Here are some ideas for teaching weather words – or about the topic of the weather – using apps and mobile devices. The ideas are aimed at the EFL/ESL young learner classroom but can be adapted to other contexts.

1. 5 ideas for teaching about the weather
using apps and mobile devices
Kim Ashmore, Director and Co-Founder, LearnAhead Ltd
© Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

2. 5 ideas for teaching about the weather using
apps and mobile devices
Here are some ideas for teaching weather words – or
about the topic of the weather – using apps and
mobile devices. The ideas are aimed at the EFL/ESL
young learner classroom but can be adapted to other
contexts.
1. Listen to a song – Itsy Bitsy Spider
2. Learn about the seasons and weather
3. Spell weather words
4. Weather around the world
5. Make a weather report
2 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

3. 1. Listen to a song – Itsy Bitsy Spider
Itsy Bitsy Spider (also known as Incy Wincy Spider) is a
traditional children’s song about a spider in the rain. This
app is aimed at toddlers who speak English as a first
language, but it would be suitable for some younger learners
(for example aged 5 or 6) who are learning English as a
second or foreign language too.
Use the app with your whole class, and get children to sing
along (you can record them singing), and encourage them to
touch and explore (for example, making rain come down
from a cloud, splashing in puddles). Children can also learn
about weather and nature by poking the fly that appears in
every scene; and there are other learning activities (eg
counting from 1 – 10 as a squirrel builds a house).
3 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

4. 1. Listen to a song – Itsy Bitsy Spider
App: Itsy Bitsy Spider
Platform: iOS (versions for iPhone and iPad)
Cost: £1.49/$1.99
App: Itsy Bitsy Spider
Platform: Android
Cost: £1.27
4 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

5. 2. Learn about the seasons and weather
iLearn with Poko is an app aimed at children aged between 3- 7.
The app has three levels all based around basic concepts of the
weather and the seasons: In Level 1, children have to click on
pictures that match certain descriptions (for example, click on
the picture where there are no clouds); in Level 2, children have
to click on things that don’t match the weather (for example, a
child wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day); and in Level
3, children have to match activities with the right weather. This
level also introduces a calendar with months and days of the
week.
App: iLearn with Poko: Seasons and Weather!
Platform: iOS (versions for iPhone and iPad)
Cost: £1.99/$2.99
5 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

6. 2. Learn about the seasons and weather
iLearn with Poko is aimed at native speakers of
English, but would be useful for children learning
English as a second or foreign language. All
instructions are verbal, so learners will come
across natural English used in meaningful
contexts. They may need some help at first with
understanding the instructions, but the app
would give learners great practice in developing
their listening skills (note that this app uses
American English so uses ‘fall’ and not ‘autumn’
for example). The app would also be useful in
cross-curricular contexts, introducing children to
basic concepts of science and geography. It might
also inspire your class to keep their own weather
diary for a period of time – perhaps a class blog
recording the weather each day?
6 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

7. 3. Spell weather words
Word Carrot is an app that will help learners of all ages spell
ten weather words. Learners see the word, hear the word, and
choose the right letters to spell it. You could use it as a game to
play on the IWB, or students can use it to practise weather
words outside the classroom. Here is an activity you can print
for learners to practise the words further.
Weather Worksheet
App: Word Carrot
Platform: iOS
Cost: Free
7 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

8. 4. Weather around the world
Here are two activities you can do with upper primary or secondary students.
First divide students into small groups, and make sure that each group has
access to a mobile device with a free weather app installed (such
as Accuweather, or any preferred weather app). Now try the first activity:
1. Ask each group to research current weather conditions, and to write a quiz
for students in another group using the data (for example: Is it raining in
Seoul? What’s the temperature in Madrid? Do you need to wear a raincoat in
Tokyo? Is it best to be indoors or outdoors in Helsinki today?) When students
are ready, get them to swap quizzes and give them a time limit to answer the
questions using their weather app. If students use different weather
apps, you might get some interesting results, which could lead to a discussion
about the accuracy of weather apps.
8 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

9. 4. Weather around the world
2. Give students some questions comparing the weather in different places
around the world (for example: What’s the hottest place in Germany? What’s
the coldest place in Japan? Is Moscow hotter than Beijing?)
Tell students to use the weather app to find the answers as quickly as they
can. This is a great way to practise comparatives and superlatives.
App: Accuweather
Platform: iOS (versions for iPhone and iPad)/Android
Cost: Free
9 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

10. 4. Weather around the world
One interesting weather app is Weather
Doodle, which features animated weather
art that represents the time of day and
weather conditions of the chosen
location. This visual representation of the
weather could be a useful asset to the
classroom, and might inspire an art
project too. This app is not free but it is
low-cost.
App: Weather Doodle
Platform: iOS
Cost: £0.69/$0.99
10 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

11. 5. Make a weather report
This is another idea for older primary and secondary students. Put students
into pairs or small groups, and make sure that each group has a mobile
device which allows video recording. First of all, discuss typical weather
reports: What information is given? Who is the audience? What do these
people need to know? What kinds of phrases are used? You could perhaps
watch a weather report or two together as a class at this stage.
Next, students should prepare a short weather report in groups, about their
own or another country. Once videos are ready, they can be shared with
others using a simple blogging app such as Posterous.
App: Posterous
Platform: iOS/Android
Cost: Free
11 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead

12. 5 ideas for teaching about the weather using
apps and mobile devices
Have you got any more ideas to share? Then share
them at :
http://wordcarrot.com/5-ideas-for-teaching-about-
the-weather-using-apps-and-mobile-devices/
Thank you!
12 © Copyright 2011, LearnAhead