Easy Weather Art Activities for Kids (Rain + Lightning Ideas)

Last week in the studio we explored weather through art — and it ended up being one of those weeks that reminded me how simple it can be.

No complicated setup.

No “perfect” end result.

Just kids, paint, and the freedom to explore!

Activity 1: Giant Raindrop

This was as simple as it gets:

• liquid watercolor

• paper

• clear glue

First I drew a large raindrop on paper and some were already cutout. I definitely now prefer not cutting out prior to painting.

The kids had the option of teal and grey but anything goes! It helps to have a watery consistency (if you’re using a regular kids watercolor palette). The liquid will help the next part.

Once the raindrop is covered, the kids can then freely add clear glue with squiggles, designs, etc. Some were so intrigued by the reaction of the glue and paint they ended up with pools of glue. 😅 This might seem daunting but it still dries really pretty. Plus hearing their thoughts on the process is what it really is about.

No right way. Just movement + curiosity. Some said the glue made it look like seaweed. Others said it looked like a storm. Some even asked to add salt and that added a gritty texture where it was sprinkled.

It’s always interesting to see what their brains see and gravitate towards.

Activity 2: Lightning Collage

The cardboard is actually the back of a cereal box! Easier to cut with scissors then cardboard boxes.

I cut simple lightning bolt shapes out of cardboard and let kids go wild with:

• glue

• glitter

• sequins

• texture

Each one came out completely different — bold, sparkly, chaotic (in the best way).

One artist actually saw a snake in their shape and instead focused on that, adding a tongue to the larger end. I thought that was so clever!

This is what I love about weeks like this:

The projects are simple… but the experience is not.

Kids are:

• experimenting

• making choices

• exploring cause and effect

• building confidence

And they don’t even realize it. How cool is that?

If your child loves this kind of open-ended creativity, this is exactly what we do every week inside the studio!

Let me know if you end up making either of these!