Core Skills Analysis
Mathematics
- Counts days of the week, reinforcing one‑to‑seven sequencing
- Uses simple addition/subtraction when comparing yesterday’s and today’s temperature
- Recognises patterns in the repeated daily routine (e.g., Monday‑Friday school days)
- Orders data chronologically on a calendar strip
Science
- Observes and records weather conditions, developing systematic observation skills
- Classifies sky states (sunny, cloudy, rainy) fostering categorical thinking
- Links temperature changes to time of day, introducing basic cause‑and‑effect
Literacy
- Learns new weather‑related vocabulary and uses it in oral reports
- Practices sequencing language when saying “Today is…”, “Yesterday was…”
- Develops listening skills by following the group’s calendar routine
Geography
- Identifies local weather patterns, building early geographic awareness
- Connects weather to seasons, laying groundwork for seasonal concepts
History
- Introduces the concept of days, weeks and months, supporting early chronology understanding
- Notes cultural routines such as “Monday is school day”, linking time to social practices
Tips
Extend the daily check by creating a classroom weather wall where children paste a symbol each morning, then discuss how the weather changes over a week. Incorporate a simple graph to plot temperature, turning the data into a visual math activity. Invite a family member to act as a ‘weather reporter’ and record a short video, encouraging the child to narrate what they see using new vocabulary. Finally, link the calendar to storytime by reading a book about seasons and having the child predict the next day’s weather, reinforcing both scientific reasoning and sequencing skills.
Book Recommendations
- The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola: A gentle picture book that explores clouds, weather changes and encourages children to notice the sky.
- Today Is Monday by Jamie Lee: A playful story that follows a child through the days of the week, reinforcing calendar concepts.
- Weather Words and What They Mean by Jenny Wingfield: Simple definitions and illustrations of common weather terms perfect for early learners.
Learning Standards
- EYFS – Mathematics: Counting, ordering and using number language (Early Learning Goal 1)
- EYFS – Understanding the World: Observing and describing the weather (Early Learning Goal 14)
- EYFS – Communication and Language: Using new vocabulary and retelling sequences (Early Learning Goal 9)
- EYFS – Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Taking turns in group routine (Early Learning Goal 3)
- National Curriculum – Geography (Key Stage 1): Weather and seasons
- National Curriculum – Science (Key Stage 1): Working scientifically – making observations, recording data
Try This Next
- Worksheet: Match weather symbols to words and draw a line to the correct day on the calendar
- Quiz prompt: “What was the weather yesterday?” with picture choices for recall
- Drawing task: Children create their own weather forecast poster for the next three days
- Writing prompt: “My favorite weather is … because …” (guided sentence starters)