Weather

Hi, everyone!

Today's class was about predicting the weather. Previously, we'd discussed how rainclouds form and how where it rains is determined in part by the shape of the land, and today we talked about air and wind in general. The air above us actually weights a great deal, but we don't notice it because the air around and below us is pushing up on us as well. If you feel like destroying a ruler, you can see just how hard it's pushing with this experiment at home.

The kids all made weather vanes and barometers. Between the two, they should now be able to predict the weather with the help of the sheet they have.

The weather vanes have holes in their middle for a metal rod or string. Hang them up outside to see which way the weather's blowing.

The barometer works by going up or down in response to the air pressure. If air pressure drops, the air inside the can bulges, and the straw will point lower. Air pressure rising means the rubber is pushed down, raising the straw.

By measuring where the barometer points over time, you can tell if the pressure is getting higher or lower, and how fast. Combining this with the direction the wind is coming from can let you predict the weather relatively accurately.

So for homework this week, have the kids keep track of the day's wind and the barometer's level, then write what the weather actually was like that day.