Stock the dramatic play area with weather-related props for play. Depending on the season, you may want to adapt the props to the current weather. During the spring months, provide a rain gauge, raincoats, boots, umbrellas and rainy or stormy weather music. In the summer, stock the area with sunglasses, beach umbrellas, sand toys, towels, empty sunscreen bottles, hats and water bottles. For winter months, provide coats, hats, mittens, scarves, earmuffs and snowsuits. For fall months, try jackets, rakes and plastic leaves. Hang student-created decorations, such as clouds, snowflakes or a sun, in the play area.
Incorporate math skills into the dramatic play area by having students record the weather. If the classroom has an outside window, students can look out to check the weather. Students can also travel to another classroom or ask a staff member. If the classroom has a student computer, students can check weather conditions on a weather website. Create a shortcut on the desktop, save the location and teach students how to access the webpage. Students can then record the weather in a variety of forms. Try placing a simple bar graph with weather icons on a clipboard and have students color in a box for each day. Students can also record the weather on a wall calendar by coloring each day to designate the weather. For example, the students could color the box gray for cloudy or yellow for sunny. Challenge advanced students to record weather conditions with tally marks or check and record outside temperatures.
Students can also practice their writing and speaking skills at the dramatic play center. After checking the weather, have students prepare a report. Avid writers and drawers can fill in a blank newspaper template reporting today's weather and predictions for the week. Bring in real newspaper examples for inspiration. Hang a "green screen" background in the center and provide props, such as a camera, microphone, camera, suit jackets and laminated icons for use on the map. Encourage students to create and perform a weather report. For even more pretend play, cut an opening out of a large cardboard box for children to watch other students' forecasts "on TV."
Preschoolers love to make noise. Let students create their own "weather music." Provide cookie sheets, rain sticks (tubes with rice or beans inside), clappers, water bottles and flashlights for students to create a thunderstorm in the play center. Encourage students to try patterns and rhythms within the musical storm. Challenge students to create noises for unique weather conditions, such as wind, snow and hail.