Preschool Weather Lesson: "Willy the Weathervane's Wild Day"

Lesson Objective: To introduce preschoolers to different types of weather and related vocabulary (sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy) through a multi-sensory approach.

Craft Activity: "Willy the Weathervane"

Materials:

• Cardboard or heavy cardstock

• Scissors

• Brads or paper fasteners

• Colorful construction paper (yellow, white, gray, blue)

• Markers or crayons

• Small paper plate

• Glue

• Drinking straw or popsicle stick

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Weathervane Body: Cut a simple arrow shape out of cardboard. This is Willy's body.

2. Create Weather Symbols: Cut out a sun (yellow paper), a cloud (white or gray paper), raindrops (blue paper), and small strips of paper to represent wind (white or light gray).

3. Attach Weather Symbols: Glue the weather symbols to the paper plate, leaving space in the center. Arrange them around the edge.

4. Attach the Arrow: Poke a hole in the center of the paper plate and another in the arrow body. Attach them using a brad or paper fastener, allowing the arrow to spin freely.

5. Add the Straw/Stick: Glue the straw or popsicle stick to the back of the paper plate so children can hold it.

6. Decorate: Let the children decorate their weathervanes with markers or crayons. They can add eyes, a smile, or other details to Willy.

Weather Song: "Willy the Weathervane Song" (Tune: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star")

Willy, Willy, spinning round, Telling weather all around. When the sun is shining bright, Willy points with all his might.

Willy, Willy, spinning round, Telling weather all around. When the clouds are big and gray, Willy shows a cloudy day.

Willy, Willy, spinning round, Telling weather all around. When the raindrops start to fall, Willy knows it's time for all.

Willy, Willy, spinning round, Telling weather all around. When the wind begins to blow, Willy spins and shows us so!

Story: "Willy the Weathervane's Wild Day"

(Use your Willy the Weathervane craft as a visual aid during the story.)

Willy the Weathervane lived on top of a bright red barn. He loved his job! Every day, he spun around and around, telling everyone what the weather was like.

One morning, Willy woke up and the sun was shining brightly. (Point to the sun on your weathervane.) "It's a sunny day!" Willy sang. The birds chirped, and the flowers bloomed.

Later, big, fluffy clouds started to cover the sun. (Point to the cloud.) "Oh, it's getting cloudy," Willy said. The wind began to whisper through the trees.

Suddenly, big raindrops started to fall! (Point to the raindrops.) "Pitter-patter, pitter-patter," sang the rain. Willy spun around and around, showing everyone it was raining.

Then, the wind started to blow harder and harder! (Point to the wind strips, or blow on the weathervane.) "Whoosh! Whoosh!" went the wind. Willy spun so fast he almost got dizzy! It was a very windy day!

By the end of the day, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. (Point to the sun again.) Willy had shown everyone all kinds of weather. He was tired but happy. He loved his job of telling everyone about the weather!

Lesson Activities:

• Weather Chart: Create a simple weather chart with pictures of different types of weather. Each day, have the children observe the weather and update the chart.

• Dress-Up: Have a dress-up box with clothes appropriate for different types of weather (raincoats, sunglasses, hats, etc.). Let children dress up for the current weather.

• Outdoor Observation: Take the children outside to observe the weather firsthand. Talk about what they see, hear, and feel.

• Sensory Play: Create sensory bins with materials representing different types of weather (cotton balls for clouds, blue cellophane for rain, etc.).

Assessment:

• Observe children's participation in the activities and their understanding of weather vocabulary.

• Ask simple questions about the weather and have them point to the corresponding symbols on their weathervanes.

This lesson provides a fun and engaging way for preschoolers to learn about different types of weather. The craft activity, song, and story will help them remember the vocabulary and concepts. Remember to adapt the lesson to your children's specific needs and interests.

Enhancements to the Craft Activity:

• Personalized Weathervanes: Instead of just Willy, let each child create their own weathervane and name it. This adds a personal touch and encourages creativity.

• Weather-Themed Backgrounds: Provide pre-cut backgrounds for the weathervanes, such as a barn, a house, or a park. This adds context to the activity.

• Moving Parts: Instead of just spinning, explore ways to make the weather symbols move. For example, the raindrops could dangle from strings, or the sun could have rays that move.

• Collaborative Weathervane: Create one large weathervane as a class project. Each child can contribute by decorating a part of it.

Expanding the Weather Song:

• Action Words: Add actions to the song. For example, "When the sun is shining bright," (children can stretch their arms up like the sun's rays). "When the rain begins to fall," (children can tap their fingers like raindrops).

• Weather Sounds: Incorporate weather sounds into the song. For example, "Whoosh! Whoosh!" for the wind, or "Pitter-patter" for the rain.

• Multiple Verses: Add more verses to the song to cover other types of weather, such as snow or fog.

Extending the Story:

• Interactive Storytelling: Pause during the story and ask the children questions. "What do you think Willy will see next?" or "What do you do when it rains?"

• Flannel Board Story: Create a flannel board version of the story with cutouts of Willy, the weather symbols, and other elements. This makes the story more visual and engaging.

• Story Sequencing: After reading the story, have the children sequence picture cards depicting the different weather events.

• Create a Class Book: Have each child draw a picture of their favorite type of weather and write a sentence about it. Compile the pictures and sentences into a class book.

More Lesson Activities:

• Weather Bingo: Create bingo cards with pictures of different types of weather. Call out the weather and have the children mark their cards.

• Weather Scavenger Hunt: Hide pictures of different types of weather around the classroom or playground and have the children find them.

• Weather Experiments: Conduct simple weather experiments, such as making a cloud in a jar or demonstrating how rain falls.

• Weather-Themed Snacks: Serve snacks that relate to the weather, such as "sunshine" cookies or "raindrop" candies.

• Dramatic Play: Set up a dramatic play area with weather-related props, such as umbrellas, rain boots, and sunglasses.

• Guest Speaker: Invite a meteorologist or someone who works with weather to talk to the children.

Connecting to Other Subjects:

• Math: Count the number of sunny days in a week or graph the different types of weather.

• Science: Learn about the water cycle and how different types of weather are formed.

• Art: Create weather-themed art projects, such as painting a rainbow or making a collage of clouds.

• Language Arts: Read books about weather and learn new weather-related vocabulary.

Adapting for Different Ages:

• Younger Preschoolers: Focus on basic weather vocabulary and simple activities. Use lots of visuals and hands-on experiences.

• Older Preschoolers: Introduce more complex concepts and encourage problem-solving and critical thinking.

By incorporating these additional ideas and adapting the lesson to your children's needs, you can create a memorable and engaging learning experience about weather. Remember to keep it fun and interactive!

Preschool Weather Chart

Instructions: Each day, observe the weather outside and mark the correct weather type. Use stickers, drawings, or magnets to track daily weather patterns.

Days of the Week:

• Monday

• Tuesday

• Wednesday

• Thursday

• Friday

• Saturday

• Sunday

Weather Types: ☀️ Sunny
☁️ Cloudy
🌧 Rainy
⛈ Stormy
❄️ Snowy
🌬 Windy
🌫 Foggy

Weather Chart Template:

Day

Weather

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Discussion Questions:

1. What kind of weather did we have the most this week?

2. What was your favorite weather day? Why?

3. What clothes do we wear for each type of weather?

4. How does the weather change throughout the seasons?

Fun Activities:

• Make a weather wheel with movable parts.

• Create a weather diary with pictures.

• Sing a weather-themed song (e.g., "Rain, Rain, Go Away").