Rain gauges have many uses, from tracking and predicting weather patterns, to determining how often you should water your garden! In this activity, kids become young meteorologists as they make their own rain gauge to use in the backyard. With the help of this nifty tool, kids can track their local rainfall, and use the information to predict rainfall patterns in the future!
What You Need:
- Glass jar
- Permanent marker
- Ruler
- Stickers
What You Do:
- Start by learning more about rain gauges and meteorologists online or by visiting your local library. Some rain gauges are very large, while others are small enough to use in your backyard. Brainstorm with your child why measuring rainfall is important for meteorologists and how it helps with weather prediction.
- When you're ready to get to work, have your child place the ruler against the side of the glass jar and use the marker to make a line every half-inch from the bottom of the glass to the top, labeling each inch as she goes.
- Encourage her to decorate her rain gauge however she likes. She can use stickers, draw designs with permanent marker, or just leave it the way it is.
- Have her place her rain gauge outside under the open sky to collect the next rainfall. How much rain does she think will fall the next time it rains? Encourage her to write down her prediction so she can compare it later.
- When it stops raining, help her take a look at the rain gauge and record the rainfall amount. How accurate was her prediction?
Does your area get more rainfall in the spring or the fall? Have her date her results as she continues to track rainfall so she can see how her local weather patterns change with the seasons!
By Sarah Lipoff
Sarah Lipoff has a K-12 Art Education degree and enjoys working with kids of all ages.
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