Weather Words Fun

WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Learn and say new weather words (sunny, rainy, windy, cloudy, snowy).
• Describe the weather using simple sentences.
• Use touch and visual support to help understand and communicate weather words.

Curriculum Links

• English | Communicating Ideas and Information: Use topic-specific vocabulary, describe familiar events and objects, and practise simple sentence structures for communication (Te Mātaiaho: English Years 0-1).
• Languages | Listening and responding to others: Participate in conversations and play, using expressive body language and facial expressions to support meaning (Te Mātaiaho).
• English | Vocabulary and Grammar: Use specific nouns and verbs related to daily life and content, focusing on pronunciation and meaning of new words.
• Inclusive practice: Use techniques such as visual supports, sentence stems, and tactile symbols for diverse learners and dyslexia-friendly approaches【4:0, 4:11†Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf】.

Students

• Preschool (Year 0, approx. 4-5 years old)
• Two students

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Lesson Duration

30 minutes

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Materials Needed

• Weather picture cards (sun, rain, wind, clouds, snow)
• Touch Chat device or picture communication symbols for weather words
• Real objects or props (e.g., a toy sun, blue tissue for water/rain)
• Weather sensory box (cotton wool for clouds, fan for wind, water spray)
• Weather song/video with simple lyrics and clear visuals
• Large weather chart to place pictures
• Dyslexia-friendly storybook or word cards with large, clear font and images

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Lesson Outline

1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greet the students warmly.
• Show the weather picture cards one by one with the corresponding word.
• Model saying the word clearly, using the Touch Chat device to select the word and make it visible.
• WALT: "We are learning weather words today!"
• Use expressive gestures and facial expressions to show meaning.

2. Interactive Vocabulary Learning (10 minutes)

• Introduce each weather word with a real-life prop or sensory object:
  • Sunny → Show a toy sun or shine a torch light.
  • Rainy → Spray some water mist.
  • Windy → Use a small fan.
  • Cloudy → Hold cotton wool.
  • Snowy → Show fake snow or white cotton.
• Encourage students to touch the objects, repeat the word, and select the word on Touch Chat.
• Use sentence stems: "Today it is ___." e.g., "Today it is sunny."
• Support speech with sentence frames and visuals.
• Repeat words and sentences with lots of encouragement.

3. Weather Song and Movement (5 minutes)

• Play a simple weather song with accompanying actions (e.g., stretch arms like sun rays, wiggle fingers for rain).
• Sing together, encouraging the students to say the weather words aloud.
• Use the Touch Chat device during the song to point to words.
• This allows multimodal learning (visual, auditory, tactile).

4. Weather Description Practice (7 minutes)

• Using the large weather chart, place a weather card for today’s weather or a random weather type.
• Ask one student to use the Touch Chat device or picture cards to say the weather word.
• Prompt the other student to describe the weather by completing the sentence: "It is ___."
• Model and scaffold as needed, giving sentence stems on visual cards.
• Use encouraging gestures and praise attempts.
• Switch roles after 3-4 turns, keeping the activity playful and low-pressure.

5. Wrap-up and Assessment (3 minutes)

• Recap the five weather words using quick flashcards.
• Play a "guess the weather" game where teacher or students pick a card and others feel the prop and guess the word.
• Informally assess engagement and ability to select/say at least some weather words.
• End with positive feedback and a weather-themed sticker or stamp to reinforce success.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Provide extra visual and tactile supports for students who need them.
• Use simplified language and gestures for students with limited spoken vocabulary.
• For students with more advanced language skills, encourage full simple sentences and longer verbal descriptions.
• Repeat activities and provide sentence stems for those needing scaffolding.
• Allow breaks or sensory movement between activities to support attention.

Dyslexia-Friendly Strategies

• Use clear, large font on weather word cards and Touch Chat device.
• Present vocabulary in a consistent, visual, and tactile way.
• Use colour-coded cards (e.g., blue for rainy, yellow for sunny) to link word and concept visually.
• Read weather-related stories aloud with visuals and point to words.
• Avoid cluttered visuals; keep resources simple and focused on core vocabulary.
• Provide repeated, multisensory exposure to vocabulary.

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This lesson plan is designed to engage preschool learners through multimodal language input and play-based activities aligned with The New Zealand Curriculum Refresh learning objectives for early oral language development and vocabulary acquisition in authentic contexts【4:1,4:4,4:11,4:0†Te Mataiaho English Single Page.pdf】. It provides rich, scaffolded practice suitable for a small class of two, ensuring that all students’ communication needs and learning preferences are met.