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Understanding the Weather Forecast for Kids

Here is a printable kid-friendly weather glossary that will make it easier to understand the weather report for kids.

The 3 page pdf of weather terms for kids is free to download and print.

I check the weather forecast on the internet daily. When trying to share the weather report with my daughter, I realized that there is a lot of terminology a Meteorologist uses, that my elementary aged child does not fully understand. So I created this printable glossary to help.

Image of 3 pages of a printable kid-friendly weather glossary with weather forecast definitions.  Also an image of a Weatherman dressed in a raincoat holding an umbrella forecasting rain.  The text: "Understanding the Weather Forecast for Kids" is written at the top.

Weather Glossary For Kids

This weather glossary for kids has common weather terms with easy to understand explanations in kid friendly language. It helps kids to better understand the weather report.

Precipitation

The first page of the kid-friendly weather glossary largely explains vocabulary words related to precipitation.

Weather vocabulary terms that are explained are:

  • meteorologist
  • forecasting
  • precipitation
  • mixed precipitation
  • sleet
  • hail
Free printable 3 page weather glossary to make it easier to understand the weather forecast for kids.  Easy to understand, kid friendly definitions for more than 27 weather terms such as meteorologist, forecasting, mixed precipitation, sleet, and hail.

It’s also a little bit of a weather worksheet as kids have to draw lines to match 4 of the weather terms to their definitions.

Rain & Snow

The next page of the weather glossary for kids explains the definitions between different terms the Meteorologist uses to describe different types of rain or snow.

The kid-friendly weather report glossary defines:

  • rain (light, moderate, and heavy)
  • showers
  • drizzle
  • freezing rain
  • thunderstorm
  • flurries
  • snow showers
  • snow squalls
  • blizzard
  • scattered showers
  • isolated thunderstorms
Simplified weather glossary to make it easier to understand the weather forecast for kids.  Defining terms a Meteorologist uses in forecasting rain or snow.    Easy to understand, kid friendly definitions for more than 27 weather terms such as freezing rain, drizzle, flurries, scattered showers, isolated thunderstorms, snow squalls, and more. 3 page pdf is free and printable.  #weather #homeschooling #vocabulary

Sunny or Cloudy

The last page explains how the Weatherman uses a measurement called an okta to measure the amount of clouds in the sky. The amount of okta’s will determine the vocabulary the Meteorologist will use in his forecast.

Kids will understand exactly what the Weatherman means if he says it is:

  • sunny
  • mostly sunny
  • partly sunny
  • partly cloudy
  • mostly cloudy
  • cloudy
  • overcast
Simplified weather glossary to make it easier to understand the weather forecast for kids.  Defining terms a Meteorologist uses in forecasting sun or clouds.    Easy to understand, kid friendly definitions for more than 27 weather terms in a weather report such as sunny, mostly sunny, partly cloudy, mostly cloudy, overcast, etc. 3 page pdf is free and printable.  #weather #homeschooling #vocabulary

Since everyone loves to talk about the weather, learning the weather vocabulary will help kids be able to participate in these common conversations.

How We Use It

I keep this handy glossary near my computer, and we refer to it when we’re checking the forecast.

We get to discuss what the weatherman means when he’s predicting scattered showers for example.  Then hopefully, if the weather report is correct, she gets to see a real life example of scattered showers that day.  

Weather discussions naturally happen throughout the day as she gets to see forecasted weather happen or not happen.

Printable Weather Report Glossary

You can download this weather glossary for kids below. It will be a great tool in making it easier for kids to understand the weather forecast.

The 3 page pdf is free and printable.

More Weather Worksheets

For older kids that are at least 5th grade and up, here is a free printable worksheet that will help kids master this weather vocabulary. It’s a weather forecast crossword puzzle that uses the vocabulary learned in this glossary.

Younger kids can learn about temperature with this printable temperature tracking graph.

And kids of all ages can work on spelling of weather words with:

Mohamed Abd

Sunday 3rd of October 2021

wow nice

Teaching Kids about the Weather & Link Party (#4) - Mama's Happy Hive

Wednesday 20th of May 2015

[…] Checking the Weather Forecast for Kids – Tree Valley Academy […]

Samantha @ Stir the Wonder

Sunday 12th of April 2015

Great resource! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop! We hope you join us again next week!

Vanessa

Thursday 9th of April 2015

Thanks, this is a wonderful weather post and activity!

CS Calkins

Monday 6th of April 2015

Love this!!!