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Lesson 4: Tools Used to Measure Weather
Lesson Overview
This lesson is to teach the students about different types of tools meteorologists use to measure the weather, and tools
that they can also use to measure weather.
Lesson Objectives
Students will learn what about thermometers, barometers, rain gauges, anemometers, satellites and radars and how they
are used to measure the weather. Students will also learn how to create a barometer.
State Standards
PA state standard 3.5.4- basic weather elements
Materials
Computer/Internet
Thermometer
Barometer
Rain gauge
Anemometer
Weather journals
Pencils
5 glasses or beaker with straight sides
5 ruler (12 inch)
Tape
5- One foot of clear plastic tubing
5 sticks of chewing gum
Water
Anticipatory Set
Explain that the class will do their daily weather recording after today's lesson because they will learn new things to
forecast and measure the weather.
The lesson will begin with the teacher showing the class different tools used to measure weather. These will include a
thermometer, barometer, and a rain gauge, and anemometer. The students will be asked if they know what these tools are and
what they do.
Plan
1. The class will be told that meteorologists use different tools to help them measure the weather. Also, we can use these
tools to help us know about the weather.
2. Start by handing out the paper that has a picture of each tool and a description of it and how it measures weather.
3. Explain to the class that a thermometer is used to measure the temperature, and can be used both inside and outside.
Ask the class if they have any thermometers in their house. Explain that a chemical called mercury is used inside it and the
liquid expands as it is heated, causing it to rise, and contracts when cooled, causing it go fall. Temperature is measure
in Fahrenheit and Celsius. Show the class how to read a thermometer.
4. Explain that a barometer is used to measure the atmosphere's pressure. Some barometers are long tubes of mercury inverted
in a dish. Air pressing down on the surface of the dish pushes the mercury up the tube. When pressure falls, there is not
as much pressure on the dish, so the mercury falls. This is called a falling barometer. When atmospheric pressure is low,
the weather is may be warmer with rain or storms. When the atmospheric pressure increases and mercury goes up the tube, it
is called a rising barometer. Weather tends to be cooler with clear skies.
5. Explain to the class that a rain gauge simply measures the amount of rainfall. A simple rain gauge is a tube or glass
set up outside to collect rain and then measured. A more complex rain gauge has oil in it to keep the rainwater from evaporating
over time.
6. Explain that an anemometer is used to measure the speed of the wind.
7. Explain that satellites are used to take pictures of clouds from space. The results are put on to computers for meteorologists
to study.
8. Explain that radars show where and how much rain is falling during a storm. Go to http://www.weather.com and click
on radars to show the students what radar look like.
9. Make a barometer! Have the class break up into 5 groups
a. Gather all the materials needed
b. Stand the ruler inside the glass beaker and tape it to the side. Be sure the ruler stays vertical and
the numbers can be read
c. Stand the plastic tube against the ruler in the glass. Be sure the tube is about half and inch up the ruler,
not touching the bottom of the glass. Tape the tube to the ruler.
d. Begin chewing the stick of gum, and fill the beaker half full with water while doing this
e. Suck the tube so that water goes about half way up the tube, and then put your tongue over the hole to trap the
water. Quickly move the gum onto the top of the tube to cover the hole. The water should stay in the tube, this creates a
vacuum.
f. Mark the ruler where the water level starts. As the pressure changes in the atmosphere the water will move up or
down the tube.
g. If water moves up the tube, there is an increase of atmospheric pressure, which shows clear or fair weather is
coming. If water moves down the tube there is a decrease of atmospheric pressure which shows clouds or precipitation are expected.
10. Explain to the class that they can use their barometer when they observe the weather each day. They can now measure
the atmospheric pressure and predict what will happen.
11. The class can also read thermometers now and record the temperature each day.
Adaptations
Instead of using chewing gum in the activity sticky tack can be used
Assessment
Assessment will be done in the form of the weather recordings. If children are able to read thermometers and record whether
the atmospheric pressure is rising or falling, I will know they understood the lesson.
Assignment
There is not an assignment for this lesson
Closure
The children will finish the lesson by using their barometers and newfound knowledge to do their daily weather observations
and recording
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