Looking for a super simple way to add hands-on weather fun to your day? You’ll love this free printable set of weather playdough mats.
These mats are open-ended and easy to use. They’re perfect for quiet time, centers, or keeping kids busy. Each page features a weather design and a traceable word so your learners can build fine motor skills and more.
I’m sharing creative tips and extension ideas so you can make it work for your crew.
Why – personal story
When my boys were little, playdough mats were one of my go-to activities, especially on days when we were stuck inside. These types of printables are such simple ways to enjoy hands-on learning. They gave my boys something fun to do while reinforcing skills in preschool, Kindergarten, and early elementary.
What I loved most was how low-prep these activities were. I could print a few mats, slip them into a dry erase sleeve, and instant quiet time fun. Sometimes I laminated them, sometimes I didn’t. It never had to be fancy. We often used my homemade playdough recipes so also frugal and easy to customize with scents or colors.
I’d hand my boys a playdough mat and let them explore. We’d chat about what they were making. For example, with a lightning bolt, we’d talk about storms or what sound L makes. With the sun, we’d brainstorm other warm-weather words.
Even better? These mats don’t have to be used with playdough. My boys also loved tracing the shapes with their fingers. Also, they had fun using dry erase markers.
I also liked pairing these mats with simple weather books or my free weather color by number pages to create a mini weather theme.
Related: Free printable alphabet playdough mats
Recommended Supplies for Fun with Playdough Mats
Here are a few things that make these activities extra fun and super easy to set up:
- Playdough (store-bought or homemade)
- Dry erase sleeves (or lamination) for reusable use
- Dry erase markers (great for tracing, doodling, or extra details)
- Playdough tools, like small rollers, kid-safe knives, and shape cutters
- Loose parts (buttons, pom-poms, mini erasers, beads, pasta, etc.) for creative building
- A small tray or work mat to help contain the playdough fun
Everything on this list is optional so just use what you have on hand. These mats work well with the basics and you can level them up with extra tools whenever you want.
What You’ll Find in This Weather Playdough Mat Set
This printable pack includes 10 colorful Weather Playdough Mats, each featuring:
- A simple weather illustration
- A traceable weather word to support early literacy and handwriting
- Bold outlines that make shaping and filling easy for little hands
- Plenty of open white space for creative additions
The weather designs included in this set:
- sun
- tornado
- snowflake
- drizzle
- lightning
- rainbow
- umbrella
- thunderstorm
- cloud
Related: Free printable number playdough mats
Tips for Success with These Playdough Mats
A little prep goes a long way in making these mats stress-free and fun:
- Print on cardstock for a sturdier base (regular paper works just fine, too!).
- Slip pages into dry erase sleeves so you can reuse them again and again.
- Offer just a few tools at a time. Too many choices can overwhelm little learners.
- Model first, then step back. Show one quick example, then let kids take over and make it their own.
- Keep it open-ended. There’s no “right” way to make a cloud or a storm.
- Use small trays or mats to help contain the playdough and make cleanup easier.
Simple setup, relaxed expectations, and a little conversation go a long way in making this activity a win.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using Playdough Mats
Kids strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, letter recognition, vocabulary, and creativity.
Nope! Laminating is helpful, but absolutely not required. You can also slip each page into a dry erase sleeve which is my personal favorite because it’s quick, reusable, and budget-friendly.
Any playdough works. You can try store-bought, homemade, scented, glitter-filled, whatever your crew enjoys. My boys often used our homemade playdough because it was soft, inexpensive, and easy to customize.
Get Your Free Weather Playdough Mats
Woohoo! I’m so excited that you want to enjoy these printable + hands-on activities with your kids.
This pack includes 9 PDF printable pages (plus terms of use page). Please print as many as you need for your personal use, family, class, homeschool co-op, or community event.
Ready to add them to your learning fun collection? Simply subscribe to Rock Your Homeschool. You’ll get an email with a PDF file, along with a password to open the VIP Resource Library to all RYHS freebies. Plus, you’ll receive emails with ideas, resources, and encouragement to make life and learning fun.
Get your free weather playdough mats set now!
What ideas do you have for using these printable weather playdough mats? And what are some other ways that you help your kids learn about the weather? Please share in the comments area at the bottom of this post!
