Preschool Weather Lesson Plan: Sensory Bins, Science & Art for Ages 3-4

Discover a complete, hands-on weather lesson plan perfect for preschoolers aged 3-4. This engaging science lesson helps young learners identify sunny, rainy, cloudy, and windy weather through fun, multi-sensory activities. The plan includes a detailed guide for creating a weather sensory bin, a captivating 'Rain Cloud in a Jar' science experiment, and a creative 'Windy Day' blow-painting art project. With learning objectives, material lists, and extension ideas, this is the perfect resource for teachers and parents looking to teach weather in a fun and memorable way.

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Lesson Plan: My Wonderful Weather Window

Materials Needed:

  • For Sensory Bin: A shallow bin or container, cotton balls (clouds), blue water beads or blue-dyed rice (rain), yellow pom-poms or a yellow toy block (sun), a small pinwheel or feathers (wind).
  • For Rain Cloud Jar: A clear glass jar, water, shaving cream, blue food coloring, a dropper or small spoon.
  • For Windy Day Art: A piece of blue construction paper, white paint, a straw, a small bowl for the paint, a brown crayon or marker.
  • General: Weather flashcards or pictures (sun, cloud, rain, wind), children's book about weather (e.g., "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats or "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett).

Lesson Details

Subject: Science (Weather Exploration)

Student: Zandilemasilela77

Age Group: 3-4 years

1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, Zandilemasilela77 will be able to:

  • Identify and name at least three types of weather (sunny, rainy, cloudy, windy) using pictures or objects.
  • Participate in a hands-on activity that mimics a weather phenomenon (rain).
  • Create a piece of art representing a type of weather (windy day).

2. Introduction: The Weather Song & Peek Outside (5 minutes)

Goal: To capture attention and introduce the topic of weather.

  1. Sing a simple weather song together, like "What's the Weather?" (to the tune of "Oh My Darling, Clementine"):
    What's the weather, what's the weather,
    What's the weather today?
    Is it sunny, is it cloudy,
    Is it rainy out today?
  2. Go to a window together. Ask, "Zandilemasilela77, what do you see outside our window today? Do you see the sun? Do you see clouds? Is it windy?"
  3. Talk about what you are wearing and if it is good for the weather today.

3. Main Activity 1: Weather Sensory Exploration (10 minutes)

Goal: To explore different weather concepts through touch and play.

  1. Present the prepared weather sensory bin.
  2. Introduce each item and what it represents. "Look! These fluffy cotton balls feel like soft clouds." "These yellow pom-poms are bright like the sun!"
  3. Let Zandilemasilela77 freely explore the bin. Encourage them to scoop the "rain," hide the "sun" behind the "clouds," and blow on the feathers or pinwheel to make "wind."
  4. Ask simple questions during play: "Can you find the sun?" "Can you make the clouds float?"

4. Main Activity 2: Rain Cloud in a Jar (10 minutes)

Goal: To create a visual and exciting representation of how rain falls from clouds.

  1. Fill the clear jar about 2/3 full with water. Explain that this is the air.
  2. Spray a nice, fluffy layer of shaving cream on top of the water. "Here is our big, puffy cloud!"
  3. Explain that clouds hold water. Using the dropper or spoon, help Zandilemasilela77 drop blue food coloring onto the "cloud."
  4. Watch together as the "cloud" gets heavy with the blue "rain." Wait for the blue food coloring to break through the shaving cream and fall down into the water.
  5. Exclaim, "It's raining! The cloud got too full and now the rain is falling down."

5. Main Activity 3: Windy Day Tree Art (10-15 minutes)

Goal: To creatively express the concept of wind while practicing fine motor skills.

  1. Using a brown crayon or marker, draw a simple tree trunk and some branches on the blue paper for Zandilemasilela77.
  2. Pour a small amount of thinned white paint into a bowl. Explain that this will be the "windy snow" or "windy leaves."
  3. Show Zandilemasilela77 how to dip the end of the straw into the paint to pick up a small drop.
  4. Place the drop on the paper near the tree branches. Now, aim the straw just above the paint drop and BLOW! The paint will splatter across the page like the wind is blowing it.
  5. Let them create their own windy masterpiece. It’s okay if it gets messy—that's part of the fun!

6. Wrap-Up and Review: Weather Story Time (5 minutes)

Goal: To reinforce the concepts in a calm and comforting way.

  1. Clean up together.
  2. Cuddle up and read a weather-themed book. As you read, point out the weather in the pictures. "Look, it's snowing on this page!" "He is using an umbrella because it is rainy."
  3. Display the "Windy Day Tree Art" and ask Zandilemasilela77 to tell you about their picture. "What kind of weather is happening in your beautiful artwork?"

7. Differentiation and Extension Ideas

  • For Extra Support: Focus on just two weather types (e.g., sunny and rainy). Use very simple, one-word labels. Guide their hand more during the art project.
  • For an Extra Challenge: Introduce more weather types like snow or fog. Ask "why" questions, such as "Why do we need an umbrella when it rains?" Let them draw their own tree trunk for the art project. You could also create a simple weather chart to track the weather each day for a week.