Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Weather Chart: Free Printable Chart for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Weather Chart is a free printable chart for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children look out of the window each day, record the weather in a simple table and, by the end of the week, can spot patterns. It is a calm, screen free science activity that needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet is a weather table. Down the side are the days of the week. Across the top are five weather words: sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy and snowy. There is also a column headed It feels... where children can describe the day in their own words. Each day, children look outside, choose the weather that fits and record it. The table has six rows, so add Sunday on the back. By the end, they have a whole week of weather on one page.
- Day
- Sunny
- Cloudy
- Rainy
- Windy
- Snowy
- It feels...
Ways to make the chart your own
Pick a window spot
Choose one window and one time of day, such as before school or after tea. Looking from the same place each day makes the chart fair and easy to compare.
Draw a symbol
Next to each weather word, draw a tiny picture such as a sun, a cloud or a raindrop. Pictures help children who are still learning to read the words.
Colour the sky
Before filling in the table, ask your child to choose the crayon that matches the sky. It gives them a reason to look closely.
Finish with a weekly chat
At the end of the week, look down the table together. Which weather came up most? Which did not appear at all?
Why watch the weather?
Weather is what the air and sky are like outside at a particular time. It can be sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy or snowy, and in the UK it often changes from one day to the next. That makes it a very good thing for young children to watch. It is always there, it costs nothing, and every child can see it from a window.
In Year 1 science, children learn to observe closely and talk about what they see. Recording the weather turns looking into evidence. A table lets children see a whole week at once, and that is the first step towards noticing patterns. It also links to the National Curriculum for England strand on seasonal changes.
Never look straight at the sun, even on a bright day. Looking out of a window at the sky is fine, but do not stare at the sun itself. In stormy, icy or very windy weather, an adult decides whether it is safe to go outside.
Fun weather facts for children
- Rain falls from clouds.
- Wind is air that is moving.
- Snow is frozen water that falls from clouds.
- Weather in the UK can change a lot from one day to the next.
- A rain gauge is a tool that collects rain so people can measure it.
Skills and curriculum link
- Observing
- Recording
- Weather words
- Using a table
- Spotting patterns
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Science | Seasonal changes | Year 1 |
What children will be able to do
- I can look at the weather and record it.
- I can use a chart to show each day.
- I can spot patterns in the weather.
Ideas to help you guide your child
- Same time, same placeLooking at the same time each day keeps the chart fair. Weather can change during the day, so a regular time makes the days easier to compare.
- Use your sensesAsk what they can see, hear and feel. Is the sky bright or grey? Can they hear rain or wind? Do the trees move?
- Words for feelingsThe It feels... column is for your child's own words. Warm, cold, chilly and damp are all useful. There is no wrong answer.
- Think about the seasonsWeather often changes with the seasons. Chat about what you usually wear, see and do at different times of year.
Key words
- WeatherWhat the air and sky are like outside at a certain time.
- RecordWrite down or draw what you have seen so you can look at it later.
- ChartA table or picture that shows information clearly.
- PatternSomething that happens again and again, or in a way you can spot.
- SeasonOne of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
- ForecastA guess about what the weather will be like soon.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Choose one window and one time of day. Look out together at the same time each day.
- On the first day, talk through each weather word. Let your child choose what fits and say why.
- Record the weather each day. The table has six rows, so add Sunday on the back.
- At the end of the week, look down the table together and talk about what you notice. Come back to it another week to compare.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Point to the sky and ask: is it bright, grey, wet or windy? Take the choices one at a time. Say the weather word aloud as your child points to it on the chart. Do the first day together, then let them try the next.
To stretch confident children
Count how many sunny days and how many rainy days you had. Which came up more? Then try other weather words too. Ask your child to explain what they notice about the whole week, using the words most, fewer and same.
Make it a game
Guess tomorrow's weather before you look. Say it aloud, or draw it, then check the next day and see if you were right. Keep a tally of who guesses best over the week, children against grown-ups.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe weather changed during the day and the child is not sure what to record.
Try thisAgree on one time to look each day and record what you see then. Use the It feels... column to add a note about any changes.
Watch forA child records what they hope the weather is, such as sunny, rather than what they see.
Try thisGo to the window together. Ask, "What can you see in the sky? What is happening to the trees?" Then choose the word that fits.
Watch forThe child forgets to fill the chart in on some days.
Try thisLink it to a daily habit, such as breakfast or coming home from school. Keep the sheet and a pencil by the window.
Talk about it
- What can you see in the sky today?
- Is it a good day to play outside? Why?
- What clothes would you choose for today's weather?
- What do you like about rainy days? And sunny days?
- Has the weather been the same all week, or has it changed?
- What do you think tomorrow will be like, and why?
Take it off the page
Cloud watching
Lie on a rug or look from a window and watch the clouds move. Talk about their shapes and colours. Draw one afterwards.
Dress the weather
Choose clothes for tomorrow's weather. Talk about coats, hats, sun cream, wellies and umbrellas, and why each one helps.
Weather picture
Draw or paint a picture of your favourite kind of weather. Add labels such as sun, rain or wind, and say what you like to do in it.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child on the first day, then let them lead. A quick look out of the window each day is enough. Praise careful looking, and ask them to explain what they see.
Teachers
Use it as a week long class routine, a starter at the same time each day, or a homework task. It links to the seasonal changes strand in Year 1 science and needs no preparation beyond printing.
Home educators
Pair it with a daily walk, a bird watching spot or a book about the seasons. Use the chart again with brothers and sisters, or in a different season to compare.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this, children usually learn to talk about the world around them. They name what they see, use simple describing words and notice that the sky looks different from day to day. Looking, listening and describing are the starting point for recording weather.
After this, children can compare weather across seasons, think about how day length changes through the year and begin to measure things such as rainfall. Keeping a chart like this builds the habit of recording what you observe, which is a key part of scientific thinking.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What was the weather most days this week?
- How did you record it?
- What do you think the weather will be like tomorrow, and why?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Weather Chart for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. It also works for slightly younger or older children who enjoy watching the sky and need practice recording what they see.
- Is the Weather Chart free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another week, and use it in a different season to compare.
- When should we fill it in?
Choose the same time each day, such as before school or after tea, and look from the same window. A regular time keeps the chart fair and makes the days easier to compare.
- What if the table runs out of rows?
The table has six rows, so add Sunday on the back of the sheet. Copy the same headings and your child can record the seventh day in the same way.
- What if the weather changes during the day?
Record the weather you see at your chosen time. Then use the It feels... column to add a note, such as a change later in the day. That keeps the chart simple and still shows what happened.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, a pencil and a window. It suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children looking, thinking and writing by hand.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a daily routine, starter or homework task. Home educators can use it alone or with books and outdoor play. It supports the Year 1 strand on seasonal changes.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.