We are excited to introduce our new compelling materials on Weather Instruments. For children 5-9, exploring weather instruments not only introduces them to scientific tools, but also promotes observation skills, data interpretation, and an appreciation for celestial occurrence. This material will provide a structured, hands-on approach to learning these concepts. The material consists of a complete set with flash cards and matching wooden tiles on a tray for beginners, or a large control chart and 6-part nomenclature cards for advanced learners. In this blog post, we will explore the materials in a logical order, to assist you in scaffolding your presentation based on your learner’s abilities.
Materials
- Weather Instruments – Complete Set
- Weather Instruments Flash Cards
- Weather Instruments Matching Tiles
- Weather Instruments Nomenclature Cards (3-6) (Printed)
- Weather Instruments Nomenclature Cards (6-9) (Printed)
Related materials: Weather Curriculum, Basic Weather Symbols Wooden Nomenclature Cards (3-6), Weather Board
First Presentation – Flash Cards & Puzzles
The purposes of this lesson are to familiarize children with various weather instruments, increase vocabulary related to weather and measurement, enhance visual discrimination and matching abilities, reinforce autonomy, and spark curiosity about how we understand and predict the weather.
To introduce the material to younger learners, gather a small group around the working area using the flash cards, matching puzzles, and a presentational tray designed for this activity. Begin with a simple question such as, “Have you ever wondered how we know what the weather will be like tomorrow?” Introduce the flashcards starting from the most familiar and moving towards the more complex. Here are some examples:
–Thermometer: Children are likely familiar with the concept of hot and cold and may have seen a thermometer before. It’s tangible and relates to their own experience. Show the corresponding flash card and say, “This is a thermometer. It tells us how hot or cold it is outside, like when you feel warm or chilly. See the red line go up when it’s hot and down when it’s cold?”
–Rain Gauge: Children can easily observe the wind and see things moving in the air. Show the corresponding flash card and say, “This is a windsock. It shows us which way the wind is blowing. See how it turns when the wind changes direction?“
–Barometer: It introduces the concept of air pressure, which is a bit more abstract but can be related to how we feel. Show the corresponding flash card and say, “This is a barometer. It tells us about the air around us. Sometimes the air pushes harder (high pressure) and sometimes it pushes less (low pressure). It can help us know if the weather will change.“
–Hygrometer: Humidity is related to how the air feels, like sticky or dry. Show the corresponding flash card and say, “This is a hygrometer. It tells us how much water is in the air. When there’s a lot of water, it feels sticky, like after it rains.“
–Anemometer: It builds on the understanding of wind by measuring its speed. Show the corresponding flash card and say, “This is an anemometer. It spins around to tell us how fast the wind is blowing. If it spins really fast, it means the wind is strong!“
–Snow Gauge: If you live in an area with snow, this is a natural progression from the rain gauge. Show the corresponding flash card and say, “This is a snow gauge. It’s like a rain gauge, but it measures how much snow falls. We can see how deep the snow is!“
–Weather Balloon: It introduces the idea of collecting data higher up in the atmosphere. Show the corresponding flash card and say, “This is a weather balloon. It goes high up in the sky to take pictures and measurements of the air up there. It helps us learn more about the weather.”
–Weather Radar/Weather Satellite: These are more complex but can be related to things they’ve seen on TV or online. Show the corresponding flash cards and say, “This is a weather radar. It uses special tools to see what’s happening with the weather over a big area, like where storms are coming from.“
–Pyranometer/Ceilometer/Evaporation Pan/Lightning Detector: These are more specialized and might be less relatable for children. Show the corresponding flash cards and say, “This is a special tool that scientists use to learn even more about the weather. It measures things like sunlight, clouds, water evaporating, and lightning!“
Second Presentation – Nomenclature Cards & Chart
On another day, advanced learners can explore the large chart to recall the terminology related to weather instruments. Gather a small group of learners. Show the large chart and distribute the picture/label cards among the students. Set up the description/label cards from top to bottom, read each definition, and invite learners to match the corresponding picture/label cards. Demonstrate how to use the control booklet to check for errors.
Invite learners to challenge themselves by setting up the picture/label cards from top to bottom, and matching the corresponding “fill-in-the-blank” cards and labels.
Finally, summarize the lesson and reinforce the importance of weather instruments in understanding and predicting the weather. Encourage the children to observe weather instruments in their daily lives and think about how they were used. As an extension, create a weather station in the classroom with real or model weather instruments for the children to explore and use. For more innovative Montessori-aligned materials, visit our website at www.alisonsmontessori.com.
