Why Do People Watch the Weather?
People have always looked at the sky. They wanted to know what the weather would be like. That means they checked if it was sunny, rainy, or windy.
Knowing the weather helps us decide what to wear. It helps farmers grow food too!
Here is a big question: How can YOU observe the weather each day? Let's find out together!
What Is Weather?
Weather is what is happening outside right now. That means it is what the air and sky are doing today.
We use our senses to observe the weather. That means we look, listen, and feel what is going on outside.
Sunny
Cloudy
Rainy
Windy
Snowy
A Picture of Weather Types
Let's look at a picture of different weather. Each kind of weather looks and feels different.
Look at each box. The sunny box has a bright sun. The cloudy box has puffy clouds. The rainy box has drops falling. The windy box has wavy lines. The snowy box has little white dots.
Can you point to the weather that matches today? Great job observing!
How Do We Observe Weather?
Scientists use a special skill called observation. That means they look carefully and notice things. You can do this too!
Use Your Senses!
Your eyes help you see the sun and clouds. Your skin helps you feel if it is hot or cold. Your ears help you hear rain and thunder.
Ask Questions Like a Scientist!
- Is the sun out or are there clouds?
- Does the air feel warm or cold?
- Is it raining or snowing?
- Is the wind blowing?
When you ask these questions, you are doing what real scientists do. They ask questions and then look for answers. You are a weather scientist!
Tracking Weather on a Chart
Scientists keep track of what they see. You can use a weather chart. That means a picture chart where you mark the weather each day.
When you mark the weather every day, you start to see a pattern. That means you notice things that happen again and again.
Maybe you see that it is sunny for many days in a row. Or maybe it rains a lot. Patterns help us know what weather might come next!
Let's Observe Weather Together!
Let's pretend we are at school. It is morning. We go to the window to check the weather. Let's do it step by step!
Great job! You observed, asked questions, and recorded what you saw. That is exactly what scientists do!
Tools and Senses for Weather
We can use our bodies or simple tools to check the weather. Let's compare them!
| What to Check | Use Your Body | Use a Simple Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Is it sunny or cloudy? | Look at the sky with your eyes. | Draw what you see on a chart. |
| Is it hot or cold? | Feel the air on your skin. | Look at a thermometer. |
| Is it rainy? | Listen for rain. Look for puddles. | Put a cup outside to catch rain. |
| Is it windy? | Feel the air on your face. | Watch a flag or a windsock. |
Weather Now and Weather Later
Right now, we are learning to observe weather. That means we look at what is happening today. As you grow, you will learn even more!
| What We Learn Now | What We Learn Later |
|---|---|
| Is it sunny, cloudy, or rainy today? | Why does it rain? Where does rain come from? |
| Is it hot or cold outside? | How do we measure temperature with numbers? |
| The weather changes each day. | What are seasons? How do they change weather? |
| We draw weather on a chart. | We use graphs and data to track weather. |
Right now, the most important thing is to look outside every day and notice what the weather is doing. Every observation you make is real science!
Practice: Be a Weather Scientist!
Now it is your turn! Read each question about a child named Alex. Alex is looking out the window at the park. Try your best!
What Did We Learn?
Weather is what the sky and air are doing outside right now. We can observe the weather by using our eyes, skin, and ears. We learned about five kinds of weather: sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, and snowy.
We can use a weather chart to track the weather every day. When we do this, we start to see patterns. Scientists ask questions and make observations just like you. You are a weather scientist! Keep looking at the sky every day!