Science: Weather Instruments
Thermometers, rain gauges, and wind vanes
Science: Weather Instruments
Thermometers, rain gauges, and wind vanes
Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
Which weather instrument measures air temperature?
This tool tells how hot or cold the air is.
A thermometer measures air temperature. - 2
Which weather instrument measures how much rain has fallen?
A rain gauge measures how much rain has fallen. - 3
Which weather instrument shows the direction the wind is blowing from?
This tool often has an arrow that can turn in the wind.
A wind vane shows the direction the wind is blowing from. - 4
A student looks outside and wants to know if she needs a jacket. Which instrument would help her most, and why?
A thermometer would help her most because it tells the air temperature and helps her decide if it is warm or cold. - 5
A class puts a tall clear tube outside during a storm. The tube has numbers on the side. What instrument is this, and what does it measure?
Look for the tool that collects water.
This instrument is a rain gauge. It measures the amount of rain that falls. - 6
A wind vane points to the west. What does that tell you about the wind?
It tells you that the wind is blowing from the west. - 7
Write the name of the tool that matches this job: It tells whether the air is hot, warm, cool, or cold.
Temperature means how hot or cold something is.
The tool is a thermometer because it measures temperature. - 8
Write the name of the tool that matches this job: It catches rain so people can measure it.
The tool is a rain gauge because it catches and measures rainfall. - 9
Write the name of the tool that matches this job: It turns when the wind changes direction.
This tool does not measure how fast the wind blows.
The tool is a wind vane because it turns to show wind direction. - 10
Sam says, "The thermometer says it is 90 degrees, so it probably feels hot outside." Is Sam using the thermometer correctly? Explain.
Yes, Sam is using the thermometer correctly because a thermometer measures temperature, and 90 degrees is usually hot weather. - 11
Mia checks the rain gauge in the morning. It shows 2 inches of rain. What does this mean?
The number on a rain gauge tells the amount of rainfall.
It means that 2 inches of rain fell and collected in the rain gauge. - 12
Look at a weather station with three tools: a thermometer, a rain gauge, and a wind vane. Which tool should you read to find wind direction?
You should read the wind vane to find wind direction. - 13
Why should a rain gauge be placed in an open area away from a roof or tree?
Think about what could stop rain from falling into the gauge or add too much water.
A rain gauge should be placed in an open area so it can catch rain correctly without extra water from a roof or blocked rain from a tree. - 14
The wind vane changes from pointing north to pointing east. What changed in the weather?
The wind direction changed from coming from the north to coming from the east. - 15
Choose one weather instrument from this lesson and explain what it does in your own words.
Name the tool first, then tell what it measures or shows.
Answers will vary. A correct answer should name a thermometer, rain gauge, or wind vane and explain its job, such as saying that a thermometer measures air temperature.