Al Roker on Making Weather Education Fun for the Whole Family

Al Roker here. Some folks may know me as a TV host and weathercaster. But now I have an animated alter ego — Al Hunter — on my new PBS KIDS series “Weather Hunters,” which premieres Sept. 8.

It’s not a coincidence that animated Al and I have a lot in common — did I mention he’s a handsome and brilliant weathercaster? Al Hunter’s family is inspired by my own. His wife, Dot — a multitasking TV producer and mom — is inspired by my own incredible wife, journalist Deborah Roberts. Their oldest daughter, 11-year-old Corky, is passionate and determined as she chases down weather mysteries, just like my daughter Courtney. Eight-year-old Lily, a budding scientist and future meteorologist, is much like my daughter, Leila. And five-year-old Benny, a fanciful artist, was inspired by my son Nick.

While the Hunter family isn’t exactly like my own (they have a van that flies and turns into a mobile weather station — wouldn’t that come in handy?), the Hunters and Rokers do share a love of adventure, a curiosity about weather science, and a passion for exploring and learning. Whether the weather is fair or foggy, warm or wet, you’ll find them outside making observations, spotting patterns, writing down their discoveries, and enjoying the beauty and awe of nature. And there’s a way in for every family member, whether you’re a weather whiz like Lily, a little kid with a big imagination like Benny, a storyteller like Corky, or a curious learner just like your own.

Here are some ways you and your kids can engage with weather — and each other — just like the Hunter family:

• Make observations. Take your kids outside. Encourage them to use all five senses (with proper safety precautions, of course) and ask them to describe what they observe. Let them take the lead, but if they need a little help getting started, try questions like: “What do you notice about the clouds? What shape and color are they? Can you describe how the air feels? Warm or chilly? Dry or humid?”

  You can tailor outdoor exploration to each child’s interests, like Al Hunter does in the “Weather Hunters” episode “Cloudy Day.” When Benny gets frustrated trying to draw clouds that keep changing shape, Al identifies the white puffy clouds as cumulus clouds. When Benny and Lily observe that these clouds are darker on the bottom, Al supports Lily in figuring out why, and encourages Benny, who wants to draw them more accurately. In the end, both kids (each in their own way) come to appreciate the role of clouds in our ever-changing weather system.

• Track patterns over time. In “Weather Hunters,” the family explores the difference between weather and climate. Weather is what we observe each day —, like rainfall, temperature, and windspeed. Climate refers to the expected weather in a specific place based on years of tracking it. In the “Groundhog Birthday” episode, Lily tries to figure out whether Benny’s birthday on March 15 will be snowy or spring-like. Over six weeks, she tracks temperature and sunrise and sunset times. She even looks for changes like budding trees, listens for bird sounds, and sniffs the air for the scent of blooming flowers. She charts her findings to see trends over time and notices signs that spring is coming.

  You and your kids can go on your own weather-hunting expeditions! Keep a weather journal, snap photos, or use a mobile device like Lily’s Tracker Tablet to track temperatures, sunrise and sunset times, or other observations in nature.Talk together about how the changing weather affects what you wear, where you go, and how you spend your time.

• Just enjoy being outside. Observing nature and playing together outside is a fun way to learn about the weather in every season! Splash through puddles — it’s fun! As someone who’s seen plenty of rain, I can assure you: we’re all water-resistant!

  Go to the beach and notice how wind and waves create patterns in the sand. Jump into a pile of autumn leaves or gather leaves of different colors to make mosaics, like the Hunters do in “The Leaf Painter” episode. Make snow angels or trek through snow to enjoy the peace and stillness of winter.

Whatever the weather, the best part is exploring it together. It’s something every family can do! After watching “Weather Hunters,” I hope you’ll head outside to notice, wonder, and discover alongside your kids.You’ll not only reinforce the learning from the show, but create memories that'll last a lifetime, too.