Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Weather Diary: Free Printable Chart for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Weather Diary is a free printable science chart for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children look outside, notice the weather and record it every day for a week. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers.
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. It is two A4 pages. Print both, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children fill in a simple table across the week. It has a column for the day, a column for what the weather was like and a column for whether it felt warm or cold. Each day they look out of the window, decide what they can see and record it. At the end of the week they look back over the page and compare the days.
- Day
- What was the weather?
- Warm or cold?
Why keep a weather diary?
Weather in England changes a lot. One day can bring sun, cloud and rain, and the next can feel quite different. That makes it a good first subject for science. Children do not need special equipment. They only need to look, think and say what they notice. Weather is also something they meet every morning when they choose what to wear.
Recording the same thing each day teaches children that science is about careful looking over time. Checking at the same time each day makes the days fair to compare. Over a week, children start to see patterns and to notice that the weather can change. This is a first step towards the Year 1 idea of seasonal changes.
Look at the sky, but never look straight at the sun. Children should watch the weather from a window, or outside with an adult. Wet weather can make paths slippery, so take care.
Quick weather facts
- Rain falls from clouds.
- Wind is air that is moving.
- A thermometer is a tool that measures how warm or cold something is.
- The UK has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
- The weather can change several times in one day.
Skills and curriculum link
- Observing
- Recording
- Comparing days
- Describing the weather
- Noticing seasonal changes
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 outside and say what the weather is.
- I can record the weather each day.
- I can say what the weather was like over the week.
Ideas to help children talk about weather
- Use all your sensesChildren can look at the sky, listen for wind or rain and feel the air on their hands. Talk about what each sense tells them. Keep to safe places, such as a window or an open door with an adult.
- Same time each dayPick a regular moment, such as before school or after tea. Looking at the same time makes it easier to compare one day with another.
- Warm or cold is a feelingWarm and cold depend on how the air feels. Ask what clothes they would choose. A sunny day can still feel cold, and a cloudy day can feel warm.
- Weather changesWeather does not always stay the same all day. If it changes, children can record what they saw at the time they checked, and talk about how it changed later.
Key words
- WeatherWhat the sky and air are like outside, such as sunny, cloudy, rainy or windy.
- RecordWrite down or draw what you notice so you can look at it later.
- TemperatureHow warm or cold something is.
- CompareLook at two things and say how they are the same and how they are different.
- SeasonOne of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
- ObserveLook carefully and notice things.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- Do the first day together. Look out of the window and ask, "What can you see in the sky?"
- Talk about each choice before your child writes it. Ask, "Does it feel warm or cold? How do you know?"
- Look out of the window at the same time each day, and fill in the next row on the chart.
- At the end of the week, check the notes and answers on page 2. Then look back over the whole chart and talk about the week.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Let your child draw the weather instead of writing it. A simple picture of the sky is enough. Say the weather word aloud together as they draw. Writing the words can come later, when they feel ready.
To stretch confident children
At the end of the week, count how many sunny, cloudy and rainy days there were. Say which kind of weather happened most. Then try making a tally chart or a simple drawing graph to show the counts.
Make it a game
Before you look outside each day, guess what tomorrow's weather will be. Write down your guess and see if you were right. Take turns guessing, and keep a score for the week to see who guessed best.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child writes what the weather was like yesterday, or what they hoped for, not what they can see now.
Try thisGo to the window together and look before writing. Ask, "What can you see right now?"
Watch forA child thinks sunny always means warm.
Try thisTalk about days that are sunny but cold. Ask what they felt as well as what they saw. Warm or cold is about how the air feels.
Watch forDays are missed and the chart has gaps.
Try thisPick a regular time and put the chart somewhere you will see it, such as near the door. If a day is missed, leave it blank and carry on.
Talk about it
- What is the weather like today?
- Which weather did we see most this week?
- How is today different from yesterday?
- What clothes did you need on the coldest day, and why?
- What do you think the weather will be like tomorrow?
- What is your favourite kind of weather, and why?
Take it off the page
Cloud watching
Lie on a rug or sit at a window and look at the clouds. Ask what shapes your child can see. Draw one or two and say how the sky looks.
Dress the teddy
Choose a soft toy and talk about what it should wear for the weather today. Your child can pick the clothes and explain why.
Weather picture
Draw or paint a picture of the best weather day and the least favourite one. Put them side by side and say how they are different.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child on the first day, then let them lead. Keep it short and relaxed. Looking out of the window together is the main activity. Praise careful looking and good words, not only neat writing.
Teachers
Use it as a week long class routine, a morning starter or a homework task. Children can record on their own sheets or you can fill in a class chart together. Page 2 gives support, a stretch idea and answers for mixed groups. It links to the Year 1 science strand on seasonal changes.
Home educators
Pair it with a walk, a story about weather or time in the garden. A weather diary gives a daily science habit that fits easily around other plans. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or repeat it in a different season to compare.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children notice the world around them and use everyday words such as hot, cold, wet and dry. A weather diary builds on that by asking them to observe on purpose, to record what they see and to use words with care.
After this, children can look at how the weather changes with the seasons and how the length of the day changes through the year. They can also compare their records from different weeks. Observing, recording and comparing are skills they will use in all later science.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What is the weather like today?
- Which weather did we see most this week?
- How is today different from yesterday?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Weather Diary 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 looking at the weather. You can adjust how much they write or draw.
- What will children practise?
They practise observing the weather, recording it each day and comparing days over a week. They also use simple weather words and describe whether the day felt warm or cold.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. Look out of the window at the same time each day and fill in the next row together. Keep page 2 for notes, ideas and answers.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Let them draw the weather instead of writing it. A picture is a valid record. Say the weather word together as they draw, and add written words later when they are ready.
- How long does it take?
It is a short daily task across a week, so each day only needs a quick look and a few words or a drawing. Children who like to chat about the weather may take longer, which is fine.
- Is it free, and do I need colour?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No colour is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour with pencils if they wish.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, homework or table activity with no preparation beyond printing. Home educators can use it alone or as part of a wider science plan, and print it again for others.
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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.