164 Seasons and Weather CA | Culminating Activities
Cloud Observation
Materials: Window; plastic wrap; markers; clear tape
Tell students that clouds are always moving in the sky, even when it
is hard to see them move. Stretch plastic wrap over a window in your
classroom and secure it with clear tape. Have students choose one
marker color to trace the clouds in the morning, another marker color
to trace the clouds mid-morning, and a third marker color to trace the
clouds in the afternoon. Discuss with students what they observe about
the clouds’ movement: Did the clouds stay in one place? Did they move
slowly or quickly?Rain Gauge
Materials: Clear bottle; funnel; ruler; tape
Have students create a simple rain gauge using a clear bottle, a funnel,
and a ruler. Tape the ruler to the side of the bottle and place the funnel
in the mouth of the bottle. Place the rain gauge outside so that students
can measure the amount of rain that falls in one week. Have students
check the rain gauge daily and record the daily rainfall in their weather
diaries.Where Is the Wind?
Materials: Grass or balloon; construction paper; scissors; tape;
string
Review with students what happens when the weather is windy. Take
students outside on a windy day to learn more about the wind. Tell
students that they can tell a lot about the wind, just by wetting their
fingers and holding them up in the air. Have students discuss what they
feel and which way they think the wind is blowing. Now have students
confirm the direction of the wind by throwing grass or a balloon into the
air. Discuss with students if their predictions about wind direction were
correct.
Students can also create a wind snake in order to make observations
about the wind. Draw and cut a spiral on a piece of construction paper.
Tape a piece of string to the middle of the snake and have students
observe what happens to the snake when they hold it in the wind.