Weather Games

Rain, Hail or Shine

The weather is source of inspiration for many songs and a host of great activities. Weather games and activities can involve playing out in differing weather conditions, discussing different weather phenomenon or creating some artwork based on an experience outdoors.

Children will be amazed by seemingly magical aspects of the weather like rainbows, and how the sun and moon seem to disappear but are actually shining in another part of the world. Some aspects of the weather scare some children, so talking about how storms form, the reasons for tornadoes or what causes lightning will help them to overcome their fears.

Magical Rainbows

I still recall as a child feeling lucky everytime I saw a rainbow, and even luckier if I could see it from one side all the way to the other! Kids love hearing about how rainbows are formed and will love even more being able to make their own.
A combination of moisture and sunshine is all that is required. The sun shines through the droplets of water which act like a prism.
On a sunny day, with your back to the sun, turn your hose onto a fine mist and see the rainbow you create.
The other way to create a rainbow is through the use of a cut-glass prism or a mirror placed in a glass of water.

The Sun

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You'll never know dear how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

Discussions can involve how the sun is a star like all other stars, it is the closest star to us and that the earth rotates around the sun.
Do you have relatives on the other side of the world? When the sun seems to disappear it actually shines where they live, while we go to bed. You can use a lightglobe and a small ball (or a globe of the earth if you have one) to show how this principle works.
The sun is very bright, it warms the earth and plants and our bodies too. You can probably also talk about the importance of wearing sunscreen and also to not look directly at the sun as it will damage their eyes.

Cloudwatching

A weather game that can be played in any location so long as you have some suitable clouds to watch. What shapes, creatures or animals can be seen in the clouds?
How quickly are they moving?
This leads to questions about what moves clouds and why they come in various colours and shapes.
Changes in the wind, indicate a change in the weather. You can test out the old saying

Red sky at night, shepherd's delight  (means a clear day to follow)
Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning  (rain is on it's way)

Cloud Crafts

After watching clouds outside supply the kids with coloured paper and have them glue on
cotton balls to resemble those that they just saw.

Supply each child with a piece of blue paper, a cotton ball and white paint. Have the child dip the cotton ball into the white paint and press onto the paper to make cloud prints.

Rainy Activities

It's raining, it's pouring
The old man is snoring
He went to bed and he bumped his head
And he couldn't get up in the morning

Walking out in the rain under the protection of an umbrella, allows you to hear the raindrops and appreciate the change in the environment without getting soaked. Watch droplets of water forming on leaves and enjoy the clean smell in the air.
Splashing in puddles- with gumboots and raincoat ofcourse!
Finding snails just after it has rained, they are usually the first to come out! You can place a length of perspex or clear plastic between two chairs (or use a window) and put a snail on it so that your child can lay underneath and watch the trail the snail leaves in its wake.

Rain, rain go away
Come again, another day

Storms and Wild Weather

I Hear Thunder Tune(Frere Jacques)

I hear thunder
I hear thunder
Listen,don't you
Listen,don't you
Pitter patter raindrops
Pitter patter raindrops
I'm soaked through.

Many young children are frightened of thunderstorms and other wild weather conditions. Explain to them that they are safe inside your home and that it is just some wild weather passing. Spend some time finding out why certain stormy conditions are created- you and your kids might learn something together!
You can discuss any relevant safety aspects of particular extreme weather conditions that affect you where you live.
You can test some stormy folklore to see if it is true...

By counting the seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder, you can tell how far away a storm is.