How to Make a Foam Thermometer Craft for Children
One of the best ways to teach children anything is to give them a hands-on activity that ties in with the lesson. Children who are learning how to read thermometers can make this foam thermometer. Not only will this project teach them about temperature, but it will also teach them how to use a ruler and the different markings on it. Use this foam thermometer craft for students in your classroom at school or at home.
Things You'll Need
- Blue foam sheets
- White foam sheets
- Red foam sheets
- Ruler
- Scissors
- X-Acto knife
- Black markers
- Double-sided tape
Instructions
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1
Cut out all the foam pieces before class begins to save time and to make sure each child has the proper pieces.
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2
Cut out the necessary pieces for each thermometer: one blue piece of foam cut to 4 inches by 8 inches; a white piece of foam cut to 3 inches by 8 inches; and one piece of red foam cut to 2 inches by 8 inches.
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3
Use the X-Acto knife to cut a slit in the white piece of foam. Cut a hole in the middle of the strip that measures 1 inch by 6 inches.
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4
Have the children make marks on the white piece of foam with the black marker. Show them how to make horizontal marks at each 1-inch segment. Show them how to put four marks evenly spaced between each 1-inch segment. Use markers that have a very fine point so the lines do not look crowded.
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5
Write the numbers for the thermometer to one side of the 1-inch lines. Start at the bottom of the thermometer and with any number you desire that is a 10. Count upward by tens until you run out of lines.
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6
Place 2 strips of the double-sided tape on the back of the white foam piece. Put each piece of tape on either side of the center slit. Center it on the blue piece of foam and press to help the tape adhere.
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7
Slide the red piece of foam up in between the blue piece of foam and the white one so that it shows through the slit in the white piece of foam.
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8
Teach the children how to tell the temperature by reading the lines on their foam thermometers. Tell them to push and pull the red strip of foam to put it at different temperatures.
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