Taken from Activity Idea Place ~
http://123child.com/UBB/showthread.php?t=7868
Weather Art
Kool Aid Rain Art
Sprinkle a little dry Kool aid mix onto a piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use different colored Kool-aid mix. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has Kool-aid on it.
Rain Sticks
Seal off one end of a paper towel tube with tape or tape heavy construction paper or tagboard over one hole. Prepoke holes in the side of the paper towel tube with either a small nail or an awl. The child then can insert toothpicks into the holes. Have the child fill with dried rice or lentils, then seal the other end of the tube. Cover the tube with construction paper, then have the child decorate as desired. To use the rain stick, simply turn it over and listen to the “rain”.
Rain Art
Fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Do this for at least three different bottles, with three different colors. Then place a large piece of paper on the floor, on an easel, on a wall or fence outside. Then have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.
Raindrop Hats
Make hats from newsprint and have the child decorate with blue paint or rain and rainbow stickers.
Torn Paper Raindrops
Draw a raindrop shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of blue construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the raindrop shape.
Raindrop Necklaces
Supply the children with raindrop shaped stencil. Have the children cut out raindrop shapes from construction paper. Then, have the child use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.
Raindrop Rubbings
Cut raindrop shapes from paper doilies or sandpaper. Tape these raindrops to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the raindrops and rub a crayon over the raindrop
Kool Aid Art
Sprinkle a little dry Kool aid mix onto a piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use different colored Kool-aid mix. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has Kool-aid on it.
Umbrella Art
Cut out an umbrella shape and have your child decorate it with paint, glitter, fabric, crayons, or whatever you can come up with.
Thunderstorm:
When it is raining, watch the rain. Talk about the sounds that you hear during a rain storm. What are the signs that a storm is coming. Talk about storm safety!!!
Spray Art
Fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Do this for at least three different bottles, with three different colors. Then place a large piece of paper on the floor, on an easel, on a wall or fence outside. Then have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.
Raindrop Hats
Make hats from newsprint and have the child decorate with blue paint or rain and rainbow stickers.
Raindrop People
Give the children a piece of white paper, and a blue raindrop shape. Have the children glue the raindrop onto the paper, and then draw a body as if the raindrop was a head.
Torn Paper Raindrops
Draw a raindrop shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of blue construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the raindrop shape.
Raindrop Necklaces
Supply the children with raindrop shaped stencil. Have the children cut out raindrop shapes from construction paper. Then, have the child use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.
Raindrop Rubbing
Cut raindrop shapes from paper doilies or sandpaper. Tape these raindrops to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the raindrops and rub a crayon over the raindrop.
Raindrop Art
Supply the children with raindrop shaped sponges and paint and have them make a rain scene with them.
Raindrop Cookie Cutter Art:
Obtain a cookie cutter that is shaped like a raindrop. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of blue paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make raindrop prints.
Sticker Art
Supply the children with raindrop shaped stickers and have them place them on a piece of white paper.
Stamp Art
Supply the children with raindrop stamps and have them make a rain scene with the stamps.
Raindrop Headbands
Measure your child’s head, and cut a piece of construction paper long enough to create a headband. Glue the paper together so the headband fits snugly on your child’s head but is loose enough to take off easily. Have the children cut out blue raindrop shapes or use stickers and glue to the headband.
Fingerprint Raindrops
Supply your children with white paper and a non-toxic blue stamp pad. Have the children make fingerprints on the paper to represent raindrops.
Measuring rainfall
On a rainy day, set out a container to measure the rainfall. Measure how much rain fell that day. Continue to measure the rain each day, and record for a few weeks. Ask your child to predict how much water will be collected. Ask at the beginning of the day and ask when it is raining. Did their answer change?
Bean Bag Puddle Toss
You need a hula hoop (the puddle) and some bean bags. You can either set up the hula hoop on its side or on the ground. Have your child try to throw the bean bags into the puddle.
Jump in the Puddle
Set a hula hoop on the floor. Play some music and have your child walk around the hula hoop. When the music stops, have them jump into the hoop (the puddle).
Jump Over the Puddle
Cut out puddle shapes from blue paper or newspaper (you can have the children paint it blue). They need to be small enough for the children to be able to hop over. Then set them on the floor and ask the children to take turns hopping over the puddle.
Wet or Dry
Cut some pictures from a magazine, or show some pictures from a book, ask your child if the objects are wet or dry?
Raindrop fishing
Cut out several raindrop shapes from light blue construction paper. Write several numbers or letters on them. Have them laminated. Then place a paper clip on each raindrop. Make a fishing pole out of a dowel or pencil, string and a magnet. Place the raindrops on the floor and have the children sit in chairs around the raindrops. (This may work better with a few fishing poles.) Have the children try to catch a raindrop with the fishing pole. Then, when they catch one, show it to them and ask what letter or number it is.
Variation: For younger children you could make the raindrops different colors and ask what color is the raindrop
Variation: Ask the child if they can catch the “a” or the “1″
Raindrop Search
Cut out many raindrop shapes and hide them around the room. Have the children search for them like an Easter egg hunt.
Raindrop Hop
Place raindrop shapes on the floor. Have the children hop from one raindrop to the next.
Raindrop Seat Markers
Cut out and laminate big raindrop shapes to be used as seat markers for the children to sit on during story and circle time.
Rain, Rain
Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside and play
Come again some other day
(Optional lyrics: change third line to say:
(child’s name)’s friends all want to play
It’s raining, it’s pouring,
It’s raining, it’s pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he
Bumped his head
And he couldn’t get up in the morning.
It Ain’t Gonna Rain
It ain’t gonna rain no more, no more
It ain’t gonna rain no more,
How in the heck will we wash the neck
If it ain’t gonna rain no more?
If All the Raindrops
If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be!
Standing outside, with my mouth open wide
Singing La la la la, la la la, la la la,
If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be!
If all the snowflakes were candy bars and milkshakes
Oh, what a snow that would be!
Standing outside, with my mouth open wide
Singing La la la la, la la la, la la la,
If all the snowflakes were candy bars and milkshakes
Oh, what a snow that would be!
If all the sunbeams were bubble gum and ice cream
Oh, what a sun that would be!
Standing outside, with my mouth open wide
Singing La la la la, la la la, la la la,
If all the sunbeams were bubble gum and ice cream
Oh, what a sun that would be!
Musical Raindrops
Cut out large raindrop shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor. It is best for younger children to have more raindrops than children. Play music and have the children walk around the room. When the music stops each child needs to find a raindrop to stand on.
What time is it Mr. Raindrop?
This is a fun game to play outside. You can change the name to suit any theme. The children all line up against a wall or fence. And one child, Mr. Raindrop or the teacher faces away from the children, a good distance away from the children. The children yell, what time is it “Mr. Raindrop”, Mr. Raindrop answers 1 o’clock, and the children all take one step toward Mr. Raindrop. The children yell again, what time is it “Mr. Raindrop”, Mr. Raindrop answers (fill in the blank) o’clock, and the children all take same number of step toward Mr. Raindrop. This continues until all the children are very close to Mr. Raindrop, then Mr. Raindrop will answer it’s midnight, and chases the children back to the fence or wall that they started at. The first person Mr. Raindrop touches will be the new Mr. Raindrop.
Raindrop Feelie Center
Cut raindrop shapes from blue fabrics with different textures. Glue these onto a piece of cardboard. When dry, let the children feel the different textures.
Rain Plates
Sprinkle a bit of tempera paint or a few drops of food coloring onto a paper plate. Have the child take the plate out into the rain for a few seconds, then bring the plate back inside and allow to dry. If you don’t want to brave the rain, just have the children use a spray bottle to add water to their plate.
Evaporation:
Obtain two clear plastic glasses of the same size. Measure one cup of water and place in each cup. Mark the water level of each cup with a permanent marker. Place one in a sunny window and the other somewhere else in the room. Observe the glasses of water over the nest couple of days. Ask the children where the water is going. Which is evaporating more quickly? Evaporation occurs when the particles of water become warm enough that they turn into vapors and leave the cup and escape into the air. Why did the water in the sun evaporate faster?
Rain Spattered Umbrellas
You will need: watered down non-toxic blue paint, paper, pipettes and straws. Supply each child with a straw and a piece of paper. Allow the children to use the pipette (or medicine dropper NOT GLASS) to place a small amount of paint onto a piece of paper. Then, have them use the straw to blow the paint around their picture.
Rain Sticks
Seal off one end of a paper towel tube with tape or tape heavy construction paper or tag board over one hole. Pre-poke holes in the side of the paper towel tube with either a small nail or an awl. The child then can insert toothpicks into the holes. Have the child fill with dried rice or lentils, then seal the other end of the tube. Cover the tube with construction paper, then have the child decorate as desired. To use the rain stick, simply turn it over and listen to the rain.
Prop Box Rain Ideas
Raincoats, rain hats, rain boots, child sized umbrella.
Rain in a Bag
Place a handful of dirt, some grass and a couple of tablespoons of water in a ziplock sandwich bag. Place a straw in the bag with out end still sticking out. Seal the bag around the straw then blow air into the bag through the straw until it is filled. Seal the bag closed. Set the bag in the window on a sunny day and see it rain inside the bag.
Cloud Blots and Raindrops
Fold a piece of light blue construction paper in half. Have the children add a couple of drops of white or gray paint to the paper. Have the child refold the paper and press the two halved together. Have the child roll a rolling pin over the paper, in every direction. Then unfold and let dry. Then, fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of blue paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.
Paper Plate Umbrellas
Have the children decorate large paper plates with paint, crayons, markers or whatever they would like. When finished and dry, poke a hole in the middle large enough for the child to stick their finger through. Use the umbrellas at circle time, have the children sings a song about the rain while holding the umbrellas over their head.
What Happens to the Rain
After it rains, take the children out to follow the path of the rain. Where does it go? Does it seep into the ground, down the sewer? What happens to the rain on the sidewalk or on the slide?
Songs from http://www.kididdles.com
Cloud Pictures
Clouds
Fairies of the Rain
Have You Heard the Wind?
If All the Little Raindrops
It Ain’t Gonna Rain
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
Little Raindrops
Louder Than Thunder
Pretty Rainbow
Rain
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Rain, The
Rainbow, The
Rainbow Song
Rainbow Song by Suzy Gazlay
Raindrop Soldiers
Splash! Fall the Raindrops
Spring
Summer Rain
Weather, The
Clouds
Cotton Ball Clouds
Make gray cloud shapes from construction paper. Have the children glue on cotton balls.
Watch the Clouds
On a partly cloudy day take the children out to watch the clouds. Talk about the shapes of the clouds. How do they move? What happens when they cover the sun? What colors of clouds are there?
Paint with Clouds
Supply each child with a piece of blue paper, a cotton ball and white paint. Have the child dip the cotton ball into the white paint and press onto the paper to make cloud prints.
Paint with a Cloud 2
Supply the children with a piece of white paper an many cotton balls and many different colors of paint, and have them paint with the cotton ball on the paper.
Playing with Clouds
Put some shaving cream on the table. Tell the children to imagine that it is a cloud. To keep children to their own personal space use a paper plate for the shaving cream.
Blue Shaving Cream Art
Add a few drops of blue paint to shaving cream. Have the children use this to paint with. Not mixing the paint in will give it a special look.
3-D Clouds
Cut out two identical cloud shapes from construction paper. Let the children paint these shapes with gray paint. For added texture, mis the paint with a bit of shaving cream. Allow to dry. Staple the shapes together, but leave about five inches unstapled. Have the children stuff with newspaper then finish stapling around the edge. Staple a piece of yarn to hang the projects from the ceiling.
Wind
Kite Art
Supply the children with paper, glue and ribbon. Have the children cut and glue pieces of paper together and add ribbon to make a kite. This kite can be a very open ended art project, by not requiring the kite to be a specific shape, the children are free to make the kite however they wish. Have the children add a ribbon tail and hang the kites from the ceiling.
Would the Wind Blow It?
Set up a fan in your room to test if a variety of items could be blown by the wind. Before you try each item, have the children predict if the item will move in the wind. Try feathers, paper, paper balled up, blocks, plastic cars, dolls, leaves, plastic bags, and other items in your room.
Wind art:
Click here to see an example
You will need: watered down non-toxic paint, paper, pipettes and straws. Supply each child with a straw and a piece of paper. Allow the children to use the pipette (or medicine dropper NOT GLASS) to place a small amount of paint onto a piece of paper. Then, have them use the straw to blow the paint around their picture.
Wind Sock
Cut the bottom off a brown paper bag. Decorate and add streamers to the bottom. Hang from the ceiling or have the children try the wind sock outside or in front of a fan.
Bubbles in the Wind
On a windy day, blow bubbles. Ask the children why the bubbles are moving around so quickly. You can even have the wind blow the bubbles for you. Ask the children what is making the bubbles.
Sun
Sun Prints
On a sunny day, have the children place various objects on a piece of fading construction paper. Leave it out for the day and come back to see what happened.
Sun Art
Have children paint a paper plate yellow. When dry, the children can add facial features with a marker. You may even glue yellow strips of paper around the edges for rays.
Sun Masks
Have children paint a paper plate yellow. Then cut out holes for eyes, and glue a Popsicle stick on the back of the plate.
Mister Sun
Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun, (Place hands over head to form sun) Please shine down on me. (Wiggle fingers while moving hands down) Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun,(Place hands over head to form sun) Hiding behind the tree. (Place hands over eyes) These little children are asking you, (Points to children) To please come out so we can play with you. (I don’t know sign) Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun,(Place hands over head to form sun) Please shine down on,(Wiggle fingers while moving hands down) Won’t you shine down on,(Wiggle fingers while moving hands down) Please shine down on me.(Point at self)
Torn Paper Sunshines
Have the children tear pieces of yellow construction paper, and glue them on a paper plate for a sun!.
Sunshine Necklaces
Supply the children with many yellow circles. (You can buy them here!!) Then, have them use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.
Sunshine Rubbings
Cut circle shapes from paper doilys or sandpaper. Tape these sunshines to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the circles and rub a yellow crayon over the circle (sunshine).
Jump into the Sunshine
Set a hula hoop on the floor. Play some music and have your child walk around the hula hoop. When the music stops, have them jump into the hoop (the sunshine).
Jump Over the Sun
Cut out circle from yellow paper or newspaper (you can have the children paint it yellow). They need to be small enough for the children to be able to hop over. Then set them on the floor and ask the children to take turns hopping over the sun.
Sun Fishing
Cut out several sun shapes from light yellow construction paper. Write several numbers or letters on them. Have them laminated. Then place a paper clip on each sun. Make a fishing pole out of a dowel or pencil, string and a magnet. Place the suns on the floor and have the children sit in chairs around the suns. (This may work better with a few fishing poles.) Have the children try to catch a sun with the fishing pole. Then, when they catch one.. show it to them and ask what letter or number it is. Variation: For younger children you could make the suns different colors and ask what color is the sun Variation: Ask the child if they can catch the “a” or the “1″
Sunshine Headbands
Measure your child’s head, and cut a piece of construction paper long enough to create a headband. Glue the paper together so the headband fits snugly on your child’s head but is loose enough to take off easily. Have the children cut out yellow sun shapes or use stickers and glue to the headband.
Sunshine Musical Chairs
If they children made sunshine headbands, have them wear them during this activity. Arrange the chairs in a circle. If you have younger children it is best to have too many chairs. This can be a game where everyone wins. Place different color circles on each chair. Have the children walk around the chairs until the music stops. Then everyone finds a chair. Ask who is sitting on a chair with a red circle? Yellow? Etc.
Sun Bean Bag Toss
Cut out three sun shapes from a piece of cardboard. Paint around the shapes with yellow. When dry, prop up the cardboard and have the children play bean bag toss, trying to get the bean bags in the sun shaped holes.
Paper Plate Sun Shaker
Take two sturdy paper plates. (The stronger the better) Place some shape seeds on one of the plates and place the other plate on top of the first so that both eating surface areas are facing each other. Use masking tape to seal the plates together. Have your child decorate with yellow markers, glitter, construction paper, or ribbons. When dry, shake. Shake to music, shake it each time you take a step. Shake, Shake Shake!!!
What is a year:
Discuss with the children what a year is. Have one child stand in one place. They will be the sun. You can even give them a yellow plate with the word sun on it. Ask another child to be the earth. They can have a blue or green plate. Make the floor with masking tape where the child will start and stop. Have the earth child walk around the sun while spinning. Have them stop on the masking tape. Tell the children it takes 365 days for the earth to go all the way around the sun. Let other children have a chance to be the sun and earth. You can explain a day by having the sun child hold a flashlight. Turn out the lights, and have the earth child turn around in the same spot
Snacks
Snowman Cupcake
Make your favorite cupcakes. After they cool add white frosting. Place two marshmallows onto a toothpick and insert into the center of the cupcake. Gel frosting can be used on the marshmallows for eyes and a nose. (Raisins were used in this example).
Biscuit Snowman
Use a pre-made biscuit mix or use your favorite recipe. Connect three together , affix raisins for the eyes, mouth and buttons, pretzels for the arms and bake. When cool use orange frosting gel for the nose.
Snowman Cookies
Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe to make these cookies. When cool let the children decorate with frosting and confections.
Snowman Marshmallows
Connect three marshmallows with a pretzel. Add pretzels for arms and use gel frosting for features.
Powdered Dough nut Holes
Pretend the dough nut holes are snowballs.
Cracker Cream Cheese Snowmen
Use two round crackers and cream cheese to create a snowman shape. Add facial features with frosting gel.
