How to Build Weather Instruments for Kids

Kids are fascinated by the vast and interesting subject of weather--just watch a child when a thunderstorm begins or on the first snowy day of the year. Here are some tips for building your own weather instruments. Have fun studying and measuring different weather phenomenon.

Things You'll Need

• Empty glass or plastic container
• Permanent marker
• Wooden dowel
• Wooden stick
• Nail
• Washer
• Cardboard or other sturdy material for weather vane
• 5 paper cups
• Empty coffee can
• Balloon
• Pencil
• Popsicle stick or straw
• Straight pin
• Paper or notebook for recording data

Instructions

1. Make a simple rain gauge. Take an empty plastic or glass container and, using a permanent marker, mark up the side in quarter or half-inch graduations. Place your rain gauge in an area that is open and unsheltered. Check your gauge each day and record how much rain you collected. You can also keep a log and average the amount of rain you collect over a specified period.

2. Build a weather vane. Take a wooden dowel, a nail, washer and short stick. Place the short stick perpendicular to the wooden dowel with the washer on top of the dowel. Hammer a nail through the stick into the dowel. Be sure the stick turns easily on the washer. Now make small slats in the stick on either end. In one of these you will place a triangle; in the other, a square. These can be made out of heavy card stock, plastic or sturdy paper plates. Mount your weather vane outside, preferably in a high area to catch the wind. Record which direction the wind is coming from.

3. Make a barometer. Take an empty coffee can and pull a balloon tight over the entire top. You may have to cut the balloon's opening to make it fit properly. Secure it tightly around the coffee can with a rubber band. Tape a Popsicle stick or straw to the middle of the balloon, making sure it sticks out over the edge of the can about 1/2 inch to make a pointer. Take a piece of paper and tape it to a wall. Place your barometer next to your paper so that the stick or straw can move up and down next to the paper. Draw a line on the paper where the stick or straw stops. Note what the weather was like that day. Was it sunny? Rainy? Record your measurements each day in your weather journal.

4. Record wind speed by making an anemometer. Take 4 sturdy paper cups and poke holes through the sides of them near the top. Through the holes you will place straws. Use 1/2 straw for each cup. Take a fifth paper cup and poke four holes around the top. In these holes, you will place the other ends of the straws from your first 4 cups. Fasten with tape or staples if you need to so that they stay in place. Be sure that your cups are all facing in the same direction to catch the wind. Now take the top of your anemometer and a pencil. Put the middle (5th) cup on top of a pencil eraser and secure with a straight pin. Be sure the cup spins easily. Mark a thick line on one of the cups or place a piece of tape on one cup so that you can use it as a reference to count the number of rotations your anemometer makes in one minute. Take your anemometer outside in an open place to catch the wind. Count the number of rotations your marked cup makes in 1 minute. Record your results.

5. Keep a weather journal. Every good scientist keeps records. Use your weather journal to record your findings. Even children as young as 5 years old can do this. Help them draw pictures of their weather instruments and record their findings. Older children can use their data to make graphs and charts later on.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to clean out your rain gauge with a little bleach from time to time so that bacteria does not collect in it. Always wash your hands after handling the rain gauge.