It's the "Rain," Man

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In this weather forecasting activity, learners use common materials to construct a rain gauge and measure daily, monthly, and yearly rainfall. Learners will discover rainfall amounts are rarely uniform and vary from location to location. This resource also includes tips about flood safety.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • A straight sided glass container, such as an empty bottle of olives
  • Scissors
  • Paper
  • Ruler
  • Scotch tape
  • Map of the area around your location for plotting the students' reports
  • Chart for recording rain measurements

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth Processes
      • Weather and Climate
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
      • Data Representation
    • Measurement
      • Size and Scale
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
      • Momentum and Velocity
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Communicating Results

Informal Categories

  • Nature and Environment
  • Outdoor Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, National Weather Service,