Springtime means changing weather which means it’s the perfect time for our Weather Research Project which is packed with weather lesson plans, activities and centers!
For our weather unit, we use our Weather Research Project!
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
We kick off our weather unit with my favorite book, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs! It’s the perfect book to get kids curious about weather and have some discussions about weather.
To set the stage, we use pool floats!
![cloudy with a chance of meatballs lesson plans](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1-3.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
![weather ideas for kids](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2-3.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
And, of course, I dress the part!
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-costume.jpg?resize=551%2C1024&ssl=1)
To enhance our comprehension skills while reading Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, we use one of our creations from our Read It Up! series. The students write about what kind of food they want to fall from the sky.
![weather lesson plans and writing activities](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-writing.jpg?resize=800%2C320&ssl=1)
There are many more activities included in Read It Up! Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. To learn more about Read It Up! Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, click the picture below. (this creation is NOT included in the Weather Research Project)
As we conduct our research project, students record their learning and writing in their research journals! These research journals give the students more ownership and engagement in our learning!
![weather activities for kids](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/10.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
All of our research projects begin with a schema map! As we journey through our research project, we add new learning to our schema map and address any misconceptions we have.
![teaching ideas for weather](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/7.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
![kindergarten weather lesson plans](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/8.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
![science units for kids](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/11.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
Weather Lesson Plans: Weather Observation Journal
As part of our weather unit, we do daily weather observations. Each day, we observe the weather conditions, record our observations, and write about what we see. To get the temperature, we use weather.com!
![weather unit plans](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TKS-photo-frames-57.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
Weather Words
Our first weather activity is to think of as many weather words as we can! This gives Mr. Greg a general idea of what we know or think about the weather! The students then add words to their journals!
![weather lesson plans vocabulary](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/lesson-plans-for-weather.jpg?resize=246%2C300&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/weather-lesson-plans-preschool.jpg?resize=231%2C300&ssl=1)
Weather Lesson Plans: Types Of Weather
We start off with the wind. We learned about the wind and wrote about the wind. Then we get to become the wind! Each student uses a straw to see how far they can blow a feather! Before we blow, we estimate how far we can blow the feather! Then, we record their actual distance!
![kindergarten weather activities](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TKS-vertical-photo-frames-55.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
![ideas for weather theme](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/11-1.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
We learn about the sun and do a torn paper sun!
![weather ideas and resources for kids](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/5.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
![weather lesson plans and art projects](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TKS-photo-frames-58.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
We do this fun rain art project. The kids use their fingers to make clouds out of cotton balls and fingerprint raindrops!
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TKS-photo-frames-59.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
Then we make these tornado pictures. The clouds and tornadoes are made from newspaper, and then the kids make trees, cars, and other stuff to go in the tornado!
![learning about weather](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/weather-and-seasons-lesson-plans.jpg?resize=219%2C300&ssl=1)
![weather art projects](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TKS-vertical-photo-frames-56.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
As part of our unit, we learn about clouds and the water cycle. By the end of our unit, the kids can tell you which clouds make rain and how rain happens.
![learning about the water cycle](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/14.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
![water cycle lessons for kids](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-cycle-lesson-plans.jpg?resize=231%2C300&ssl=1)
To illustrate this, we do this science experiment with shaving cream and food coloring.
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/12.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
Culminating Task: Meteorologists
For our culminating task, we learn about meteorologists. The students had to use their daily observation journals and create their forecasts. The forecast had to make sense and be realistic.
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
![preschool weather lessons](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/7-1.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
![kindergarten weather unit](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-1.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
The students then stood in front of our green screen and became a meteorologist!
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1-4.jpg?resize=800%2C451&ssl=1)
![weather lesson plans and meteorologists](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2-4.jpg?resize=800%2C451&ssl=1)
Weather Snacks
We also create fun weather-themed snacks!
Clouds and rain with whipped cream and blueberries!
![weather lesson plans and materials](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TKS-vertical-photo-frames-57.jpg?resize=788%2C940&ssl=1)
Jello and whipped cream!
![weather lesson plans and snacks](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/10-1.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
Check out the full preview of our Weather Research Project:
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Show-Me-The-Preview-Small.png?resize=300%2C92&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Buy-Now.png?resize=300%2C65&ssl=1)
Weather Lesson Plans: Weather Hats
No weather unit can be complete with a weather hat! The hat is included in our weather research project!
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1-5.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2-5.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
![weather lesson plans and hats](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3-1.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
Weather Lesson Plans: Weather Books
Click the image to see our Weather Books on Amazon!
![weather lesson plans and read alouds](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/image-14.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)
![weather lesson plans books](https://i0.wp.com/thekindergartensmorgasboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/image-13.jpg?resize=800%2C671&ssl=1)