Seven rhymes with heaven and looking up to the sky and checking out the clouds can be a fun learning experience for kindergarten readiness and connecting to nature. Nature writes in the sky for us but instead of using letters she uses clouds. Can you help your child “read the clouds” and figure out the weather? Do you remember just lying back and looking at the clouds?
In the morning, on the way to the bus or the car or just from the window at breakfast time, ask your child what the the clouds are doing. Clear skies mean lots of sun. What do dark clouds mean? Or ones that race across the sky? There’s lots of words to use to tell about clouds such as big, fluffy, small, spread out, thin, high, low. As children report what they see they practice lots of language skills as well as picking out and remembering details. Over time, they begin to notice patterns. Fall is part of the pattern of seasons.
There is a wonderful children’s book about clouds called “It Looked Like Spilt Milk” by Charles G. Shaw. This video is based on his book but uses kids’ illustrations and kids’ voices as the children read their own pages.
Many of our activities are weather-related and weather can affect how people feel. Involving your child in a quick, simple activity like checking the sky is another way to help your child develop a connection to nature and an appreciation of how nature is part of our lives. What does the sky look like at your house as you start the day?