Can you say the word 'weather' with me? Weather! Weather is what the sky looks like and how it feels outside. When you look up, is it sunny? Cloudy? Rainy? That's weather! First, we have the sun. In Swahili we call it 'jua'. When the sun shines, it is warm and bright. Do you like sunny days? Next are clouds. Sometimes clouds are white and fluffy, and sometimes they are grey and bring rain. Then we have rain. In Nairobi, we often get rain in the afternoon. Rain helps plants grow and fills our water tanks. Splish, splash! Finally, wind is moving air. You can't see it, but you can feel it on your skin. In Mombasa, the wind from the ocean keeps us cool. Whoosh! Weather changes every day. In Mombasa, it is usually warm and sunny, but sometimes it rains. Every day is a little different. Great job, everyone! You know the four parts of weather: sun, clouds, rain, and wind.
Let's learn how to look at the sky and tell what weather is coming. First, when the sun shines bright, we say it is sunny. In Swahili, sun is 'jua' – so sunny means jua is out! The sky looks bright and blue. In Nairobi on a sunny day, we see a big yellow ball in the sky – that's the sun! Next, when clouds cover the sky, we say it is cloudy. The sky looks white or grey. Sometimes you can't see the sun at all. In Mombasa, you often see many clouds floating by. When dark clouds fill the sky and water falls down, that is rainy. Rain makes puddles on the ground. In Kisumu, when dark clouds come, we know rain is coming soon – so grab your umbrella! Finally, when air moves fast and makes leaves dance and flags wave, we say it is windy. In windy weather, you feel a cool breeze on your face. You know four kinds of weather: sunny, cloudy, rainy, and windy. Great job, everyone!
At the title: Making Your Own Weather Chart. Here are the steps we will follow. First, we will draw a grid with the days of the week. Then we will use special symbols to show the weather. Step 1: Draw a grid with the days of the week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Step 2: Use these symbols - a sun for sunny days, a cloud for cloudy days, rain for rainy days, and wind for windy days. In Nairobi, we see many sunny days, but in Kisumu, it rains a lot. Step 3: At the end of each day, look outside and draw the symbol that matches the weather you see. For example, if it is sunny, draw a sun. I want you to think: What is the weather today where you live? Is it sunny, cloudy, rainy, or windy? You can check outside your window or think about what you saw this morning.
When you look at the sky, ask yourself: Is it bright or dark? Are there clouds? This tells you if it is sunny or cloudy. Use your skin to feel the air. Is it warm or cool? Is it wet or dry? For example, in Mombasa the air often feels warm and wet. Finally, close your eyes and listen. Can you hear rain falling? Can you hear the wind? Sounds help us know the weather too. Remember this important safety rule: Never look directly at the sun! It can hurt your eyes. Always be safe when you observe the weather.
