Hands-On Weather Lesson for Preschool: Jess Ted’s Creative Classroom Approach

I’m excited to introduce you to Jess Ted, an inspiring early childhood educator from Australia who teaches four- and five-year-olds. Jess is known for her creative, hands-on teaching style, which she regularly shares on Instagram. Her engaging lessons are full of energy, exploration, and fun—perfect for young learners!

In this feature, Jess shares a fantastic hands-on weather lesson for preschool students that she recently implemented in her classroom.

Each term, our teaching team collaborates to plan an inquiry unit. This term, our focus was on weather. I designed my lesson around the students’ questions and curiosity about the topic. One recurring theme was storms—many children were fascinated by them. So, I created a lesson where students could make their storms… in a bag!

Hands-On Weather Lesson for Preschool

There were a lot of problem-solving and a bit of spit everywhere, but it was so much fun! Honestly, I think I was more excited than the kids when it worked!

I gathered materials like Ziplock bags, straws, markers, tissue paper, printer paper, and cotton. Then, I let the students take the lead in exploring how to create a storm inside their bags.

First, the children decorated their Ziplock bags with Sharpies, illustrating a winter storm and showing what people might wear in cold weather. Then, I gave them straws and explained that their breath would act as the wind the excitement level skyrocketed!

We brainstormed materials around the classroom that might blow around inside the bag. The children experimented with ripped paper, cellophane, tissue paper, and cotton. They were thrilled to see how well it worked! It was a simple yet powerful mini-experiment and a rich learning experience for everyone involved.

Share Your Hands-On Learning Ideas!

Do you have a great mini-lesson to share? Drop it in the comments below! Or let us know how you incorporate hands-on lessons or episodic learning in your classroom. We’d love to hear how you bring creativity and exploration to your students.

Example of storm in a bag 1

Example of storm in a bag 2

Meet Jess

Hi! I’m Jess, an Early Years teacher from Australia. I’ve been teaching Reception (kindergarten) for five years—and yes, I still love it! I’m passionate about creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and joy in young children.

📸 Connect with me on Instagram: @teach.sleep.caffeinate.repeat

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