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Week 3: Weather and Seasons

Weekly Focus

Children explore how weather changes throughout the year, learn about the four seasons, and discover the relationship between seasons and weather patterns.

Week at a Glance

  • Identify the four seasons and their characteristics
  • Connect weather patterns to different seasons
  • Observe how plants and animals respond to seasonal changes
  • Create seasonal art and explore seasonal activities
Kindergarten students learning about the four seasons

Weekly Overview

Theme

Weather and Seasons

Focus Areas

  • Four seasons
  • Seasonal weather patterns
  • Seasonal changes
  • Plant and animal adaptations

Key Vocabulary

seasonsspringsummerfallautumnwintercyclechangepatternadapt

Seasonal Documentation

Create a classroom 'Season Tree' display that can be updated throughout the year. Use a large tree outline with branches, and change the decorations to match each season (blossoms in spring, green leaves in summer, colorful leaves in fall, bare with snowflakes in winter). Take photos of the same outdoor location during different seasons to help children visualize seasonal changes.

Daily Plans

Monday: Introducing the Seasons

Daily schedule and activities

Morning Activity

Morning Circle: Introduce the concept of seasons and the seasonal cycle

Literacy Focus

Read 'The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree' by Gail Gibbons

Math Focus

Create a seasons chart with four equal sections

Afternoon Activity

Begin creating a class seasons book with one page for each season

Materials Needed

  • The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree book
  • Chart paper divided into four sections
  • Season pictures
  • Book-making materials
  • Art supplies

Assessment Notes

Observe students' prior knowledge about seasons and their ability to identify basic seasonal characteristics.

Featured Activities

Four Seasons Tree

Students create a tree that shows all four seasons in different sections, using various materials to represent seasonal changes.

Duration

45 minutes

Materials

  • Brown construction paper (for tree trunk)
  • Green, red, yellow tissue paper
  • Cotton balls
  • Flower stickers
  • Glue
  • Scissors

Learning Areas

Science
Art
Seasonal Changes

Season Sort

Students sort pictures of activities, clothing, and weather into the appropriate seasons.

Duration

30 minutes

Materials

  • Season sorting mats
  • Picture cards
  • Season labels
  • Pocket chart

Learning Areas

Science
Critical Thinking
Vocabulary

Weather Dress-Up Relay

Teams race to dress a team member appropriately for a specific season's weather.

Duration

25 minutes

Materials

  • Seasonal clothing items
  • Season cards
  • Timer
  • Dress-up station for each team
  • Open space

Learning Areas

Physical Education
Life Skills
Teamwork

Seasonal Sensory Bins

Students explore sensory bins with materials representing each season (spring flowers, summer sand, fall leaves, winter 'snow').

Duration

Ongoing center

Materials

  • Sensory bins
  • Seasonal materials
  • Scoops
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Seasonal small toys

Learning Areas

Sensory Development
Science
Vocabulary

Seasonal Transitions

Help students understand that seasons don't change overnight by discussing transition periods. Use a color-changing activity where colors gradually blend (like yellow slowly adding orange to become fall) to demonstrate how seasons gradually change. Discuss how some days in spring might feel like winter, or some fall days might feel like summer.

Resources

Books

  • "The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree" by Gail Gibbons
  • "And Then It's Spring" by Julie Fogliano
  • "Summer Days and Nights" by Wong Herbert Yee
  • "Fall Is Not Easy" by Marty Kelley
  • "Winter Is the Warmest Season" by Lauren Stringer

Printables

  • Four seasons sorting cards
  • Seasonal weather chart templates
  • Seasonal clothing matching game
  • Seasons wheel template
  • Seasonal observation journal pages

Home Connection

Send home a seasonal scavenger hunt that families can use throughout the year. Include items to find during each season, encouraging outdoor exploration and observation of seasonal changes.

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