Objective

By the end of this lesson, Kelsey will be able to understand basic concepts about weather and how to observe and predict it.

Materials and Prep

• Clear jar with lid
• Ice cubes
• Warm water
• Food coloring
• Small plastic cup
• Paper and crayons for drawing

No special knowledge required, just be curious and ready to learn!

Activities

• Make a mini tornado in a jar by filling the jar with water, adding a few drops of food coloring, tightly closing the lid, and swirling the jar in a circular motion.
• Observe the weather outside and draw a picture of what you see. Include the sun, clouds, rain, and any other elements you notice.
• Create a rain cloud in a cup by filling the cup with warm water, placing ice cubes on top, and watching as the cloud forms and "rains" into the cup.

Talking Points

• Quotation: "Weather is what happens in the sky. It can be sunny, rainy, windy, or snowy."
• Quotation: "We can make a mini tornado in a jar by swirling the water around. It looks like a spinning cloud."
• Quotation: "When we see dark clouds in the sky, it might mean that it will rain soon."
• Quotation: "Drawing what we see outside helps us remember the different types of weather."
• Quotation: "The ice cubes on top of the cup make a cloud. When the cloud gets heavy, it rains just like real clouds do."