We’re learning all about the weather and setting up a weather station in our yard. Here’s how to make a rain gauge for some great backyard science experiments.
How to make a weather station
When she wakes up in the morning L likes to check the weather app on my phone to see what’s forecast for the day. I think she likes the animated visual of the rain or the shining sun but she’s also interested in the temperature. We haven’t had such a cold winter this year but there have been a few days when the temperature has dipped below zero and L is fascinated that something can be less than nothing.
We decided we’d investigate further and try to make our own weather station to check if the weather forecasters on the phone get it right. There are few different ways the children can be involved in setting this up and you can decide whether you want to looking at the sky, the wind, the temperature  or the rain. A weather station project also gives you lots of scope to include many different aspects of learning: observation, recording data, graphing, guessing and estimating, taking notes and translating results in to real-life consequences.
Our project is part of the Weather Blog Hop which is linking many kid blogs around the world to bring you all sorts of  weather ideas you can use with your children – science, art, games, activities, you name it, we’ve got it! Have a browse through the links at the end of this post for lots of ideas.  If you have a weather idea you would like to share please feel free to add it to the linky too.
How to make a weather station [Read more…]
St. Swithin’s Day activities: whatever the weather
Come rainy day or sunny day these activities will bring some fun to St. Swithin’s Day
St. Swithin’s Day is on Friday July 15th, and legend says the skies on this day will set the weather for the rest of the summer. If it rains on Friday we’re in for another forty days of rain! Here are some weather-themed activity ideas to make the most of the summer – whatever the weather. (And note I’m giving lots more ideas for sunny days that rainy day – ever the optimist!)
Rainy day activities
Use the puddles to test out what floats
Go mud surfing (This looks like so much fun!)
Use the rain to create some beautiful art like this or like this
Sunny day activities
Use the sun to cook your dinner with this homemade solar powered pizza oven
Create some water painted coffee filter sunshines
Make a sunflower sundial
Create some tissue paper sun catchers
Brew some sun tea
Use your handprints to make a beautiful sunflower
Harness the sunlight to make some art prints
Blow some enormous bubbles and watch the sunshine make patterns on them
Whatever the weather on St Swithin’s Day – get outside and have some fun!
 happily shared with for the Kids Friday