What You Will Need

A piece of heavy construction paper (any color but white)

Sticky-backed Velcro

Squares of felt in yellow, blue, and grey

Scissors

Magic markers

How to Make It

Step One:

Get your preschooler involved from the start by drawing a sun on the yellow felt, a few clouds on the grey felt, some rain drops on the blue felt, and snowflakes on the white felt. Also, draw three separate rectangles on the white felt.

Step Two:

Label the rectangles with a magic marker, one "hot", one "warm" and one "cold." Then label each weather item. Write "sun" on the sun, etc. On one of the clouds write "cloudy" and on another one write "fog". Then glue a loop-side piece of Velcro to the back of each weather element and rectangle.

Step Three:

At the top of your construction paper take a marker and write "Today's Weather." In the middle of the paper place two hook-side pieces of Velcro.

Step Four:

Place your weather board on the wall near a window and observe the weather. Affix the correct weather element to the board.

Variations

At the beginning of the day take your preschooler to the window or outside and discuss what it looks like. Is the sun visible? Are there clouds? Is it raining. Place the appropriate weather element on the board. Then check the temperature. Is it cold? Warm? Hot? Place the proper temperature rectangle on the board.

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Helpful Tips for Parents

• Outdoor science (nature observation, weather tracking, garden study) is as rigorous as lab science and has the added benefit of physical activity and environmental connection.

• Safety first: always supervise, taste-test nothing, wash hands after experiments. Model good safety habits — goggles, careful pouring, cleanup. Safety habits built in preschool persist.

• Always ask "What do you think will happen?" before running an experiment. Prediction is the core of scientific thinking, and preschoolers' predictions are always worth hearing.

• Repeat experiments multiple times. Reliability — the same result happening consistently — is a key scientific concept, and repetition gives preschoolers the proof they find satisfying.

Frequently Asked Questions

My preschooler loses interest in the experiment before it's done. What do I do?

Most preschool attention spans support 5–15 minutes of structured science activity. Design experiments with quick visible results — the baking soda + vinegar reaction, the pepper + soap demonstration, the oobleck — rather than long-waiting experiments as a first experience. Save multi-day experiments (crystal growing, plant sprouting) for when the child has developed patience and the routine of checking daily has been established through previous successful experiments. End an experiment early rather than forcing continuation — a positive incomplete experience invites return more than a forced completion.

Should I explain the science behind experiments, or let children discover it?

Sequence matters enormously: always let children observe and wonder before explaining. "What do you notice?" and "Why do you think that happened?" should precede any explanation. If children ask why, give a simple, accurate answer — never give incorrect explanations to protect the mystery. After the child has observed and hypothesized, confirming or expanding their theory with correct information is appropriate and satisfying. Explaining first removes the inquiry that makes science learning durable.

Related reading: See also our color mixing science and our garden science guide for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 🌍 Nature Literacy — Learning the names, habits, and relationships of plants, animals, and natural phenomena builds the nature literacy that connects children to the living world and lays the groundwork for environmental stewardship.
• 🔄 Flexible Thinking — When an experiment produces an unexpected result, children practice adapting their thinking — a form of cognitive flexibility that makes them more resilient learners across all subjects.
• 🤔 Critical Thinking — Making a prediction, testing it, and explaining the result develops logical reasoning — the ability to move from observation to explanation that underlies all scientific, mathematical, and analytical disciplines.
• 🌱 Curiosity & Wonder — Science that feels like magic cultivates the sense of wonder that keeps children asking questions throughout their lives — the foundational attitude that drives all learning and discovery.

What's the weather like outside? Look out the window and find out! Create a fun and informative weather board with your preschooler that you can use every day. Make your preschooler the weather forecaster while introducing weather related vocabulary and concepts.

Questions to Ask Your Child

Use these open-ended prompts to extend the learning during or after the activity:

• "What do you think will happen before we try it?"
• "Was your prediction right, or did something surprise you?"
• "Why do you think that happened?"
• "What would change if we tried it with something different?"
• "Can you think of a place in real life where you've seen this before?"
• "What question does this make you want to answer next?"

There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. The goal is to keep the conversation going, model curious thinking, and give your child practice putting their experience into words.