Make a Weather Calendar

No two days are exactly alike. Each season brings different weather and each day new possibilities. Here's a way you can explore each season with your students.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED

12 sheets of 8-1/2- x 11-inch poster board (see alternatives in the HERE'S WHAT TO DO section)
markers
ruler
outdoor thermometer

HERE'S WHAT TO DO

Nancy F. Castaldo is the author of many books packed with inspiring ideas for childhood discovery and learning. In addition to the three titles above, Nancy has written activity guides for teaching children ages 6 to 9 about the ocean, rainforests, deserts, and rivers. All of these titles are published by Chicago Review Press.

Click here to learn about these books and others by Nancy Castaldo.

Create a series of calendar templates by drawing a monthly calendar (7 boxes horizontally x 5 boxes vertically) on sheets of poster board. Hang the calendar where you can write on it each day.

Alternatives might be to

create a "permanent" calendar template on a classroom whiteboard and use markers to record the daily weather.
set aside at home a calendar for the purpose of this activity.
use Education World's printable coloring calendars so each student can keep a weather record.

Hang the thermometer outside your classroom window.

Each day at the same time take note of the weather. Draw a sun, cloud, or raindrops in the square for that day. Look at the thermometer and record the temperature for the day.

At the end of each month, count how many days it was sunny and how many days it rained. What was the highest temperature for the month? What was the lowest temperature? What was the range of temperatures?

MORE FUN!

Involve students in some of these extension activities:

Ask students: What is your favorite kind of weather? Do you like hot, hazy days of summer or do you like the brisk, cold days of winter?

The temperature outdoors affects how people feel and what they like to eat. Ask students: What would you bring to eat at the beach? What would you like to eat on a cold Sunday afternoon?

Here's a snack idea that is good any time of year: Spread a small square of date-nut bread with cream cheese. Add your favorite extras -- banana, raisins, or honey. Top with another square of bread. (Be prepared to offer an alternative snack for students who might have nut allergies.)

FUN FACT

Crash! Bang!
Here's a fun thing to do while you are indoors during the next thunderstorm: When you see a streak of lightning, begin counting seconds until you hear a thunder boom. Ask a grown-up to divide the seconds you counted by 5. That will tell you how far away the storm is. For example, if you counted to 10, the storm is 2 miles away (10 divided by 5 is 2).

ACTIVITY SOURCE

This activity is excerpted from Nancy Castaldo's Sunny Days and Starry Nights, which is published by Chicago Review Press. This lesson idea is one of more than 65 activities from Sunny Days and Starry Nights that are sure to inspire children as they discover and learn.

About the Author

A native of New York's Hudson Valley, Nancy Castaldo earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Marymount College and a Master of Arts from the State University of New York. As an environmental educator, author, and Girl Scout volunteer and board member, Castaldo has led numerous children's workshops. Her school programs include workshops on ocean creatures and other nature topics, creative writing, and pizza making/Italy. She has conducted programs at the Boston Children's Museum, Atlanta Zoo, and Tennessee Aquarium. Castaldo's books include River Wild: An Activity Guide to North American Rivers; Oceans: An Activity Guide for Ages 6-9; Deserts: An Activity Guide for Ages 6-9; and Rainforests: An Activity Guide for Ages 6-9. She is also author of a historical-fiction picture book, Pizza for the Queen. To learn more about Nancy and her books, check out her Web site, www.nancycastaldo.com.

07/18/2006