I introduce the weather terms to my second graders by purposefully making an exaggerated gesture to look out the window. I then chant and clap, "¿Qué tiempo hace afuera, afuera? ¿Qué tiempo hace afuera hoy?" I then teach them a TPR movement for each weather type. We say the words while acting out the weather conditions.
SUNNY: I first say "¡Nunca miren el sol!", waving my index finger back and forth and making a negative face. Then I make a gesture, looking away from the sun and shielding my eyes with both my hands, saying "Hace sol." and smiling.
WINDY: I roll my hands round and round each other rapidly, saying "Hace viento."
FOGGY: I place my hands with fingers spread wide apart over my eyes and say, "Hay neblina."
COOL: I shiver a tiny bit, putting opposite hands on opposing upper arms, saying, "Hace fresco."
COLD: I really shiver a lot, putting opposite hands on opposing upper arms, saying, "Hace frío."
WARM: I wave my hand up and down in front of one side of my face, saying, "Hace calor."
HOT: I run my left hand over my brow (as if to wipe off sweat) and wave my hand up and down in front of one side of my face, saying, "Hace mucho calor."
RAINY: I raise my arms straight above my head and move my fingers back and forth, saying "Llueve."
SNOWY: I place my hands palms outward in front of my face and move the hands back and forth while opening and closing my fingers and thumbs rapidly, saying, "Nieva."
HUMIDITY: I put my finger inside my collar and pull and make a face, saying "Está húmedo."
STORMY: I wave my arms wildly above my head (to simulate lightning) and jump up and down (for the thunder), saying "Hay tormenta." (It's the children's favorite, of course!)
Once the children learn the weather conditions through daily exposure, we make a Venn diagram comparing weather in Connecticut and Puerto Rico.
In the third grade, during our Christopher Columbus unit, I review the weather vocabulary with this simulation in which the sailors onboard the Santa María experience different weather and physical conditions. Colón enters with a spyglass under his left arm and salutes the sailors with his right hand. The sailors answer, "Saludos, Almirante Colón."
RAINY / STORMY: When it rains a lot, Colón says, "¡Marineros, llueve mucho! Hay agua dentro de la carabela!",and they have to bale water. When the storm passes, they each cry, "¡Almirante, no hay tormenta! ¡Almirante, no hace mal tiempo! ¡Ahora tengo hambre!" The admiral passes out fruit for them to eat.
GOOD WEATHER: When the weather is good Colón says, "Hace buen tiempo. Marineros, levanten las velas." Then the sailors each say, "Almirante, tengo sueño" and rest and enjoy the view.
HOT: When it is hot, they each cry out, "¡Hace mucho calor! ¡Almirante, tengo sed!" The admiral then passes the sailors a bucket filled with imaginary water, along with a dipper.
FOGGY: When it is foggy, a bell rings and the sailors yell, "¡Hay mucha neblina! ¡Tengo miedo!"
WINDY: When it is very windy, everyone yells, "¡Hace mucho viento!", holds on to the sides of the "boat," and pantomimes being blown around. The children really ham it up here, of course.
For weather resources to complement and supplement this lesson, go to Weather , LAweather, and a new hands-on activity called
