Core Learning Experience

+ Supplies and Equipment

Possible/Expected Discoveries

Extended Learning and Other Curriculum Areas

• Pile some clothes, shoes, boots, mittens, swimsuits etc on the floor. Have the children look through them, and discuss them. What would you wear if the weather is hot? Raining? Foggy? Freezing? Windy? Give reasons. Sort out some clothes that would help you be warm, cool, keep hands warm, keep head warm etc. 
• Show photos representing the four seasons. Have the children describe what is happening in each photo. Which photo shows weather where we might wear shorts? Boots? etc. Have clipart pictures of articles to match to the weather pictured.
• We can wear some clothes whether it is hot, cold, or rainy. Let’s think of some. (underwear, shoes, socks, belt etc.)

• This lesson is not meant to present the concepts of the 4 seasons and their effects. That is a very huge concept for children who may have only lived through 3 or4 of each season. Here we are presenting the ideas that there are different kinds of weather, and people (and animals, plants) can adapt to the weather and environmental conditions.
• Some days are sunny, raining, hot, cloudy, windy etc. Are we able to choose the weather that we would like? For example, if it is hot and sunny, can we make the weather change to snow because we want to build a snowperson? Why?
•  Discussion questions: Can we go swimming when it is raining? (indoor pool) Do we wear coats and mittens on a hot sunny day? Would you go outside and play during a thunderstorm? No right or wrong answers here, the idea is to encourage giving REASONS for their answers.
• Do you think that all animals enjoy getting wet in the rain? Do animals wear raincoats? Let’s think about some animals and their shelters. (Dog, cat, duck, snake, butterfly, bee, bird, horse etc). 

• Read lots of books about weather and the four seasons, particularly the kinds of weather in your area.
•  Close your eyes and think about the kind of weather you enjoy most. Teacher describes some weather conditions with lots of descriptive vocabulary while children are thinking. Then have the children choose some paint colors that they believe would suit “their weather”, and paint a picture about their thoughts.
• Keep a daily weather chart.
• During a hot spell, play sounds of rain on an environmental sound CD. Have the children lie on the floor and listen and imagine.