November is a month of transformation.  It is the time of year when the temperatures become colder, the sounds become crisper, and the first hints of snow can be spotted on rooftops. The landscape takes on more brown tones. The greenery dwindles, dried stems and seed heads cover the fields, and decomposing leaves are thick upon the ground. These seasonal shifts are part of conserving energy in preparation for new growth that will be generated in the following spring.

November is a natural time of year for children and adults to discuss temperature changes.  It is also a time when more patterns of clouds, wind and movements can be experienced. The natural wonders of weather can be experienced in short periods – such as rain, snow, hail, sun, and clouds within a twenty-minute timeframe. Being outdoors in these weather conditions encourages children to create new knowledge by noticing, questioning, and experiencing what they see, hear, feel or taste in the outdoor elements.  

Imagine the types of outdoor play that can occur when children take on the role of being weather detectives.  What role-playing might be evident?  What might the children look for and wonder about?  How might they observe the environment by looking up at the clouds, feeling the wind, or noticing frost on the ground initially and then seeing how it disappears?  What patterns might they notice in the sky and what might they learn about animal behaviours in different weather conditions?  These moments of science advance children’s observation skills, while enhancing their sense of wonderment and connections to their outdoor environments.   

Below, are ways in which children can learn about their environment and weather patterns through their outdoor playful experiences.   

1. Weather Detective Kits

Provide materials that could be used by Weather Detectives.  Materials such as cameras, journals, thermometers, markers, badges that identify “Weather Detectives” measuring tapes, cylinders for water collection, windsocks, and binoculars are available in various places in the outdoor environment for children to discover.   

2. Capturing Weather Moments

Weather Detectives become photographers. They capture photos of the sky in the morning and the afternoon. They read the temperatures on the thermometers found in various places in the play spaces. Weather Detectives might find thermometers on the ground, in the middle of trees or on the gate.  They compare the temperature findings and predict why they differ from one place to another in the play spaces.  They compare the sizes and shapes of clouds in the morning and how they differ in the afternoon. 

3. Weather Detective Clouds

Weather Detectives use a variety of photos of clouds with other children to determine if any of the photos match the clouds they see in the sky. When appropriate, adults introduce children to the names of basic clouds, such as cumulus (fluffy white clouds), stratus (layered, gray clouds), and cirrus (wispy, high-altitude clouds). Being able to recognize types of clouds supports children in making weather predictions, such as knowing that dark, heavy clouds are associated with rain.    

 4. Creating Instruments for Weather Detectives

Weather Detectives advance their play when they have a variety of weather-related tools. For example, a rain gauge can be made from a plastic bottle and used to measure the amount of rain or snow that has fallen. 

 5. Reading Thermometers 

Weather Detectives create daily temperature reports for the other children by reading the thermometers in the morning and late in the afternoon.     

6. Discover How Wind Affects the Weather

November often brings windy days to the space. Weather Detectives might notice how the leaves swirl in the air or how they feel when a gust of wind occurs on their face. Experiencing the wind on their faces offers children new knowledge about what happens when the wind blows lightly or how it feels when there are high winds. 

7. Weather Detectives and Animal Movements

Children often notice birds or animals in their environment. On colder mornings, the Weather Detective might look for animals and birds and observe their behaviours. Are birds flocking together? Are squirrels actively gathering food? Are the animals in sight on rainy days? Where are they putting the food?  These discoveries contribute to children learning about how animals live in the outdoors in all types of weather.   

8. What Weather Detectives Observe When it Rains, Snows and is Frosty

During November, it is not unusual to have frost and snow in the great outdoors. Weather Detectives observe patterns created on leaves from the frost. They compare frost patterns on various items on the ground and how long the frost stays on them. Children might pose questions about why frost melts faster on some items than others. They may create theories about what form the frost takes when it melts and how new shapes are formed.  These types of discoveries are foundational for later scientific principles.  

Summary

Children benefit from being outdoors in all kinds of weather, especially during November. Engaging in imaginary play such as becoming Weather Detectives, contributes to children connecting their new learning with previous experiences. They gain predictive skills, such as connecting large, dark clouds with the potential of rain. They increase their observation skills and knowledge about the types of cause-and-effect relationships that occur in nature and in predicting what might happen next. In essence, this is the perfect time of the year for children to become budding scientists! Budding scientists gain their foundational knowledge and skills in the great outdoors. 

 

For more ideas, check out our post on Magical Moments that Children Can Experience with Frost and Sticks in Fall