Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Winter Weather Chart: Free Printable Chart for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Winter Weather Chart is a free printable science chart for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children look outside and record the weather for six days. They note the day, the weather, how it feels and what they wore. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and 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. 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
Children fill in a table over six days. Each day has a row with four parts: the day, the weather, how it feels and what they wore. Children look outside, choose words to describe what they see, and write their answers in the table. By the end, the chart shows a pattern across the six days. It gives children a real reason to look closely at the world outside and to say what they notice.
- Day
- Weather
- How it feels
- What I wore
Ways to get more from the chart
Pick a regular time
Fill in the chart at the same time each day, such as before school or after tea. A regular time makes the days fair to compare and turns recording into a habit.
Look before you write
Stand at a window or step outside with your child. Ask them to look at the sky, the ground and the trees before they choose a weather word.
Link feelings and clothes
Talk about why a coat, hat or gloves were needed. Children begin to see how the weather affects what we do and what we wear.
Look back at the end
When the six days are done, read down each column together. Ask what stayed the same and what changed.
Why record the weather in winter?
Winter in the UK is usually the coldest part of the year, and the days are shorter than in summer. The weather can change a lot from one day to the next. One day may be bright and still, the next grey, wet or windy. That makes winter a good time to start a weather record, because children can see real change in a short time.
A chart turns what children see into information they can look at again. Instead of trying to remember the weather from a few days ago, they can point to the row. Recording the same things in the same way each day makes days easy to compare. This is an early step towards using tables, which children meet in Year 2 maths.
Winter weather facts
- Frost forms when water vapour in the air freezes onto cold surfaces.
- Water freezes when the temperature drops to 0 degrees Celsius.
- Snowflakes have six sides or arms.
- A thermometer measures how hot or cold it is.
- Winter days in the UK have fewer hours of daylight than summer days.
Skills and curriculum link
- Observing
- Recording
- Weather words
- Reading a table
- Comparing days
- Talking about 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) | Maths | Statistics | Year 2 |
What children will be able to do
- I can look at the weather each day.
- I can record it in a chart.
- I can say which weather we had most.
Helping children talk about the weather
- Use all the sensesAsk what they can see, hear and feel outside. A cold cheek or a gusty push on the door are good clues to the weather.
- Notice the skyClouds, brightness and colour tell us a lot. Looking up before choosing a word helps children describe weather carefully.
- Link weather to seasonsWeather changes through the year. Talk about how winter weather is different from the weather in other seasons.
- Match words to what they seeWeather words are more useful when they are exact. Encourage children to pick the word that fits best.
Key words
- WeatherWhat the air and sky are like outside at a certain time, such as sunny, rainy or windy.
- ChartA table or picture that shows information in an organised way.
- RecordWrite down what you notice so you can look at it again later.
- TemperatureHow hot or cold something is. We measure it with a thermometer.
- FrostA thin white layer of ice that can cover cold surfaces.
- ForecastA guess about what the weather will be, based on what we know.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Choose a time of day for filling in the chart and keep to the same time each day.
- Look outside together the first time. Talk about each choice before your child writes it down.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Ask, "How did you decide on that word?"
- Come back to the chart on the next day until all six days are done. Repeating a familiar routine builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Offer weather words to choose from, such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, frosty or snowy. Say each word aloud and point to the sky. Let your child pick the closest match. Fill in one row at a time and praise careful looking.
To stretch confident children
Compare the chart with the weather last week and say what changed. If you did not record last week, start a second chart for another six days. Then ask which days were colder, which were wetter and what people wore differently.
Make it a game
Put a bowl of water outside overnight and see if it freezes. In the morning, look at it together and talk about what you found. Then ask how it matches the weather on your chart. Try again on another night and compare.
Talk about it
- What is the weather like right now, and how do you know?
- What is different about today compared with yesterday?
- Why did you choose those clothes today?
- What do you like about winter weather, and what is tricky about it?
- What do you think tomorrow will bring, and why?
- Which weather would you like to see more of?
Take it off the page
Weather window watch
Sit at a window for a few minutes. Look at the sky, the trees and the ground. Tell each other three things you notice about the weather.
Dress the snowman
Draw a person and choose clothes for a cold day. Talk about why you picked a hat, scarf or gloves. Swap with someone and explain your choices.
Weather sounds
Listen carefully outside or at an open door. Talk about what the wind, rain or quiet sounds like. Make up words to describe each sound.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first day, then let them lead. Fill in the chart together at the same time each day. Keep it relaxed. Ask about what they see, and praise careful looking rather than neat writing.
Teachers
Use it as a daily routine at the start or end of the school day, or as a science and maths link on tables. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair the chart with a walk, a book about seasons or time in the garden. It works well for brothers and sisters, who can each keep a chart and compare. Use it again in another season to see what changes.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children notice the world around them and name the seasons. They talk about what they see and feel outside. The Autumn Leaf Collection is a good step before, because it builds the habit of looking closely at the natural world.
After this sheet, children can record over longer times, use tables to answer questions and compare information. They begin to ask why things happen. Rock Property Compare Cards is a good next step, because it practises noticing and comparing in a different topic.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What was the weather most often?
- How did you record each day?
- What do you think tomorrow will bring?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Winter Weather Chart for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can use it as a first weather record before they try longer or more detailed ones.
- What will children practise?
They practise observing and recording the weather each day. They also use weather words, read a simple table and say which weather they saw most. It links to Year 2 maths on tables and to early science work on noticing the world.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2. Fill in the chart at the same time each day. Do the first row together and talk about each choice, then let your child try alone.
- What if it feels too hard?
Offer weather words to choose from, such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, frosty or snowy. Look outside together and let your child point to the word that fits best. Fill in one row at a time and keep it relaxed.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group, or use it in another season to compare the weather.
- How long does it take?
It is a short daily task rather than one long sitting. Children fill in one row each day for six days, so each entry is quick. Spend as long as your child enjoys talking about what they see outside.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. It is also a screen free activity that needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.
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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.