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Weather & Arctic Animals. Become a weather watcher and discover how animals live in the cold. This is Month 5 of our free 12-month preschool curriculum for ages 3 to 5. Below you will find a weekly lesson plan, the letters and math to practice, science and art ideas, a supplies list, and easy ways to make it simpler or harder for your child.
- Month 5 of 12
- Ages 3–5 (best fit: 4–5)
- 4 weekly topics
- About 20–30 minutes a day
What Your Child Will Learn in Month 5
- New letters
- Ff, Kk, Ee, Uu
- Language & literacy
- Retell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Dictate a weather sentence while you write it down.
- Math
- Count objects to 10 accurately (counting to 20 aloud is a stretch goal). Measure with blocks and make ABB patterns.
- Science & discovery
- Weather chart and an ice-melting experiment. Talk about solid and liquid.
- Social & emotional
- Patience and calming down: belly breaths and a cozy calm-down corner.
- Art & music
- Cotton-ball snowman and frozen watercolor ice cubes.
- Movement & hands
- Trace zigzag and curvy lines with a finger, then a crayon. Waddle like a penguin while balancing a beanbag.
These goals match the five learning areas in the Head Start framework. Core goals are for most children. Anything marked stretch is optional. See the full list of learning areas and the typical milestones for ages 4 and 5.
Month 5 Weekly Lesson Plan
Do one short activity from each column, three or four days a week. Keep each one to about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop when your child loses interest.
| Week & topic | Letters & language | Math | Science | Art, music & movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Weather watchers | Say a weather sentence: Today it is ___. | Make a weekly weather tally for sunny, cloudy, rainy, and snowy days. | Check the sky and the temperature each morning. | Make a weather wheel and sing a weather song. |
| Week 2: Snow and ice | Retell a snow story in order using pictures. | Count ice cubes and compare which is bigger. | Melt ice in different spots and guess which melts first. | Paint with frozen watercolor ice cubes. |
| Week 3: Arctic animals | Match animal names to first letters: p for penguin and polar bear. | Sort animals into live in the cold and live in the warm. | Talk about how thick fur and feathers keep animals warm. | Waddle like a penguin and slide like a seal. |
| Week 4: Staying warm | Put the steps of getting dressed for snow in order: first, next, last. | Match pairs of mittens and socks. | Compare warm water and cold water and feel the difference. | Make a cozy hat or mitten craft. |
Not sure how to fit this into your day? Use the sample daily rhythm.
Letters to Practice This Month
Ff, Kk, Ee, Uu.
Play with letters through games, not drills: find them on signs and cereal boxes, trace them in sand or salt, and say the first sound of everyday objects. Knowing some letters is a typical milestone at age 5, so there is no pressure to master every letter.
Words to Use All Month
Use these words in everyday conversation and while you read. Hearing a word in many settings helps it stick.
- weather
- cloud
- snow
- ice
- melt
- freeze
- polar bear
- penguin
Supplies Checklist
Everything here is common household stuff. Tick items off as you gather them.
Easy Activities to Try at Home
Try this
- Weather chart: look outside each morning and mark sunny, cloudy, rainy, or snowy.
- Ice race: put ice cubes in different spots (sunny window, shade, fridge) and guess which melts first.
- Animal charades: act out a polar bear, seal, or penguin and let others guess.
Read together
- Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
- Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Check your local library. Ask the librarian for more weather & arctic animals books.
Make It Easier or Harder
If your child needs more support
Do the weather chart and one ice experiment, and use picture cards for the animals.
If your child is ready for more
Measure with cubes, make a simple graph of the week’s weather, and retell a story with three events.
Parent tip: A daily five-minute weather check builds language, counting, and science habits all at once.
Month check-in: Your child can retell a short story in order and describe today’s weather.
Month 5 Preschool Curriculum FAQs
Is counting to 20 expected this month?
Counting to 10 is the core goal at age 5. Counting to 20 is a stretch goal for children who are ready, so follow your child’s lead.
What if we do not get snow where we live?
Use ice cubes or crushed ice, and swap in your own weather, like rain or wind. Learn about snow through books and videos together.
How do I keep indoor days active?
Add short movement breaks between activities. Try animal walks, a beanbag balance, or a quick dance party.
All 12 Months
Add Free Printables to Month 5
Match this month’s lessons with free printables and coloring pages.
Sources
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five
- NAEYC: Developmentally Appropriate Practice
- CDC: Milestones by 4 Years
- CDC: Milestones by 5 Years
This guide is general educational information for parents. It is not medical advice and does not replace a developmental screening or guidance from your child’s doctor or teacher.