Do you remember the excitement of learning new vocabulary as a kid? Whether it was discovering new words during story time or playing games to learn new concepts, the experience was always fun and engaging.
As an ESL teacher, you understand the importance of making language learning enjoyable for young learners. However, teaching weather vocabulary can be a daunting task for your students. The good news is that you can make it easier for them through simple and effective games and activities. In this article, we will share some fun weather vocabulary games and activities that will turn your students into weather experts in no time. From matching games to sensory activities, arts, and crafts, we've got you covered. So, buckle up and get ready to make weather vocabulary learning a breeze!
Weather Songs: Incorporating Music to Learn Weather Vocabulary
Starting off incorporating music can also be a great way for ESL kids to learn weather vocabulary. Songs are a fun and engaging way to introduce new vocabulary and concepts. You can find weather-related songs online, or check out my favourites list below.
One example of a weather song is "Rain, Rain, Go Away" which teaches the concept of rain and encourages it to stop. Another popular song is "It's Raining, It's Pouring" a very traditional English Song, which mentions thunder and lightning. By incorporating music, you can not only teach weather vocabulary but also encourage students to practise their pronunciation and listening skills.
My Top Weather Songs
The sun comes up - Dream English
How’s the weather? - Super Simple Songs
Hello there Sun, Sun, Sun - Lingo Kids
Over the deep blue sea - Super Simple Songs
Do the weather dance - Shayna's Drama Class ** Older kids / Advanced students
Moreover, singing weather songs can also be a great way to transition to the next activity of arts and crafts. With the help of music, kids can easily switch from singing to creating, and continue to learn weather vocabulary through creative activities.,
Weather Bingo: A Fun Way to Learn Weather Vocabulary
A fun and interactive way to learn weather vocabulary is through matching games. Matching games are a great way to reinforce the understanding of new words and concepts. To make a weather Bingo! Get your students to write/draw 6 weather words on a paper. Then using your weather flashcards randomly pick a card and call it out. If a student has it on their card they mark it off. Continue until a student has all their vocabulary called and they say BINGO! Fun, fast and memorable, your kiddo’s old and young will love it.
If you love this then you will love my telling time Bingo too. Be sure to have a look and thank me later!
Matching Games: Reinforcing Weather Vocabulary
Another effective way to reinforce weather vocabulary is through memory matching games. Matching games are interactive and fun, and they help learners recall new words and concepts. To create a matching game, you can draw or print pictures of different weather words and their corresponding names and/or definitions, cut them out, and mix them up. Your students can then match the pictures with their definitions either individually or in pairs. This activity not only helps with memorisation and retention but also improves cognitive skills. Incorporating matching games into your weather vocabulary lessons can keep your students engaged and motivated, creating a positive learning experience.
Find 15 more great flashcard games here and put your flashcards to great use!
Sensory Activities: Engaging the Senses to Learn Weather Vocabulary
Engaging the senses is an excellent way to make learning more immersive and memorable. Sensory activities can help students gain a deeper understanding of weather vocabulary by providing a more tangible experience. For instance, you can create a sensory bin for students to explore different weather elements, such as clouds made of cotton balls, plastic mini umbrellas, and small rain boots. You can also add different scents to the bin that correlate to different weather conditions, such as the smell of mint for cool weather or the scent of sunscreen for hot weather.
Another fun activity is to create a weather chart using different textures and materials. For example, you can use crumpled tissue paper or cotton balls to represent clouds, blue fabric or construction paper for the sky, and glitter or confetti for stars. This activity not only engages students' sense of touch but also helps them understand the different elements that make up the weather.
My absolute favourite and a winner every time I have done it in my classroom are weather sensory bottles. I spend one of the first classes that we study weather to make these with my class and then we choose and play with them each week. By taking some medium sized water bottles and easily filling them with things you have in your classroom you can create these beautiful visual weather bottles. All you need is bottles, water, food colouring, sequins, pom poms and glue and you can make these amazingly beautiful sensory bottles with your students.
Incorporating sensory activities into your weather vocabulary lessons can enhance learning and make it more enjoyable for ESL kids. In the next section, we will explore how to incorporate music to make learning weather vocabulary even more fun and engaging.
Arts and Crafts: Creative Activities to Learn Weather Vocabulary
In addition to using songs to teach weather vocabulary, arts and crafts activities can also be a fun and creative way for ESL kids to master the basics.
For example, students can make their own weather charts using paper, markers, and stickers to represent different weather conditions. This not only reinforces the vocabulary but also helps with spelling and writing skills.
Another idea is to have students create their own weather forecast by drawing pictures of the different types of weather and then presenting their forecast to the class. This activity encourages speaking skills and can be a great opportunity for students to practise using weather vocabulary in context.
For younger students, making weather-themed crafts such as sticker suns, cotton ball clouds, or paper rainbows can be a fun and engaging way to learn weather vocabulary in a hands-on way. Check these examples out and download your FREE Rain Cloud Craft Now!
Sticker Sun
Step 1- Draw a sun, or give out a sheet with it already done.
Step 2- Give each child a sheet of yellow stickers- they should go around the outline of the sun and the lines for the sunbeams.
Simple, Quick and Engaging!
Video weather forecast for older children.
You all know by now I love the drama! So let’s make weather a fun filming experience too. I highly recommend doing this activity with older students. Break them into teams or partners and get them to write a weather report. Film it and watch it back in class for some added fun and laughs. By doing this not only are your students writing, reading and speaking but we are also encouraging teamwork too and creating some fun memories for your students. An absolute must with teens.
By incorporating arts and crafts into weather vocabulary lessons, teachers can provide a fun and interactive approach to learning that will help students retain the concepts more effectively. As a result, ESL kids will feel more confident using weather vocabulary in everyday conversations, even outside of the classroom.
In conclusion, weather vocabulary can be fun and engaging for ESL kids with the use of simple games and activities. From Weather Bingo to arts and crafts, incorporating these activities will not only enhance retention but also make the learning process enjoyable. Remember to engage all the senses, incorporate music, and reinforce vocabulary through matching games. As an ESL teacher, you hold the keys to unlocking your students' potential. So, why not try out these activities in your classroom today? As the saying goes, "Learning a new language is a marathon, not a sprint," so make it a memorable journey for your students.
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