a weather activities worksheet on traditional weather for each season
- Learn about what it takes to become a weather forecaster
- Take a field trip and talk to a local weather station / weather person
TEACHING ABOUT WEATHER: See below for the full list of weather lesson for kids ideas, thunderstorm craft, weather project ideas, and weather activities for kids. KEEP SCROLLING for more fun weather activities for kids, activities for weather and seasons, and links to weather learning resources / weather fun!
Best Weather Activities for Preschool Kids
If you need weather activities for younger kids and wondering what are the weather activities for toddlers and preschoolers, try these weather-themed activities and fun weather activity for preschoolers / pre k weather activities!
Hands-On Ways To Teach Weather To Younger Kids
- Make a weather theme sensory bin (great for fine motor weather skills) or different little bins for different weather
- Use felts to learn about seasonal changes (perfect for little hands!)
- Collect rain and color raindrops with food coloring for preschool weather art
- Make tornado sensory bottles
- Set up weather science centers for hands-on weather activities for fun weather station preschool age
- Make a raincloud craft and make own clouds with cotton balls, paper plates, and blue paper for an easy craft
- Play listen and learn with different weather sounds (thunder, rain, etc.)
- Do meteorology projects and have kids dress as meteorologists and then make videos giving weather predictions (my daughter had so much fun doing this as a young child!)
- Practice weather words with magnetic letters on a weather whiteboard separated by season (great weather activity for kindergarten / weather language activities)
- Make a snow sensory bin with real snow or ice (another fun fine motor skills activity / hands-on activity)
- Learn about the weather with a daily magnetic weather calendar (this is our favorite one)
- Read preschool weather books (try national geographic little kids big book of weather)
- Need art ideas? Make a yarn rainbow for cute weather crafts (when I was a kid this was one of my favorite weather activities that I still remember!)
- Make playdough weather items (sun, clouds, rain drops, etc.) for a simple craft for weather for young kids
- Play with weather related toys like this seasons game
- Give kids instruments and noisemakers to make weather sounds during weather circle time activities
- Head outside on a rainy day to feel rain drops / water droplets and stomp in mud puddles
- Go on a sunny day nature hike or a snow hike for a cool weather activity then make nature mobiles for weather preschool crafts
These young kids ideas and easy activity ideas are great weather activities kindergarten ideas as much as fun craft weather activities for preschool!
But, what about a weather kid friendly definition to go with activities for teaching weather?
How do you explain weather to a child?
Weather is rain, cold, heat from the sun and even snow during winter storms. Some of the best ways to explain weather to kids is to do hands-on weather experiments and projects and to read books about different kinds of weather to understand the weather definition for kids.
My daughter and I often closely follow weather — hurricanes, tornadoes, snow storms, and more — probably much like your family!
And, based on her questions and fears during emergency weather, I quickly realized we needed more discussion on weather disasters, why they happen, about changes in weather climate, how we can stay safe during storms, and even how we can help others when weather or other disasters strike.
Not only is covering weather for kids (and natural disasters) a great way to learn about the science behind the weather, but it may also help kids better understand when weather-related disasters strike and what we can all do to help.
DON’T MISS OUR EXTENSIVE LIST OF CHILDREN’S WEATHER BOOKS & COPING WITH NATURAL DISASTERS FOR KIDS LATER IN THE POST!
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But first, let’s start at the beginning with some facts about weather for kids.
WHAT IS WEATHER? Explaining Weather to Your Kids
Defining weather for kids can be a little tricky:
- Weather is really the temporary condition of the earth’s atmosphere. (Atmosphere is the layer of air surrounding the earth.)
- Weather is temporary, but conditions that happen in one area may affect other others.
- Weather can refer to wind, temperature, snow, rain, and more.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Climate is the weather for a specific location over a period of time. That period of time is most often 30 years for research and reporting purposes.
Weather Facts For Kids
Fun Facts About Types Of Weather For Kids:
- There’s something called “black blizzards” that comes from mixing dirt with wind!
- Cirrus clouds are actually made of ice crystals.
- Every one minute there are about 2,000 rainstorms around the world! (I love this weather fact!)
- When a flood is coming, worms with come to the surface of the ground.
- Fire whirls are created when wildfires create tornadoes of fire!
- A rain cloud is a nimbostratus cloud. (“Nimbus” means rain in Latin!)
Keep scrolling for weather theme activities for kids, experiments with weather, activity on weather and climate ideas, and projects for learning about different types of weather — they’re so much fun!
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48+ Weather for Kids Worksheets, Projects, Lesson Plans & Kids Activities
Need some fun weather activities for kids for that you must try?
Add some of these fun weather projects and facts about the weather for kids to your STEM learning, science lessons, weather art and craft ideas, and hands-on activities!
Teaching about the weather in the classroom or in homeschool doesn’t have to boring! You can learn about weather in so many fun ways!
Mix and match these weather ideas and activities on weather and climate to create your own lessons about weather.
Don’t miss our list of 32 weather books and coping for kids books if they’re scared of weather in the next section to add to your weather lesson plans!
Cool Ideas for Creative Weather Activities for Children
- Get a What Is Weather lesson plan for observing weather for kids (great for elementary weather lessons)
- Learn about how the atmosphere makes snowflakes
- Grab another weather lesson plan
- Get free types of clouds weather for kids worksheets and learn about different types of clouds
- Make your own tornado in a jar (super fun activity that kids always love!)
- Download a free hurricanes workbook with hurricane worksheets for kids
- Watch Weather for Kids Video: Types of Weather and Weather vs Climate
- Get a climate and weather science kit for fun STEM learning
- Make a thunderstorm
- Make lightening (in your mouth!) (easy weather activities for the classroom or group!)
- Grow a snowflake (such a fun idea for a snow unit and weather science experiments for all ages!)
- Make your own snow using this (great for younger children through first grade weather projects!)
- Have snow outside? Make snow ice cream or snow taffy (Winter is a great time to break out these recipes for fun activities at no additional cost – just use snow! Also great if you’re looking for weather cooking activities for preschoolers and up!)
- Grab this book for activity for weather and climate ideas
- Listen to a funny kids’ podcast about storms
- Make a rainbow (even great for kindergarten weather experiments!)
- Grab a weather science kit for fun science activities
- Learn how a wind meter works
- Learn about how seasons change in different hemispheres
- Play some weather games online (fun weather games for the classroom!)
- Go on an online wild weather adventure with games
- Play climate games from NASA climate kids (climate and weather activities)
- Make a weather vane / weather instruments for fun hands-on activities
- Learn how to make frost for another fun science experiment
- Learn how pine cones can help predict weather humidity and then use a pinecone to make a weather art project
Weather Children’s Books and Books on Coping with Fear of Weather for Kids
One of the best ways to help kids understand what’s going on in the world during weather emergencies and natural disasters is with a good book.
Not only is it easy, but books help spark discussion (and works on literacy skills!).
REMINDER: Covering severe weather for kids can be an extremely difficult topic (especially if your child has experienced a scary weather situation!).
So, don’t just focus on the weather disasters and extreme weather for kids, add these to your weather and activities and kindergarten weather crafts!
Be sure to grab some books on fears, helplessness, coping, anxiety and also books on helping others during tough times (like natural disasters) in addition to reading about stormy weather for kids — all great books to go with weather related activities!
NOTE: I’ve listed the publisher’s age range here, but I caution you against boxing your kids into reading only books in their age ranges. If you want to know why, read more here.
Weather for Kids Children’s Books About Weather, Disasters & More
Extreme Weather: Surviving Tornadoes, Sandstorms, Hailstorms, Blizzards, Hurricanes, and More!covers different natural disasters, types of severe weather for kids, as well as what to do do before, during, and after, which may give kids some preparedness peace of mind.
Suggested Age Range: 8-12 years
Flood is described as “a beautiful wordless picture book about the effects of a flood on a family and their home” it covers information on weather for kids and flooding.
Suggested Age Range: All ages (picture book)
National Geographic Readers: Storms! covers the scariness of storms, but breaks down what actually happens when Mother Nature hits hard.
Great for teaching weather for kindergarten and kindergarten lessons on weather.
Suggested Age Range: 4-6 years
Extreme Weather Systems talks about different weather systems, as well as helps kids understand how to dress and plan for different weather.
Suggested Age Range: 8-9 years
CHECK THIS OUT NEXT AFTER WEATHER ACTIVITIES:
HOW TO MAKE A CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY SURVIVAL KIT
National Geographic Kids Everything Weather: Facts, Photos, and Fun That Will Blow You Away states, “weather can be wild, freaky, and fascinating! Powerful twisters roar through homes; earthquakes shatter whole cities; hurricanes fly through towns. How does it all happen and how do we know what we do? All you need to know about weather and all of its wildness will be found in the pages of this colorful, energetic, and accessible book.Kids will also learn about real-life encounters with wild weather.”
Love this book as an addition to weather science activities!
Suggested Age Range: 8-12 years
The Everything KIDS’ Weather Book: From Tornadoes to Snowstorms, Puzzles, Games, and Facts That Make Weather for Kids Fun! asks “have you ever wondered what happens in the eye of a tornado or how hurricanes gain their strength? From what is lightning and snow-day blizzards to rainbows and monsoons, The Everything Kids’ Weather Book gives you an exciting look into all the action that happens in the sky.”
Also, this book includes puzzles, games, facts, and more.
Suggested Age Range: 7-12 years
Children’s Books About Being Scared, Anxiety, and Kids Coping with Emergency Situations
These children’s books can help if you find that your child has a lot of fear and anxiety around weather situations or natural disasters.
Once I Was Very Very Scared is a story about a squirrel.
“A little squirrel announces that he was once very, very, scared and finds out that he is not alone. Lots of little animals went through scary experiences, but they react in different ways. Turtle hides and gets a tummy ache, monkey clings, dog barks, and elephant doesn’t like to talk about it. They need help, and they get help from grown-ups who help them feel safe and learn ways to cope with difficult feelings. Also, this story was written to help children and grown-ups understand how stress can affect children and ways to help them.”
Suggested Age Range: Not listed
David and the Worry Beast is about little David and how he learns to control the worry beast.
Suggested Age Range: 4-9 years
Wilma Jean and the Worry Machine is a “fun and humorous book [that] addresses the problem of anxiety in a way that relates to children of all ages. It offers creative strategies for parents and teachers to use that can lessen the severity of anxiety. The goal of the book is to give children the tools needed to feel more in control of their anxiety. For those worries that are not in anyone’s control (i.e. the weather,) a worry hat is introduced.”
Suggested Age Range: 5-8 years
What Do You Do With A Problem? is a “story of a persistent problem and the child who isn’t so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than it appeared.”
Suggested Age Range: 4-8 (but I happen to think this is also a good book for older ages and even adults)
Jenny Is Scared: When Sad Things Happen in the World is “a comforting, coping story for children who are aware of the threats of violence and terrorism in the world. A range of fears, feelings and questions are explored. The child reader is encouraged to talk to parents, friends and other caregivers.”
Suggested Age Range: 5-7 years
A Terrible Thing Happened is a book about Sherman who experienced something bad.
“At first he tried to forget about it, but something inside him started to bother him. He felt nervous and had bad dreams. Then he met someone who helped him talk about the terrible thing, and made him feel better.”
Suggested Age Range: 4-7 years
Hurricane Books for Children
Once my daughter and I were watching hurricane coverage and she started to cry (and we weren’t even in the hurricane path)!
When I asked her what was wrong she replied, “It’s so scary. I feel so bad for those people!”
Weather is scary for us (as adults), so imagine what it does to little ones who don’t have a full grasp of it.
If you’re looking for some ways to discuss hurricanes in your weather for kids studies, you might want to check out this book list.
Not only will they help your children better understand the storms, but it will also help to open a dialogue so you can help with some of their fears.
A Place Where Hurricanes Happen is about Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. In this book, kids tell their own stories of the hurricane.
From the description: “As natural and man-made disasters become commonplace, we increasingly need books like this one to help children contextualize and discuss difficult and often tragic events.”
Kindergarten-Grade 4
Yesterday We Had a Hurricane is abook that tells the “experience of a hurricane as seen through the eyes of a young child. Young readers will learn all about these big storms that come from the ocean. They’ll find out about the effects of wind and rain, as well as some of the more lighthearted and practical alternatives to doing without electricity.”
Great to go with weather preschool activities.
Ages 3 and up
Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere is a book about “when Hurricane Katrina hits the Lower Nines of New Orleans and tears her world apart, Armani realizes that being ten means being brave, watching loved ones die, and mustering all her strength to help her family weather the storm. A gripping story of courage and survival, Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere celebrates the power of hope and love in the face of the unthinkable.”
Great addition to children’s weather activities for older kids.
Grades 4-7
Hurricanes! is a book where “young readers will learn how hurricanes are formed, how they are named and classified, and what to do if a dangerous storm is on the way.”
Kindergarten-Grade 3
In If You Were A Kid Surviving a Hurricane, kids will meet two friends named Carrie and Dan who are caught in the path of a major hurricane.
“Along the way, they will learn how hurricanes form, how weather scientists track and study these storms, what people do to protect themselves from wind and flooding, and much more.”
Grades 1-4
Hurricanes “takes young readers on an in-depth exploration of one of the most awe-inspiring phenomena on Earth! This dramatic account of hurricanes and the disasters they leave behind, including Andrew and Katrina, are intensified through arresting full-color photographs and satellite images.”
Grades Kindergarten-4
Written by a meteorologist, Freddy the Frogcaster and the Huge Hurricane is “tracking the weather at Frog News Network when he realizes a huge hurricane is coming! Can the town of Lilypad prepare for the storm in time? Can Freddy report the weather on TV and make sure his family and friends are safe?”
Grades Preschool-3
In Sergio and the Hurricane“a hurricane is coming, and Sergio and his family must prepare for the storm. Sergio is excited at first, but he soon realizes that hurricanes can be dangerous. Through the experiences of one little boy, readers will learn about hurricanes and the damage they can do. And they’ll also see how a community can pull together to repair that damage.”
Grades 1-3
In The Magic School Bus Inside A Hurricane “flying through the clouds in the Magic School Bus, Ms. Frizzle’s class experiences a hurricane-and even a tornado-firsthand. During their thrilling ride through the sky, Arnold gets lost! Will the Friz be able to save the day this time?”
Grades Preschool-3
Hurricane Child is a book about a girl that is born during a hurricane. “Caroline Murphy is a Hurricane Child. Being born during a hurricane is unlucky, and twelve-year-old Caroline has had her share of bad luck lately. She’s hated and bullied by everyone in her small school on St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands, a spirit only she can see won’t stop following her, and — worst of all — Caroline’s mother left home one day and never came back.”
Grades 3-7
The Hurricane Mystery is a Boxcar Children Mystery where the kids look for a pirate treasure during a hurricane.
Grades 1-7
In The Science of Hurricanes: Understanding Weather Just for Kids! kids “will learn about how hurricanes start, different types, and what the life cycle of a hurricane is. This easy to understand book will help you understand hurricanes in no time at all.”
Grades not listed
Tell Me Why We Have Hurricanes is a book that “offers answers to their most compelling questions about hurricanes. Age-appropriate explanations and appealing photos encourage readers to continue their quest for knowledge. Additional text features and search tools, including a glossary and an index, help students locate information and learn new words.:
Grades 2-5
Fiction and Nonfiction Books About Tornadoes for Kids
All about what is a tornado and how do tornadoes form.
Grades 5-6
Grade Level: Preschool-Grade 3
Why Does It Happen: Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Typhoons
Children’s Books About Helping Others
During a natural weather disaster, one of the ways to help children through it is about how you can help those affected. These are good books to read about helping others.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids is a winner of 21 awards and… “encourages positive behavior by using the concept of an invisible bucket to show children how easy and rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation and love by ‘filling buckets.'”
There is also Fill a Bucket: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Young Children
Suggested Age Range: 4-9 years (but it is good for all ages, even adults)
I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children is a book from a “variety of cultures and peoples [and] timeless stories, poems, songs, quotations, and folktales that speak to all children to let them know that they can make a difference in today’s world.”
Suggested Age Range: 4-8 years
What are your favorite weather children’s activities?
WHAT INFO ABOUT WEATHER FOR KIDS WOULD YOU ADD?
