The book: Bear in Sunshine discusses basic weather concepts
and the things that bear likes to do in each kind of weather. Each page has one
sentence, which is great for younger kids eager to turn the page. The
illustrations are bright and colorful and did a great job keeping my three year
old engaged.
The book itself discusses weather and the last page has four
frames that are labeled by seasons. I think this is actually a little
problematic because the book never discusses seasons until this page so my
daughter was excited to label spring as “rain” and winter as “snow”. Of course
this is a great teachable moment to introduce the types of weather that happens
in each season.
Target age(s): infants to preschool. Because this book has so little text, it is a quick read for very little kids. But also because this book discusses weather and activities related to weather, it can be expanded for more sophisticated discussions/lessons for older kids.
Springboard for
lessons:
Having a discussion with students (ages 3+) about some of the
different types of weather they have experienced as well as some of the
different activities they can do in each kind of weather. Then each child can
be asked draw a picture of an activity they like to do in a specific type of
weather (such as “I like to make cookies when it rains”).
Common Core Standards for Pre-K addressed:
Writing Standards
Text Types and Purposes
2. With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating,
or writing to compose informative/explanatory
texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
Production and Distribution of Writing
5. With guidance and support,
respond to questions and suggestions and add details to strengthen illustration
or writing, as needed.
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
4. Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting
and support, provide additional detail.
5. Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to
provide additional detail.
6. Demonstrate an emergent ability to express thoughts, feelings and
ideas.
Visual Arts
1. Expresses oneself and represents what he/she knows, thinks, believes
and feels through visual arts.
Matching game with
weather (3 and up):
Supplies: cut-outs of different items related to weather
such as an umbrella, snow boots, sunglasses, etc.
a poster board with three categories of weather (snowy, sunny,
rainy).
Objective: students will be able to match items we use in
the appropriate weather categories (such as placing the umbrella under the
rainy category)
Common Core Standards
addressed for Pre-K:
Vocabulary
5. Demonstrates a growing receptive vocabulary
a)
Understands and follows spoken directions.
b)
Identifies pictures related to words (show me
the white dog)
6. Demonstrates a growing expressive vocabulary.
b) Uses more complex words in
conversation.
c) Makes use of new and rare words introduced by adults or peers.
d) Correctly names picture when asked, “What is this?”
e) Begins to use appropriate volume and speed so spoken message is
understood.
Predicting and Charting weather
for a month (toddler and older):
Supplies: A chalkboard to write down the predictions of students.
A monthly chart to keep track of weather.
Cutouts of “weather” (sun for sunny, snow for snowing, gust of wind for
windy… etc)
Objectives: Students will make predictions about the next day’s weather
(teacher will write down predictions on chalkboard)
Students will be able to observe weather at the same time each day and
chart their observations
Students will discusses the relationships between actual observations and
their predictions.
Students will tally how many days were sunny, rainy, snowy etc. the
month and compare the data
Common Core Pre-k standards addressed:
Science; Earth and Space
a)
Observes and discusses changes in weather and
seasons using common weather related vocabulary
(e.g., rainy, sunny, snowy, windy, cloudy, etc.).
Scientific Thinking
1. Asks questions
and makes predictions based on observations and manipulation of things and
events in the environment.
a) Uses senses to
gather, explore, and interpret information.
c) Makes
observations and describes changes in objects, living things, and natural
events in the environment.
f) Makes
predictions based on background knowledge, previous scientific experiences, and
observations of objects and events in the world.
