A Kid Weather Activity – Make a Simple Thermometer
by Nancy Johnson

Description: How to make a simple homemade thermometer--great science experiment idea!

Everyday we hear about weather forecasts from the radio, newspaper, television and the Internet. Because the air is always moving, there is always weather! Air warming, cooling, rising and falling causes weather such as wind, rain, fog, snow, hail and thunderstorms. As a kid weather activity, discuss what weather is and why it is important to us. For a science experiment, make a simple thermometer.

Knowing what the weather is going to be can affect planning outdoor activities, traveling and just being outside. As an activity, learn to read a weather map printed in a newspaper. Look for places where it’s raining, hot, windy and cold. From the weather map, record the daily weather forecast and see if you can learn to predict the next day’s weather.

Make a simple thermometer using colored water. The readings will be approximate due to water evaporation, but it will give you an idea of the temperature. You will need a glass bottle with a rubber or cork stopper, a glass tube, larger glass container, red food coloring, water and ice. Fill the bottle with water and add several drops of red coloring. Drill a hole in the stopper to fit the glass tube and slide the tube into the hole carefully.

Place the bottle in the larger glass container filled with cold, iced water. Open the smaller bottle, fill the bottle with cold water and replace the stopper. Cut a piece of cardboard the length of the glass tube and secure it with tape to the tube. Mark a line on the cardboard showing the level of the water in the tube. Mark a temperature scale by comparing to an indoor thermometer or just watch the tube levels to show how the temperature changes.

Swiss mathematician, Daniel Bernoulli discovered in 1738 that the faster air (or liquid) moves, the more pressure drops. For fun, try holding a sheet of tissue paper between the fingers of both hands and blow hard over the top. The far end of the paper will begin to lift. Below the paper, the air pressure remains the same. This effect allows birds and aircraft to fly and sailing ships to sail! The National Weather Service has lots of weather-related information for kids.

As a mother, grandmother, and child development professional, Nancy Johnson, shares over 20 years experience working with children and planning activities on her website, Creative-Child-Activity-Notebook.com. Check it out for more school age child activity ideas including summer, outdoor, learning, nature, and kid weather activity ideas.

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