Nature’s Hygrometers
Nature provides two things you can use as hygrometers. A hygrometer is a gauge of relative
humidity. See how a pine cone can tell you how much moisture is in the air.
Materials Needed:
1 pine cone
string
Procedure:
1. Hang the pine cone inside your group’s
weather station. Make sure it is sheltered
from the rain.
2. Observe the pinecone every day:
a.
If the pinecone scales are open,
the humidity is low.
b.
If the pinecone scales are
closed, the humidity is high.
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Blowing in the Wind
Keeping track of the direction from which the wind blows will help you
notice weather patterns. Follow the directions below to make a
weather vane.
Materials Needed:
wood block
arrow pattern
cards labeled N, S, E, W
modeling clay
pen cap
compass
chopstick
masking tape
clear packing tape
Procedure:
1. Put clay in the middle of the wood block.
2. Stick the chopstick into the clay.
3. Cover the arrow with clear packing tape.
4. Tape the pen cap to the middle of the arrow.
5. Slide the pen cap over the top of the chopstick.
6. Attach the four direction cards to the sides of the wood block.
7. Use the compass to help position the side labeled N so that it faces north when placed
in the weather station.
Save it for a Rainy Day
How is rain measured?
Follow the directions below to make a simple rain gauge.
Materials Needed:
empty 2-Liter soda bottle
scissors
clear packing tape
modeling clay
rain gauge scale
Procedure:
1. Cut the top off the soda bottle.
2. Attach the scale to the bottom half of the soda bottle with the clear packing tape.
Make sure the 0 inch mark is at the bottom of the jar.
3. Place the bottle top upside down in the bottom half to serve as a funnel.
4. Attach the top to the bottom with the clear packing tape.
5. Secure the rain gauge to the top of your weather station with the clay.
6. Record how much water is in your rain gauge after each rainfall. Empty and dry out
the gauge after you record the data in your weather log.
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Under Pressure
Falling pressure can mean that bad weather is on the way.
How do you measure air pressure? Follow the directions below
to make a barometer, an instrument that measure air pressure.
Materials Needed:
plastic jar
card stock strip
ruler
drinking straw
tape
marker
balloon
scissors
Procedure:
1. Cut the tip off the balloon and stretch the larger part across the mouth of the jar.
2. Cut the straw to make a pointed end. Tape the opposite end of the straw to the
ballon.
3. Hold the card stock strip next to the jar with bottom of the strip touching the table top.
Make a mark and then draw a line across the strip where the straw now points.
4. Draw another line 1 inch above the mark. Label the top line “High”.
5. Draw another line 1 inch below the mark. Label the bottom line “Low”.
6. Place your barometer in your group’s weather station. Tape the card stock strip to the
inside of the weather station so that the straw is aligned with the middle mark.
Weather Vane Arrow
Rain Gauge Measurement Strip
3 inches
2.75 inches
2.5 inches
2.25 inches
2 inches
1.75 inches
1.5 inches
1.25 inches
1 inch
0.75 inch
0.5 inch
0.25 inch
0 inch
N W
S E