Whose Weather Detective Dino?
In a typical school day, in the UK, every morning, once registration has been taken, the class teacher would do a head count, then ask the children what the date is, the month and the year.
CHILDREN LOOK OUTSIDE!
After that, she would ask them what the weather is like today, and the children would respond in the best way they could.
USE WEATHER RESOURCES
To demonstrate the weather, the teacher will have easy weather resources, for example, images of clouds, sun, rainy clouds and so on, to use to address the day.
Eventually, children will pick up all this information, and it will become easier for them to understand, although some children may still struggle with the concept.
So I thought for the children who find it a bit difficult to comprehend, I decided to invent a fun, friendly…..Weather Detective!
HERE ARE WEATHER EXAMPLES
Before I introduce you to our friendly weather detective, here are some weather examples.
These are the types of weather symbols or images that a teacher would use to represent the changing weather.
They are self-explanatory and easy to follow. Any one of these symbols or images can depict the weather, and can make great little stickers that kids can use to demonstrate their stories, too.
WHY IS THERE CHANGING WEATHER?
I find during our summer time, July – September, when it’s bright and sunny, and the temperature is warm, we feel happier, we wear lightweight colourful clothes, and enjoy the longer days.
Although when the weather becomes more chilly, there are thunderstorms, rain, hailstones or snow, don’t you wonder why this happens and why the weather changes in the way it does?
Check it out here with Weather Facts for kids.
MEET WEATHER DETECTIVE DINO!
If you haven’t already guessed, Dino is short for Dino – saur, and I’ve given one of Chicks’ friends from another post...’2 Fun Chick Foldable Cards for Kids’…a super important role, he is now our Weather Detective Dino, who will investigate everything to do with our weather, and the corresponding information
WHAT ROLE DOES DETECTIVE DINO HAVE?
I’M A WEATHER DETECTIVE!
I looked carefully.
I found weather clues.
I recorded what I discovered.
🔎🦖
🔎 Dino’s Weather Detective Mission!
- LOOK 👀 What can you see outside?
- GUESS 🤔 What do you think the weather will be like?
- CHECK⛅ Is it sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, snowy or something else?
- CHOOSE 🧥 What should Dino wear?
- RECORD ✏ Draw or tick what you discovered.
- REPORT BACK 📋”Today Dino discovered…”
Here is our weather detective Dino, experiencing different seasonal weathers!
LET’S GIVE DINO FOUR CASES TO SOLVE!
Dino goes outside and asks the children to look for changes. What other clues can the children find?
CASE 1: The Windy Weather Mystery
🔎 Dino has spotted some clues! Can you find them?
- What is moving?
- Can you see clouds?
- Are the trees moving?
- Are leaves blowing?
- Is anything being carried by the wind?
Tick or draw the answer.
CASE 2: The Rainy Day Mystery
🔎 Dino has found some rainy- day clues!
☐ Wet ground
☐ Puddles
☐ Umbrella
☐ Raindrops
☐ Raincoat
Case 3: The Sunny Day Mystery🔎 Dino has detected some clues!
- Why are people wearing swimsuits?
- Can you see shadows?
- Does the Sun feel warm?
- Is the sky bright?
- What would a fan do?
Case 4: The Snowy Day Mystery. 🔎 Dino discovers five winter clues.
☐ Footprints
☐ Snowfall
☐ Hat, scarf and mittens
☐ Freezing
☐ Fluffy white trees
🔎 YOUR TURN TO BECOME A WEATHER DETECTIVE!
Dino has shown us some of the clues he looks for, but now it’s your turn!
You don’t need lots of equipment — just look outside and see what you can discover.
Can you:
🔎 Find three clues about today’s weather?
🌤️ Decide what type of weather you think it is?
🧥 Think about what you would wear outside?
✏️ Record your discoveries?
Use Dino’s simple Weather Detective Report below to record your findings.
LET’S HELP WEATHER DETECTIVE DINO!
Dino needs your help! Go outside and become a Weather Detective. Can you find three clues about today’s weather?
TODAY’S WEATHER DETECTIVE REPORT
Date: ________
I spotted…
🔎 Clue 1: __________________
🔎 Clue 2: __________________
🔎 Clue 3: __________________
I think today’s weather is:
☀️ 🌧️ ☁️ 💨 ❄️
Draw what you discovered on a separate sheet of paper.
Dino has solved the weather mystery! What should he wear?
Then children could draw or circle:
☀️ Hat/sunglasses
🌧️ Raincoat/wellies
💨 Jacket
❄️ Coat/hat/scarf/gloves
CHILDREN BECOME DETECTIVES!
🦖 DINO’S WEATHER DETECTIVE CHECKLIST
I looked outside and found…
☐ Sunshine
☐ Clouds
☐ Rain
☐ Wind
☐ Puddles
☐ Moving trees/leaves
☐ Shadows
☐ Snow or ice
☐ Something else: _______
Today’s weather is:
☐ Sunny ☐ Cloudy ☐ Rainy ☐ Windy ☐ Snowy
My weather clue:
☀️ 🌧️ ☁️ 💨 ❄️ ☀️ 🌧️ ☁️ 💨 ❄️
2 FREE PRINTABLE START UPS!
Ready to become a Weather Detective?
To help children put their detective skills into practice, I’ve created two printable Weather Detective activities to get them started:
🔎 Today’s Weather Detective Report – children can observe the weather and record what they discover.
🦖Dino’s Weather Detective Checklist – a fun way to look for different weather clues and tick off what they find. ⇓⇓⇓
These simple printables can be used along the activities in this post, helping children turn their weather observations into a fun little detective investigation.
Just click and print!
WHAT CAN LITTLE WEATHER DETECTIVES DISCOVER?
Being a weather detective is a fun way for kids to explore the world around them. With Dino as their friendly guide, they can begin to notice how the weather changes and how it affects the things we see, do and wear.
Through looking for clues, talking about what they notice and recording their discoveries, children can be proactive:
Observation: What can I see, hear or feel?
Language: Can I describe the weather using words such as windy, cloudy, chilly or warm?
Thinking skills: What clues tell me what the weather might be like?
Making connections: What clothes might I need today? What might happen to the trees, puddles or clouds?
There are no complicated rules – just curiosity, conversation and a little detective work!
DO SEASONS AND WEATHER MEAN THE SAME THING?
Not quite! A season tells us about the time of year – spring, summer, autumn or winter. The weather describes what is happening outside today.
For example, a winter day might be sunny, rainy, windy or snowy. And a summer day can sometimes be cloudy or rainy too!
Here’s Dino’s detective tip: The season gives us a clue, but we still need to check the weather each day.
WHAT WOULD YOU WEAR?
Here is an extension on what we already know:
- What might Dino wear on a rainy day?
- What could help keep Dino warm on a cold day?
- Would Dino need sunglasses on a bright, sunny day?
- What could Dino wear if it’s windy but not cold weather?
READY TO BECOME A WEATHER DETECTIVE?
With Dino by their side, children can turn an ordinary look outside into a little adventure. Whether they’re spotting raindrops, watching leaves dance in the wind or discovering a sunny – day shadow, every day brings new clues to investigate.
Encourage your little detective to look closely, ask questions and share what they discover. And remember – the weather can change, so there’s always another mystery waiting for Dino to solve!
TO CONCLUDE.
This post provides a fun and different way to help children look closely at the weather and make sense of what they see around them.
I created Dino the Weather🔎🦕 Detective to make learning about weather more engaging, using cute seasonal pictures, weather clues and simple activities to encourage children to become little detectives themselves.
DINO HELPS WITH CLUES
From sunny and rainy days to windy and colder weather, Dino helps children notice the clues around them, think about what the weather might be like and discover how our clothing and activities can change with the seasons. ☀️ 🌧️ ☁️ 💨 ❄️
And this is just the beginning of Dino’s detective adventures! 🔎🦕
TO COME MORE WEATHER CASES!
Want to take Dino’s weather investigations even further?
I’m working on a Weather Detective Dino printable activity pack, with more weather cases, detective challenges, observation activities and seasonal activities for children to enjoy at home or in the classroom. Coming soon to my Etsy shop!
‘What kind of weather is outside today?’