Activity set: Where do you live and weather
Children are very aware of the changes in weather, as it very much impacts their little lives! ‘Put on your sunhat / coat / raincoat / suncream’ are instructions they hear often, and often get tired of!
From montessori age, they have spent time working on the observation of a variety of weather conditions learning and using simple vocabulary.
They begin to identify ways in which weather influences the lives of people, outside of themselves. Children will all have stories to tell about storms, hot sun, tornadoes that they have heard from family and life experiences.
I would engage the children with some different design tasks as they work through different types of weather:
Can we design a sun-protection device, or shade creator that keeps a small figure out of the direct light of the sun- this could be further developed into a sun safety lesson (Slip on a tshirt, Slap on a hat and Slop on some suncream) with poster design.
Can we design an umbrella – what materials are durable and waterproof? Opportunities for discovery learning here as materials are provided.
Discuss the suitability of different kinds of clothes for different weather conditions and subsequently become aware of and investigate the suitability of different kinds of clothes for variations in temperature.