Preschool Seasons And Weather Lesson Plans
A theme filled with preschool seasons and weather lesson plans is so much more than just labeling sunny or snowy days—it’s about helping preschoolers understand the amazing world around them! We are happy to be your friendly helper, providing a toolkit of awesome lesson plans for your little learners.
We’ll explore a whole bunch of fun activities, interesting topics, and handy resources to make learning easy and enjoyable in your classroom, sparking a love for science and observation, and all the exciting things that happen outside your door!
Preschool seasons and weather themes are a fantastic way for kids to connect with nature and understand their place in the world by exploring changing seasons and different weather types.
Whether it’s the changing leaves, exciting holidays, or curious weather patterns, preschoolers have so many exciting things to discover! The key is hands-on fun—we’re talking experiments, art projects, and sensory experiences that make learning come to life.
Plus, if you’re looking for even more inspiration, we have monthly preschool theme ideas—make sure to check them out! We also have our Learn at Home Lesson Plans Bundle which has a wide variety of awesome, hands-on learning fun! They cover a wide range of topics and are designed to be easy to implement in your classroom. They can be a huge time-saver!
Benefits of Teaching a Seasons and Weather Theme in Preschool
Our Seasons and Weather lesson plans go beyond just learning vocabulary like “sunny” and “rainy.” This theme is packed with hands-on activities that integrate other subjects like math, literacy, and science, making them comprehensive, relevant and fun.
Here’s why a Seasons and Weather preschool theme is a win for your preschoolers:
- Encourages Observation Skills: Seasons and weather lesson plans include activities that get children looking closely at their surroundings. They’ll notice how leaves change color in fall, feel the warmth of the sun on their skin in summer, and maybe even predict a rain shower by looking at the clouds!
- Builds Vocabulary: We’ll introduce essential vocabulary related to seasons and weather, like “spring,” “snow,” “clouds,” and “rain,” helping children build strong language skills.
- Fosters Scientific Thinking: Through fun experiments and observations, your preschoolers will develop their curiosity about the natural world. They’ll learn about weather patterns and how seasons change throughout the year.
- Integrates Cross-Curricular Learning: Our lesson plans seamlessly blend science, art, literacy, and math concepts. For example, while learning about spring, children can create a collage using handprints as blossoming flowers (art) and count the number of petals on each “flower” (math).
- Teaches Practical Skills: Children will learn how to dress for different weather conditions, recognize weather signs, and understand basic safety tips for extreme weather situations.
Possible Topics to Include in Your Seasons and Weather Lesson Plans
There’s so much to discover when it comes to seasons and weather! Here are some potential topics you can incorporate into your curriculum:
- The Four Seasons: Explore the characteristics of each season – spring with its blooming flowers, summer’s warm sunshine, fall’s colorful leaves, and winter’s snowy and icy landscapes.
- Weather Patterns: Explore the exciting world of weather! Children will learn about sunny days, rain showers, windy gusts, snowy wonderlands, and all kinds of storms.
- Clothing and Accessories: Discuss the importance of dressing appropriately for different weather conditions. From raincoats and boots to sun hats and cozy winter clothes, encourage children to experiment with outfit choices based on the day’s forecast.
- Changes in Nature: Observe how plants, animals, and even people adapt to the changing seasons. From birds building nests in spring to animals preparing for winter hibernation, your preschoolers will see firsthand how nature responds to the seasons.
- Weather Safety: Learn about basic weather warnings, different types of storms, and how to stay safe during extreme weather. This can include simple steps like staying indoors during thunderstorms or dressing warmly in snowy weather.
- Weather Tools: Introduce children to simple weather tools like thermometers, rain gauges, and wind sock. They will be so excited to learn about weather measurement and prediction and try out the tools!
A List of Fun Activity Ideas for Seasons and Weather Lesson Plans
Now comes the fun part! Here are some activity ideas to get your preschoolers excited about exploring seasons and weather:
Art & Crafts Activities for Preschool Seasons and Weather Themes
Four Seasons Tree Craft– Create a stunning four seasons tree using bubble wrap and paint! This textured art project allows preschoolers to explore the changing colors of each season by printing tree foliage with bubble wrap, creating unique artwork.
Rain Cloud Craft– Transform cotton balls into puffy rain clouds! This simple craft allows children to create their own miniature weather system and explore the concept of clouds holding water.
Science Experiments Activities for Preschool Seasons and Weather Themes
DIY Rain Cloud in a Jar– Create your own mini rainstorm with this simple “rain cloud in a jar” experiment! Using shaving cream, water, and food coloring, kids can observe how clouds hold moisture and release it as rain.
Melting Rainbow– Combine science and sensory play with this captivating melting rainbow experiment! Little ones will love watching the colorful baking soda rainbow fizz and dissolve when mixed with vinegar, creating a playful “soup” for extended playtime.
Simple Fall Science Activities– These activities and experiments are sure to keep your preschoolers excited about the wonderful season of fall! The best way to learn about fall is to jump in and get your hands dirty with some hands-on fun!
Sensory Play Activities
Fall Sensory Bin for Preschool– Engage all the senses with this inviting fall sensory bin! From the crisp rustle of leaves to the earthy scent of pinecones, preschoolers will love exploring the textures, colors, and smells of autumn.
Winter Wonderland– Spark creativity and sensory exploration with this winter wonderland sensory bin! Children can experiment with snow, create colorful landscapes with liquid watercolors, and engage in imaginative play with winter-themed toys.
Melted Snowman Sensory Activity– What happens when a snowman melts? Lots of sensory fun, that’s what! Your preschoolers will love playing in this bin that’s full of shaving cream and snowman fun!
Math Integration Activities
Track and Graph the Weather– Combine science and math with this engaging “Track and Graph the Weather” activity! Children will track daily weather conditions and use their data to create a graph, learning about data collection, representation, and interpretation.
Summer Number Recognition Printables– Keep kids engaged and learning this summer with these versatile number recognition printables! Featuring a variety of activities like coloring, matching, and tracing, these printables cater to different learning styles and make number practice fun and interactive.
Literacy Activities
Rainbow Letter Game– This rainbow letter game is a colorful and engaging way for preschoolers to practice letter recognition and matching. Using rainbow-coloured letters, children can match uppercase and lowercase letters, build simple words, or sort letters by color.
Fall Tree Craft for Preschool– This alphabet tree craft is a perfect back-to-school activity for fall, combining fine motor practice with letter learning through a fun tear art project. Your preschoolers will get good skills practice in letter recognition and upper and lowercase visual discrimination, while also have some tree-tastic fun
Falling Leaves Suncatcher Craft– Combine fall fun and learning with these falling leaves suncatchers! Preschoolers will enjoy creating beautiful art while also getting lots of practice with scissors.
Outdoor Learning Activities
Nature Walk Adventure: You would most likely agree that taking a walk in nature is simply good for all of us. Remember, that for preschoolers, the world is their playground! Nature walks provide hands-on experiences that promote observation skills, vocabulary development, and an appreciation for the beautiful world around us.
FREE Nature Preschool Lesson Plans– We have an entire bundle of nature-inspired lesson plans that are FREE and fun for you and your preschoolers! Take learning outside and apply it to literacy, math, science, and more! We are certain that your little nature enthusiasts will love these special activities.
Looking for even more inspiration? Check out our engaging Learn At Home lesson plans for weather and seasons!
FAQs About Preschool Seasons and Weather Lesson Plans
We know you might have some questions as you plan your exciting seasons and weather lessons. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you along the way:
Why is teaching seasons and weather important for preschoolers?
Exploring seasons and weather helps build observation skills, expands vocabulary related to the natural world, and helps build an understanding of environmental changes and cycles.
How can I make seasons and weather lessons engaging?
Hands-on activities like crafts, experiments, sensory bins, and dramatic play are excellent ways to make learning interactive and memorable.
What books are good for teaching about seasons and weather?
Classics like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” (seasons), “The Snowy Day” (weather), and “Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today?” are wonderful resources that bring these concepts to life.
Can seasons and weather lessons include math?
Absolutely! Math concepts can be easily integrated through activities such as graphing daily weather, counting objects such as leaves or acorns, and sorting items by season.
What are some weather safety tips I can include?
Teach children safety practices, including staying safe during storms, dressing appropriately for different weather conditions, and recognizing common weather alert symbols.
What are some simple weather tools to introduce to preschoolers?
Introduce basic weather tools like thermometers, rain gauges, and wind socks to help children understand how we measure and observe weather phenomena.
How can I involve parents in these lessons?
You can involve parents by sending home simple observation activities such as tracking the weather for a week or encouraging parents to help their kids pick out clothing and outer gear based on weather forecasts.
Teaching about seasons and weather is a valuable part of early childhood education. It provides a natural context for learning across multiple subjects, from science and math to literacy and art.
By using hands-on activities and incorporating the ideas presented here, you can create meaningful learning experiences that your little meteorologists are sure to love!
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
