Weather Unit Helper – Part 2

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For Part 2 of this month’s unit helper on weather, I have put together some experiments you can add to your existing curriculum. In Part 1, I shared craft ideas on many different kinds of weather, from clouds to hurricanes and tornadoes. Part 2 will show you how to make some experiments about weather from air pressure to making your own cloud in a bottle. I pray that these projects will bless you and your family.

Make Your Own Cloud in a Bottle

Supplies Needed:

• Empty 2 Liter Bottle
• Matches or Lighter

Instructions:

• Fill the bottom of a 2 liter bottle with warm water
• Light a match and let it burn for a few seconds
• Blow it out.
• Let the smoke fill up inside the bottle and try not to let any leak out.
• Once you see that the smoke is disappearing quickly cap the bottle.
• Squeeze the bottle 6 times fast and one long squeeze and let go.
• You should see clouds form at the top of the bottle..

Can You Hear the Thunder?

Supplies Needed:

• Three balloons
• Pin

Instructions:

• Blow up three balloons all in different sizes. Small, medium and large
• Pop each balloon separately and discuss the sound, comparing the sizes of the balloon
• Optional- Use plastic sandwich bags

Hurricane in a Bucket

Supplies Needed:

• Bucket or large cup
• Water
• Food Coloring
• Spoon

Instructions:

• Take a tub, food coloring and a spoon.
• Fill it with water
• Stir it fast
• Place a couple drops of food coloring in the center and watch the coloring swirl outward just like a hurricane..
• We did this several times and used different colors.

Tornado in a Bottle

Supplies Needed:

• 2-2 Liter Bottles or Soda Bottles
• Water
• Duct Tape

Instructions:

• Pour water about 3/4 of the way into one bottle
• Place empty bottle on top of other bottle and seal both lids together
• Spin bottle several times
• Flip upside down and watch it swirl into other bottle forming a tornado

Make Your Own Hygrometer

Supplies Needed:

• One Paper Cup
• Index Card
• Pin
• Modeling Clay
• Blotter Paper
• Tape
• Scissors
• Straw

Instructions:

• Cut an index card in half. These halves will form the support for the balance arm.
• Turn a paper cup upside down.
• Use tape to attach each half of the index card opposite sides of the cup. Each half should stick up from the flat cup bottom.
• Insert a pin through both index card halves and through the center of the straw. The pin should act as an axle, allowing free movement of the straw.
• Tape several pieces of blotter paper together.
• Secure this stack of paper to one end of the straw.
• Place a lump of modeling clay to the other end of the straw.
• Adjust the amount of clay so the straw is balanced.
• Experiment with your hygrometer by moving it to places of different humidity levels. Such as a bathroom with the shower running for several minutes.

Make Your Own Barometer

Supplies Needed:

• Scissors
• Round Balloon
• Wide-Mouthed Glass Jar
• Rubberband
• Plastic Drinking Straw
• Transparent Tape
• Index Card

Instructions:

• Cut off the neck of the balloon
• Stretch the balloon around the mouth of the jar tightly so the surface is flat.
  Wrap the rubberband around the balloon and jar to keep the balloon from slipping
• Cut one end of the straw to form a point.
• With a small piece of tape, attach the uncut end of the straw to the center of the balloon
• Push down lightly on the ballon, and watch what happens to the end of the straw.
• By pushing down on the balloon, you imitated an increase in air pressure.
• Put your barometer in a safe place. It doesn’t need to be outside.
• Tape the index card to the wall next to the barometer.
• The straw should come to about the middle of the card.
• Mark the card where the straw points. Write the date and time next to your mark

How it works.. If the air pressure is falling or your straw is dipping down, then a low pressure air mass is on its way probably bringing rain.. If the air pressure is rising or the straw is moving upward, then high pressure air mass is moving in, and fair skies are likely..

Make Your Own Anemometer

An Anemometer is an instrument that measures the speed of the wind.

Supplies Needed:

• Scissors
• 4 Small Paper Cups
• Marking Pen (any color)
• 2 Strips of Corrugated Cardboard
• Stapler
• Pushpin
• Pencil with Eraser
• Modeling Clay

Instructions:

• Cut off the rolled edges of the paper cups to make the cups lighter.
• Color the outside of one cup with the marking pen.
• Cross the cardboard strips so they look like a plus sign.
• Staple them together.
• Staple the cups to the ends of the cardboard strips, making sure that all the cups face the same direction
• With the pushpin, attach the center of the anemometer to the eraser end of the pencil.
• Blow on the anemometer to make sure it spins freely.
• Place the modeling clay on a surface, such as a rock or table top.
• Stick the sharp end of the pencil into the clay.
• To take anemometer readings, hold it up to your eyes and count the number of times the colored cup passes by in a minute. You will measure wind speeds in turns per minute.
• Professional meteorologists convert turns per minute to miles per hour, but this is not necessary for your weather watching..

Make Your Own Thermometer

Supplies Needed:

• Tap Water
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Clear, narrow necked plastic bottle. Soda or water bottle is good
• Food coloring
• Clear plastic drinking straw
• Modeling Clay

Instructions:

• Pour equal parts of tap water and rubbing alcohol into the bottle, filling it about 1/4 of the way up.
• Add a few drops of food coloring and mix well.
• Place the straw in the bottle
• Seal the neck of the bottle with the modeling clay so that the straw stands straight upright.
• Hold your hands on the bottle or place in a warm area and watch what happens to the liquid in the straw!

Make Your Own Weather Vane

Supplies Needed:

• Plastic Cup
• Straw
• Pencil
• Pin
• Construction Paper in two colors
• Scissors
• Double Sided Tape

Instructions:

• Cut out one medium sized triangle and one large triangle
• Cut four little squares that will be the directions of N, S, W, E on the cup from other piece of paper
• With double sided tape, tape both medium and large triangles onto either side of straw
• Push pin through straw and connect with the eraser of the pencil
• Poke hole in cup to put other end of pencil inside. Then use double sided tape to mark your N, S, W, E on your cup with the small triangles.
• Your weather vane should be able to spin on the pin.

Air Pressure Experiment

Supplies Needed:

• Clear Plastic Drinking Glass
• Tap Water
• Index Card- big enough to cover the top of the glass
• You must have access to a sink

Instructions:

• Fill the glass to the brim with tap water
• Place the index card over the glass.
• Be sure the top of the glass is completely covered.
• Standing over the sink, hold the card against the glass as you turn the glass upside down.
• Let go of the card.

The water stayed in the glass because the air pressure against the card was stronger than gravity pulling the card down. After a while, though, water will soak into the card. The card will become too heavy, and gravity will overcome the air pressure. The card will fall off the glass, and the water will pour into the sink…

Resources:

• http://www.weatherwizkids.com/
• http://www.theweatherchannelkids.com/weather-games/
• http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/
• http://www.scholastic.com/kids/weather/

Teaching Ideas:

• http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/science/weather/
• http://www.theweatherchannelkids.com/weathered/teacher-resources/lesson-plan/scholastic-wild-weather-lessons-and-worksheets/
• http://www.theteacherscorner.net/thematicunits/weather.htm
• http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Weather/index.shtml
• http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/What-is-Heat-What-is-Temperature-Project-Pack-P1610.aspx
• http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/Extreme-Weather-Project-Pack-P566.aspx
• http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/Weather-Project-Pack-P565.aspx

Lynn is a blessed wife to a wonderful husband of 12 years, a mom to three children, ranging from 15 to almost 8, and in the process of expanding their family through adoption. They are in their fifth year of homeschooling, using a hands on/eclectic approach to learning. You can find out more by visiting her blogs @ Learning By Living and Ladybug Chronicles.