About SkySci for Kids: Information for Parents and Caregivers

Graphic showing the three characters in the SkySci for Kids website: Jeff the yeti, Snacks the dog, and Yolanda the palm tree. SkySci for Kids is a project of the UCAR Center for Science Education.

Welcome to SkySci for Kids! This website is designed to provide children ages 5-10 with playful avenues for learning about weather, climate, and related science topics. You will find short articles, online games, storybooks, and videos for informal science learning. The materials are designed to allow kids to explore either independently or with a parent or caregiver.

SkySci for Kids is a project of the UCAR Center for Science Education (UCAR SciEd), which is part of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), the nonprofit organization that manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, US. (To learn more about UCAR SciEd, visit What We Do.) The games and videos within SkySci for Kids were developed in collaboration with the creative team at FableVision Studios. Funding for SkySci for Kids comes from the National Science Foundation.

There are three main science sections of SkySci for Kids.

Stuff in the Sky: This section of the website focuses on favorite sky stuff like clouds, air, sunshine, wind, and rainbows. Kids will learn how clouds come in different shapes and sizes. They’ll play a game to make raindrops inside a cloud. They’ll get to know the Sun, learn how to stay safe in sunny weather, and explore how sunshine warms the Earth’s surface. Kids can help the yeti dress for changes in the weather - rain or shine. (The yeti’s name is Jeff. You’ll find him throughout the site because he loves weather.) 

Climate Change: This kid-sized introduction to a big problem focuses on how climate works and what people of all ages can do to help stop climate warming. Kids will explore the difference between weather and climate. They’ll meet some greenhouse gases, find out how they trap heat, and explore how warming is changing our world. The Help the Community game lets kids add special features to a town and a farm to solve climate change.
 
Weather Wonders: It’s a stormy good time as kids explore thunderstorms, hurricanes, and snowstorms in this section of the website. They’ll learn how hail, tornadoes, lightning, and thunder can form in thunderstorms and what they can do to stay safe. They’ll get to know hurricanes without getting wet. Playing the game Hurricane Allie, kids will figure out what makes hurricanes grow stronger. Turning to winter weather, kids will consider what’s needed for a snowstorm to form. They’ll learn how a blizzard is different from other types of snowstorms and take a close look at snowflakes. 

Looking for more science?

If you’re looking for more in-depth science on the same topics, visit the UCAR SciEd Learning Zone, which contains a wealth of articles, interactive simulations, and videos about weather, climate change, and the science of the Earth system.

Learning resources for elementary educators