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Weather Science: Activities and Resources for Kids

This post contains everything you need to put together a weather science unit for your kids or students!

I've divided weather science up into 5 subtopics: the water cycle, clouds, precipitation, extreme weather, and weather tracking/predicting. Under each subtopic you will find activity ideas, book recommendations, video links, kid friendly websites to check out, and printable resources. 




The Water Cycle

The water on Earth moves through a constant cycle called the hydrologic cycle (aka the water cycle). 

Water in Earth's oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water is warmed by the sun, vaporizing some of the water molecules. The water vapor rises and as it reaches cooler air in our atmosphere, it cools and condenses into clouds. When the clouds become saturated with water droplets, the droplets begin to fall as precipitation (rain, snow, hail). The water makes its way back into bodies of water and the cycle begins again.

Water Cycle Activity

You can simulate the water cycle in a zip lock bag. Just add an inch of water to a quart size zip lock bag. Tape the zip lock bag in a sunny window and watch as water in the bag vaporizes, condenses, and "rains" back down over the next several days.

Water Cycle Resources

Here are a few water cycle resources to check out:

-Interactive Water Cycle Diagram (USGS)

-Printable Water Cycle Wheel

-SciShow Kids: Where Does Water Come From? (video)

-Kahn Academy: The Water Cycle (video)

-National Science Foundation: How the Hydrologic Cycle Works (video)

-National Geographic Readers: Water (book)

-A Dinosaur Made Me Spill: A Water Cycle Adventure by Carla Mae Jansen (book)

-The Magic School Bus Wet All Over: A Book About The Water Cycle (book)

Cloud Types

Meteorologists (scientists who study weather) classify clouds into different categories based on how high they are in the atmosphere and their physical characteristics.


Cloud Type Craft

Research about the different types of clouds (check out the resources below) and then make the different types of clouds out of cotton balls. Glue them onto construction paper and label them. 



Cloud Type Resources

-What Are the Different Types of Clouds? (video)

-Ducksters Earth Science for Kids: Clouds

-Printable Cloud Identification Cards from Mother Natured


Types of Precipitation

Precipitation is any type of water that falls from clouds in the Earth's atmosphere. There are different types of precipitation that can form. Type of precipitation depends on atmospheric conditions and conditions on and near the ground. Some common types of precipitation include rain, snow, and hail. 

Rainfall Activity

A rain gauge is a simple instrument that measures rainfall. Making one is really simple. 

You will need:
-An empty plastic two liter bottle
-Scissors
-A permanent marker
-A ruler
-Duct tape

Cut the top off the two liter bottle right below where it begins to taper. Remove the lid.

Set the top of the bottle upside down on top of the bottom half and tape in place.

Use a ruler and a permanent marker to mark a line every quarter or half inch, starting above the uneven part at the bottom.

Pre-fill it with water to the first line. This will eliminate the uneven part at the bottom from your measurement and will provide your rain guage with some weight so it won't blow over in the wind. 

Next time rain is in your forcast, set your rain guage outside in an area clear of trees and other obstacles. After the rain storm you can check your guage to see how many inches of rain you got.



Learn more about types of precipitation with these resources:

-The Science of Winter Precipitation from Kristin Moon Science

-Freezing Rain, Sleet, Snow, and Graupel- What's the Difference? (video)

-SciShow Kids: Where Do Snowflakes Come From? (video)

-The Science of Snowflakes (video)


Extreme Weather

Extreme weather events are weather events that cause devastating effects on communities and ecosystems. They include events like tornados, hurricanes, droughts, freezes, and floods.

Resources to check out:

-SciShow Kids: What is a Tornado? (video)

-SciShow Kids: What's a Hurricane? (video)

-National Geographic: Hurricanes 101 (video)

-National Geographic: Tornados 101 (video)

-National Geographic: Thunderstorms 101 (video)

-Free Tornado Unit Study from Peanut Butter Fish Lessons

-Magic Tree House: Twister on Tuesday (book)

-Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Twister and Other Terrible Storms (book)

-Tornado!: The Story Behind These Twisting, Turning, Spinning, and Spiraling Storms (National Geographic Kids book)

Activities to try:

-Warm Air Meets Cold Air- Thunderstorm Formation Experiment from MomBrite

-Tornado in a Bottle Experiment from Playing with Rain


Weather Tracking

Meteorologists are scientists who study and predict the weather. Meteorologists make weather predictions based on computer models and atmospheric data collected by a variety of instruments. Some of the instruments meteorologists use include radar, satellite imaging, barometers and anemometers. 

Make a Barometer Activity

You can make a functioning barometer that can help you predict the weather just like a real meteorologist with just a few simple household items.


For this activity you will need:
- A glass jar (mason jars work well)
-A balloon
-A thick rubber band
-A straw (or something else straight and lightweight, we used a plastic butter knife)
-Tape
-A piece of paper
-A pen
-Scissors 

Cut the top off the balloon, then stretch the balloon over the opening of your glass jar. It should be pulled tight enough that there are no dimples. Use the rubber band to hold it in place. You want the rubber band tight so it creates a sealed chamber inside your jar. 

Next tape the straw on the balloon so that the end of the straw sits in about the middle of the balloon. 

Pick a place indoors to set up your barometer away from windows or heating and air vents. Behind your barometer, set up a piece of paper. Mark a line where the straw points. Then mark a line about a half inch above and another about a half inch below. Draw a sun by the upper line and rain by the lower line. 

Now your barometer is ready to measure changes atmospheric pressure. 

Weather Tracking Resources

-SciShow Kids: How Do We Know When it Will Rain (video)

-The History of the Barometer and How it Works

-Printable Weather Tracking Sheet (free)

-Printable Weather Tracking Tree


Additional Weather Science Resources

Books:
-National Geographic: Everything Weather
-DK Eyewitness: Weather
-National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Weather

Websites:
-Ducksters: The Science of Weather
-National Geographic Kids: 30 Freaky Facts About the Weather
-National Geographic Kids: Weather Center
-Smithsonian's Weather Lab

Blog Posts:

Make A Simple Home Weather Station

Instructions for making a simple backyard weather station out of materials you likely already have around the house.

5 Creative Ways to Track the Weather


Make a Cloud in a Jar


Rainbow Science






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