WEATHER INSTRUMENTS

Make weather-recording devices with the class and use them as tools for reporting the weather.
Tools for reporting the weather:
outdoor thermometer
wind vane
barometer
anemometer
rain and snow guage
weather chart

Wind Vane
( a devicefor discovering wind direction)
Materials: tranparent tape
empty thread spool
darning needle
drinking straw
ruler
pencil
construction paper
scissors
glue
compass
1. Tape over the hole on one end of the spool. Drop the darning needle into the other end and slip the drinking straw over the part of the needle that sticks up. the straw should turn easily.
2. Measure and draw a 5in. X 3in. arrow on construction paper. Cut out and glue the arrow to one end of the straw.
3. Place the wind vane in the wind. Use a compass to determine tohe direction of the wind.

Barometer
( a device that shows changes in air pressure)
Materials: scissors
balloon
widemouthed jar
rubber band
drinking straw
glue
straight pin
dark marker
ruler
oaktag (9" X 12")
red crayon
transparent tape
pushpins
1. Snip of the mouth of the balloon. Then slit the balloon up the middle, stretch it over the mouth of the jar, and secure it with the rubber band.
2. Glue 1/3 the length of the drinking straw to the stretched balloon and glue the head end of the pin to the other end of the straw, as shown. Place the jar on a table near a wall.
3. Use a dark marker to draw a grid of lines 1" apart on the sheet of oaktag. Fill in the spaces inside the grid with a thick layer of red crayon.
4. Tape the chart to the wall behind the barometer so that the pin just touches the grid.
5. As air pushes against (exerts pressure on) the stretched balloon, it causes the straw to move and the pin to scratch the chart. Each day, fix a pushpin to the chart to mark the location of the pinpoint. Note hether there has been an upward or downward change in the air pressure. Then slide the jar over slightly, so the pin can make a new mark without interference.

Anemometer
( a device for measuring wind speed)
materials: stapler
four paper cups with handles
paper plate
pencil with eraser
straight pin
clock or watch
1. Staple the handles of the paper cups to the edge of the paper plate. Cups should face in the same direction and be an equal distance apart.
2. Use the pencil point to poke a small hole in the middle of the paper plate. The hole should not be large enough for the whole pencil to pass through.
3. Insert the pin into the pencil’s eraser and slip the hole in the plate over the pin.
4. Grasp the pencil and hold the anemometer up the wind. Use a clock or watch to determine how many times it turns around in one minute.

Rain and Snow Gauge
(a device for measuring rainfall and snowfall)
Materials: ruler
indelible coffee can without lid
waterproof box containing 3" of sand
1. Mark off half-inches on the inside of the coffee can.
2. Push the can down in the box of sand and set it outdoors.
3.Measure accumulated rainfall or snowfall.
*The Wind Vane, Barometer, Anemometer, and Rain and Snow Gauge all came from the Language Expression Skills unit from Macmillan Educational Company.

Simple Weather Instrument!
Place a bowl outside bowl to fill up with rain outside.

Barometer
Have students learn to use a barometer through daily readings. They will observe the movement
patterns of air pressure and wind and realize the effects on weather changes.

Build a rain gauge by cutting off the top third of the plastic bottle and inverting the top inside the bottom to form a funnel. Use a permanent marker to record inches on the side of the bottle. -Explain that people who report on the weather need to know how much it rains each day.

Thermometer
Help child identify parts of the thermometer
*numbers
*measuring lines
*clear tube
*red liquid
*Fahrenheit/ Celcius symbol
Make a drawing of a thermometer on paper and make several copies for the children to chart the temperature for several days. Lay the real outdoor thermometer flat on the table.  Help them find the spot where the red liquid ends.  Ask "What number is the top of the red liquid closest to? or  What numbers did the red liquid stop near?"  Let someone place his/her thumb on the ball at the bottom of the thermometer for a few moments and watch what happens. Talk about what happens.
Using a small container, first place hot(not too hot) water in the container.  Let the children feel the water.  Ask them what they think will happen to the red liquid if we put the thermometer in the hot water.Will the red liquid go up, go down,or stay where it is right now? Place the thermometer in the hot water and watch what happens.  After a few moments, help the children read the temperature.  Then, fill the container with cold water and ice.  Have the children feel the water.  Ask them what they think will happen this time.  Have the children place the thermometer in the can and observe the thermometer.  After exploring how the thermometer works, take it outside and put it in a sopt where the children will be able to read it.
Record the temperature on the paper thermometers using red marker.

Set a bowl in the rain and time how long it takes to fill up.
Measure the amount of rain collected.