Has your child ever noticed the wind? Maybe it blew away their napkin when on a picnic, kicked dirt up into their eyes, or they became scared watching a storm blow trees around. This is probably the extent of their interaction or knowledge. Today’s activity takes your child outside to watch the wind in action and see its ever-changing patterns. The best part is that your child is guaranteed to be curious. 

Where does the wind blow? Is a part of a week’s worth of lessons all about kite activities for preschoolers. Full of kite crafts and activities, coloring pages, book suggestions, and alphabet activities, find it all at Kk is for Kite.

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A favorite preschool activity for summer.

You have probably already done the simple part of this activity with your child. The sole purpose being to entertain them and maybe give you a break. Now we are going to turn it into a purposeful play activity. Then any time your child plays with bubbles they will always think about the wind and how the bubbles are moving it.. 

Study the wind with your preschooler.

Initially do not clue your child into the fact that they are playing with bubbles today. As soon as the bubble maker comes out I no longer have my children’s’ attention. Instead plan to “sandwich” this activity. Front load some information before, then play with the bubbles, and finish with more information.

First, go outside with them and observe the wind as best as you can. Some days will be better for studying it without bubbles. These days are usually not ones that are clear skies and sunny because those are normally the lowest windy days. Also, the wind usually picks up during the day. Use this information that came from a meteorologist, I know personally, to help you plan the best day for this activity.

Questions to ask your preschooler.

• What is making the trees move?
• Close your eyes. Now can you feel the wind brush against your cheek?
• Which way is it blowing?
• Can you see the wind?
• If you can’t see it, how do you know it is there?

Next, recite the following poem from a Child’s Garden of Verses.

The Wind
by Robert Louis Stevenson

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass--
    O wind, a-blowing all day long,
    O wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all--
  O wind, a-blowing all day long,
  O wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?
  O wind, a-blowing all day long,
  O wind, that sings so loud a song!

A perfect weather activity for kids.

Bubble maker at the ready.

Once the bubble maker is out you can explore more about what the air and wind means for weather. So let’s get out the bubble maker… or wands and get started.

Here is a bubble maker that we like. The fan is not super strong and so the bubbles can bunch up near the wheel but it does the job. Wands are great as well. However, my kids love their bubble maker and I love how little effort it takes to keep producing bubbles. There is also no more spilling of the bubble solution everywhere by the younger siblings who wish to participate. All of our attention can be on where the bubbles are going.

After setting up the bubble maker, allow your child to play with the bubbles until they are tired but still engaged. Then ask your child about the movement patterns of the bubbles. “Oh look at them rise!” or “Those are sinking to the ground!” Encourage your child to choose a bubble and blow it around using their lungs. 

If the bubbles rise then there is wind, even if it is a clear skies day, it might just be very subtle. If the bubbles sink then there is no wind there. Watch and observe where the bubbles go and follow them. 

Finish the sandwich with a little more information.

You can explain to your child that changes in the temperatures of air, land, and water causes wind. Air is constantly moving to try and be the same temperature everywhere. There is a lot that goes into air movement but for a preschooler this is a reasonable explanation.

 In addition you can explain to them that rising air means bad weather and sinking air means good weather. Most preschoolers will enjoy relating this back to storms. Then the next time there is a storm you can ask your child is the air sinking or rising? It is rising of course.  

The much awaited answer to the question.

So where does the wind blow? And it is also worth asking where does it come from? You and your child can enjoy the poem, Wind on the Hill by A.A. Milne to see if there are any answers.

Wind on the Hill
by A.A. Milne

No one can tell me,
Nobody knows,
Where the wind comes from,
Where the wind goes.
It's flying from somewhere
As fast as it can,
I couldn't keep up with it,
Not if I ran.
But if I stopped holding
The string of my kite,
It would blow with the wind
For a day and a night.
And then when I found it,
Wherever it blew,
I should know that the wind
Had been going there too.
So then I could tell them
Where the wind goes…
But where the wind comes from
Nobody knows.

Kite activities for preschoolers.

I guess to answer the question, where does the wind blow? We might fly a kite and see where it goes. But we will never know where it comes from. Try the paper kite craft shown below by check out Kk is for Kite. Instructions for turning the craft into an experiment is included! If you enjoyed this activity, share yours and your child’s experience in the comments. 

Kk is for Kite is a part of a larger curriculum Letter of the Week. Letter of the Week has been reimagined for all that home learning has to offer. Check it out by clicking the button below. 

Where Does The Wind Blow?

Activity Instructions