About the Weather

Hands-On Fun, Science Skills, and Understanding the Skies

Weather is the ultimate conversation starter in the UK—“four seasons in a day” rings true! From waking up to snow, jumping puddles in afternoon rain, and searching for sunset after the clouds clear, no two days are ever the same. But far from just being a talking point, these daily changes are the perfect portal for hands-on science, creative arts, and real-life maths—at home, in the garden, or out on an unexpected adventure.

Why Weather Matters in Family and Home Education

Weather isn’t just a backdrop to our lives; it shapes where we go, what we do, and the stories our families tell. It’s also the ideal entry point for children to build STEM skills. This year, our family made a choice to explore the weather more intentionally, and it’s become a favourite science project—rain, wind, or shine.

With Hands-On Education’s Weather Topic, children can dive into a full year’s worth of activities, from cloud spotting to building rain gauges, learning about prediction, recording, and the “how” and “why” behind the forecast.

Learning Through Measurement: Rain Gauges, Thermometers, and More

Every weather investigation is a chance to practise real maths and science—not just watching but measuring. Our favourite STEM challenge has been making a measuring bottle for precipitation. Using a recycled bottle, marker pen, and ruler, we calculated daily rainfall:

• Children predict what the weather will bring (science!),
• Draw and label diagrams of their weather tools (engineering and art),
• Take actual measurements with the right units,
• Record their data in charts or graphs for later analysis.

Hands-On Education’s Measuring Topic is a great support here—offering printable resources and guides to make the process fun, clear, and confidence-boosting.

Understanding Units: Making Maths Meaningful

One barrier in science and maths is understanding measurements and the units we use. By actually using rulers for rain, jugs for water capacity, and thermometers outside, children see in real time what numbers really mean. We let our children read the thermometer every morning—5°C feels chilly, 25°C means hot play outside—and over time these numbers start to mean something concrete.

A simple table to use with your children:

<table> <tr><th>Unit</th><th>Abbreviation</th><th>Tool</th></tr> <tr><td>Length/Height</td><td>mm, cm, m, km</td><td>Ruler or tape measure</td></tr> <tr><td>Mass</td><td>g, kg</td><td>Scales</td></tr> <tr><td>Capacity</td><td>ml, l</td><td>Measuring jug</td></tr> <tr><td>Temperature</td><td>°C</td><td>Thermometer</td></tr> </table>

Practise these everywhere—measuring rain, indoor and outdoor temperature, distances walked, or even puddle jumps!

Tips for Developing Measuring Skills:

• Always choose the right tool and unit for what you’re measuring
• Stick to one unit at a time
• Remember to start from zero (especially on a ruler or jug)
• Take readings at the same time each day for a fair comparison

Cloud Watching: Creative Arts and Science Combined

Clouds are a daily awe-inspiring phenomenon—learning their names and types gives children new vocabulary and a lifelong habit of observation. We started with just “fluffy” and “grey,” but now can spot cumulus, stratus, and maybe even a cumulus-nimbus thunderhead!

One of the most exciting activities from Hands-On Education’s Weather Topic is making cloud models. Mixing shaving foam and glue, children can create their own fluffy cumulus clouds in art, and use printable diagrams to label each type.

To up the science element, make an okta grid—a simple card with eight “windows”—and use it to estimate cloud cover by counting how many windows are filled with cloud.

Wind, Direction, and Simple Engineering

Measuring wind direction becomes a whole engineering project: the children built their own wind socks (out of string and old plastic bags), tested which direction they blew with a compass, and charted wind over a week for comparison. Hands-on experiments like these introduce basic meteorology, data collection, and the use of real fieldwork equipment at an early age.

Linking to the Water Cycle and Weather Patterns

Rain, clouds, and wind don’t exist in isolation. Understanding the weather means entering into the water cycle, concepts of evaporation and precipitation, and making connections between geography, science, and story-telling. Hands-On Education’s Water Cycle topic bridges weather with broader science and links back to climate change and environmental stewardship.

Cross-Curricular Connections: Stories, Art, and Climate

Weather is also a fantastic launchpad for art (collage clouds, storm paintings), creative writing (“Describe your wildest rainy day!”), and even climate change discussion—how rising temperatures affect us, animals, and the places we love. Talking about wild weather, extreme events, or simply unpredictable seasons builds environmental awareness without fear.

Try Seasons for story prompts, poetry, and year-long projects tied to days of sun, snow, wind, and rain.

Extra Resources: BBC Bitesize for Weather Learning

For interactive videos, quick facts, and games about the weather, the BBC Bitesize Weather and Climate page is a go-to. There are age-appropriate explainers, printable quizzes, and clips on measuring, forecasting, and the science behind it all.

Closing Thoughts: Enjoying the Outdoors Every Day

Whatever the weather—sun or storm, mist or frost—it’s the ideal inspiration for both busy days and slow, reflective afternoons. Measure, predict, record, discuss, and most of all…get outside! With a little planning, every family can turn daily weather into a living science lesson, a creative project, and a memory that lasts much longer than the rain.