Ever wonder how hurricanes get their names, how hot lightning is, or how Doppler Radar works? How about the difference between lava and magma, what causes earthquakes, or what our climate system is? Using diagrams and animation to help along the way, Weather Wiz Kids helps students learn all of this and so much more!

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Challis Thasall is the mom of four wonderful, witty children, and wife to one stubborn, wonderful husband. Currently homeschooling her two young children, she homeschooled her older children through graduation and is a homeschool graduate herself. She enjoys using free resources to spark her children’s interest and imagination, meeting their needs and keeping learning fun. The special needs, found throughout her immediate and extended families, add to the adventure and give further proof that every child learns in their own way.
Name of Product: Weather Wiz Kids®

Link to Product/website: http://www.weatherwizkids.com

Description of Product: “A wonderful educational website for teachers and parents that gives them the right tools they need to explain the different types of weather to children.”

Challis’ Description of Product: Ever wonder how hurricanes get their names, how hot lightning is, or how Doppler Radar works? How about the difference between lava and magma, what causes earthquakes, or what our climate system is? Using diagrams and animation to help along the way, Weather Wiz Kids helps students learn all of this and so much more! The Experiments, interactive Games and Flashcards are a few of the tools that help make learning fun. The calculators on the Temperature page are a great resource for Fahrenheit and Celsius conversion, figuring Wind Child, and determining Heat Index. And kid-perfect Weather Jokes and Folklore add to the fun. There’s also a page featuring Kids Questions and, if you have any questions of your own, you can Ask Crystal.

While this FREE site might best fit elementary through middle-school/junior-high students, there is something for all ages-  Pre-K and up, including lesson plans for a wide range of age levels. There are some activities which require Adobe Reader or Java, though both are easily obtained without cost.

Homeschool Uses: Meteorology is “the science that deals with the phenomena of the atmosphere, especially weather and weather conditions”. This science is well covered on Weather Wiz Kids, from the facts surrounding so many weather topics, to the various tools used to measure and watch storms. But this site incorporates more than the subject of science. Their Weather Words provide terms and definitions, for vocabulary study. Geography is found when learning about weather phenomena around the world and in specific regions of the United States. History comes in when reading of past hurricanes, and math is used with the flashcards and calculators. In the game section, you can work on memory skills, spatial perception, fine motor, and problem solving skills. Incorporate art by using the coloring book or by visiting their Weather Photos - you might even want to Submit Your Own Photos & Art. Weather Safety, including before, during and after each type of storm, is also taught on Weather Wiz Kids.

Content and Safety: I didn’t find any objectionable material on the Weather Wiz Kids site.  However, parents should exercise caution when presenting some of the materials to more sensitive children. The details of some topics, including a couple of the animated images which show a house or lighthouse being swept away by water, might be a bit much for them.

There are many external links provided throughout Weather Wiz Kids. Though each of the links I checked were well-known and trusted sites, discretion is always a good idea. Visit the Weather Links page to see a list of many of those sites.

Challis’ Experience Using the Product: Meteorologist Crystal Wicker designed, and operates, Weather Wiz Kids to help children “learn more about the fascinating world of weather”. Her passion for Meteorology is apparent and she’s done a good job explaining weather phenomenon in an in-depth, yet simple way. With my 9 and 5 year old daughters, I will be returning to this site again, many times, as there is so much to learn and so much to do. We’re already looking forward to calculating our heat index as the months grow warmer, and we’ll be ready to figure our wind chill when the cooler months return. With our monsoon season approaching, this site will be a great way to study thunderstorms. In fact, each season will provide new things to explore at Weather Wiz Kids and we certainly won’t forget those experiments!

Tutorial or Promotional Video of the Product: There is no tutorial, though Weather Wiz Kids® is so simple you don’t need one. When working with the interactive features, or viewing charts, there is an explanation included for each.

Summary: Combining thorough information with great interactive features, Weather Wiz Kids makes learning about weather fun for all ages.

Editor’s Note: Read these Reviews of FREE environment tools:
Free 3D photos of U.S. National Parks, virtual tours, and more!
EcoKids - FREE Online Games and Activities for Learning About the Environment