Category: Teacher’s Pay Teachers

One of my favorite topics to teach when I was in the classroom was weather patterns! There are so many weather patterns activities that you can do with early elementary students that are engaging and fun for students! 

If you’re looking for weather activities for kids or weather STEM activities, you’re in the right place!

The ideas I’m sharing today are perfect for early learners, ideally preschool through first grade. Weather is such an exciting topic, and I hope these ideas will make learning about it a breeze!

Create a Weather Collage

Provide your kiddos with a variety of weather-related pictures from magazines or printouts. Ask them to cut out the pictures and create a weather collage by sorting and pasting them onto a large piece of paper or poster board. They can categorize the pictures into different weather types, such as sunny, rainy, snowy, or windy. 

Play some Weather Bingo

To do this activity, create a weather-themed Bingo game by making Bingo cards with different weather symbols or pictures. Use weather-related vocabulary like sun, cloud, rain, snow, and wind. Call out the words or show picture cards, and students can mark the corresponding symbol on their Bingo cards. Your students will love this game!

Take a Weather Walk

Take your students on a weather walk around the schoolyard or a nearby outdoor area. Ask them to observe and document the current weather conditions. They can draw pictures or take notes about what they see, feel, and hear. After the walk, gather as a group and discuss their observations, allowing them to share their experiences and develop their descriptive skills.

Try out Weather Dramatic Play

Set up a weather-themed dramatic play area in your classroom. Include props like hats, umbrellas, raincoats, sunglasses, and fans. Encourage students to dress up and pretend they are experiencing different weather conditions. They can take turns being the weather reporter, describing the weather and acting out corresponding movements. This is such a fun play-based activity! 

Try a Weather Science Experiment

For example, fill a clear jar or container with hot water and place a small dish of ice on top. As the steam rises and hits the cold lid, it will condense and form “rain” that falls back into the jar. Explain to students how this demonstrates the water cycle and how rain is formed. So fun and simple!

If you are looking for the perfect resource for your weather patterns lessons in kindergarten and first grade, check out this resource! 

This week unit is loaded with enough resources to stretch it out for two weeks, if needed! If you need to teach weather patterns, the water cycle, rainbows, and more, I’ve got you covered with engaging activities and printables to make your life easy!

What’s included?

•Pg. 1 Cover

•Pg. 2 Table of Contents

•Pg. 3 Lesson Plan

•Pg. 4 Standards

•Pg. 5-7 HOME CONNECTION Meteorologist Project

•Pg. 8 Weather (KWL Chart)

•Pg. 9 Act Out Animal Motions

•Pg. 10 Rain (tune of Bingo)

•Pg. 11 Circle and Count the weather pictures

•Pg. 12 Venn Diagram- Sunny and Rainy

•Pg. 13 Venn Diagram Answer Key

•Pg. 14 Crazy Weather Facts to Read to the Class

•Pg. 15 Crazy Weather Facts Writing Paper

•Pg. 16 Label the Weather Picture

•Pg. 17 Weather Mini Book 

•Pg. 18 Cut and paste the weather picture

•Pg. 19 Draw and write about the weather cycle

•Pg. 20 Write a Weather Report about facts you learned from this study.

•Pg. 21 Rainbow Dot Art (Craft)

•Pg. 22 Easy Cloud Science Inquiry Lesson (Enrichment Activity)

•Pg. 23-27 Posters 

•Pg. 28-36 Science Journal with Word Bank, 5 Day Weather Tracker and Rubric

•Pg. 37 Photo Example

•Pg. 38 Credits

What are your favorite weather activities for kids? Let me know in the comments! For more weather fun, check out my post here!

Raise your hand if you love Harry Potter! Don’t we all? There’s just something so magical about The Boy Who Lived and his incredible story. It’s been captivating kids since the late nineties! 

I am all about incorporating student interests in order to get them more engaged in what they’re learning, and Harry Potter, naturally, is one interest that never fails to capture their attention. If you’re looking for Harry Potter theme day activities, you’re in the right place! 

Theme days in elementary are great for getting students more engaged in what’s going on in the classroom. 

Here are three enchanted ways to have a wizard theme day in your classroom (plus a bonus activity!)

1. Magical Decor and Costumes: Transform your classroom into a mystical realm by adding enchanting decorations. Hang colorful banners with stars and moons (or house colors!), and create a magical atmosphere with twinkling lights. 

Encourage students to dress up as wizards, witches, or fantastical creatures to fully immerse themselves in the theme. Provide props such as wizard hats, capes, and wands for those who may not have their own costumes. This will spark their imagination and set the stage for a day of wizardry and wonder.

2. Spellbinding Lessons: Incorporate the wizard theme into your lessons for an engaging and educational experience. Introduce a “Potion Making” activity where students explore mixtures and chemical reactions using harmless ingredients. 

You can also teach “Wizard Math” by turning math problems into magical quests and challenges. Additionally, have students create their own spellbooks where they write creative stories or practice spelling and vocabulary. 

3. Magical Games and Activities: Organize a variety of wizard-inspired games and activities to keep the excitement alive throughout the day. Set up a “Wand Dueling” tournament where students use foam or paper wands to cast spells on each other, promoting friendly competition and physical activity. 

Create a scavenger hunt with riddles and clues that lead students to find hidden magical artifacts around the school. You can even host a “Magical Creatures Parade” where students showcase their homemade creatures and share interesting facts about them. 

If you’re looking for the perfect resource to end out your magical wizard theme day, I have you covered! This virtual field trip to a Wizard School is just what you need! 

Virtual Field trips are a great way to engage students in learning.  Use these interactive, editable Google Slides to easily have students use movable parts, learn about Fiction and non-fiction, the life cycle of a frog, what to bring on a trip and so much more!

This also makes for a great book companion!

What is in this download?

28 Google Slides with Titles, Edit Text Boxes, Directions, Movable Parts 

GREAT for Virtual or In-Person Teaching

• KWL Chart
• Packing A Suitcase for the Trip
• 1 Minute Take OFF Flight Video
• 13-minute Wizard School Field Trip Video (Review Fiction and Non-Fiction Definitions, Learn about the Frog Life Cycle and take a Wizard School Adventure)
• Sequencing Events, 3 Writing Prompts, Counting Objects (under 10), Labeling Parts, Frog Life Cycle Song, and Comprehension Questions
• One extra slide for you to add anything you would like to the lesson. (videos or an assignment)
• Home Connection Optional Assignment for students to write a fiction letter, potion recipe, or story. 
• Black and white ink-saving Writing Pages and Home Connection Page for in-person teaching.

Check it out here! 

For more theme day ideas, check out my post here! 

What are your favorite theme days to do with your students? Let me know in the comments! 

Want a teaching tool that can transport your students beyond the classroom walls and ignite their curiosity like never before? You definitely need to consider virtual field trips! These digital adventures are an incredible way to engage young minds, spark their imagination, and create unforgettable learning experiences.

Picture this: Instead of merely reading about the Great Wall of China in a textbook, your students can virtually explore its magnificence, walk along its ancient pathways, and marvel at its historical significance. With virtual field trips, the world becomes their classroom, and the possibilities are endless.

So, why should you consider incorporating virtual field trips into your elementary curriculum? 

1. Ignite Curiosity: Virtual field trips provide an immersive and interactive learning experience that captivates students’ attention. Whether they are visiting a rainforest, a museum, or even outer space, the sights, sounds, and information they encounter will naturally spark their curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.
2. Make Learning Memorable: As teachers, we all strive to create lasting memories and meaningful connections in our students’ minds. These types of activities in the classroom offer unique opportunities for children to witness historical events, explore diverse cultures, and witness scientific phenomena firsthand. These experiences leave a lasting impression and enhance their knowledge retention.
3. Foster Imagination: Virtual field trips inspire the imagination and encourage creative thinking. As students virtually travel to new places, they can visualize themselves in different settings and imagine the possibilities beyond their immediate surroundings. This imaginative spark can fuel their desire to explore, question, and learn more.
4. Accessible for All: These digital trips break down barriers to learning. They are accessible to students of all abilities and can accommodate diverse learning styles. With just a computer and an internet connection, students can embark on incredible adventures, regardless of physical limitations or geographical constraints.
5. Reinforcing Classroom Concepts: These activities provide a tangible connection to the topics being studied in class. They serve as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications. 

Virtual field trips don’t have to replace traditional field trips entirely. But they are a powerful supplement that can enrich and expand your teaching toolkit. 

Ready to get started with? Here are some resources that make it easy, fun, and memorable for you and your students! 

Virtual Field Trip to the Beach

Virtual Camping Field Trip

Virtual Zoo Trip

Earth Day Field Trip 

Wizard School Virtual Trip

Can’t choose just one? Check out the bundle! 

If you want to learn more about these types of trips, check out my post here for a comparison of digital vs. in person field trips so that you can choose the right one for you!