Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
A backyard weather station with a thermometer on a post, a wind vane spinning on a fence and a rain gauge in a flower bed.

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Weather Tools

Thermometer, wind vane and rain gauge.

Lesson 27 of 41

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Weather Tools

Every farmer and rancher keeps an eye on the weather. They do not guess. They use tools.

A thermometer measures how hot or cold the air is. A wind vane points into the wind and shows where it comes from. A rain gauge is a tube that collects rain so you can read how deep it is.

With these three tools you can build a small weather station in your yard. Here are the steps.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Backyard Weather Log

    20 minutes a day for 3 days · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • An outdoor thermometer
    • A homemade wind vane from a straw, a pin and paper
    • A clear cup with a ruler taped to the side
    • A notebook
    • A pencil

    Do this

    1. Set the thermometer in the shade.
    2. Set the cup outside on flat ground in the open.
    3. Make a wind vane and pin it to a pencil eraser.
    4. Stand outside at the same time each day.
    5. Read the temperature, wind direction and rain.
    6. Write all three in a table.
    Write or draw: A table with the date, temperature, wind direction and rain for each day.

    Watch for: Notice if the numbers change from morning to afternoon. Notice what the wind does before rain.

    Safety: Ask an adult to help with the pin. Keep the cup low so it cannot tip, and do not climb for a reading.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Use the right tool.

    Each tool measures one thing.

    Rule 2Read at the same time.

    That keeps your data fair.

    Rule 3Keep tools in the open.

    Trees and walls change the reading.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    thermometer
    A tool that measures how hot or cold something is.
    wind vane
    A tool that shows which way the wind comes from.
    rain gauge
    A tube that collects rain so you can measure it.
    data
    Facts and numbers you write down.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • How do you know your rain gauge reading is right? What could go wrong?
    • What weather tool might a farmer near you use?
    Did you know

    Some wind vanes on old barns have shaped metal roosters on top.

    Someone who does this

    A farmer uses weather tools to decide when to plant and water.

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