What could I measure?

Copy this down:

• Temperature
• Rainfall
• Wind speed
• Wind direction
• Air pressure
• Sunshine
 3/11/20

Measuring the Weather

Aim:
To describe how weather information is collected and
recorded.

What sorts of
things could you
measure?
What are all these weather
instruments?
Thermometer

Temperature is
measured with a
thermometer in
degrees Celsius (ºC).
 • This measures the
amount of rainfall
in mm, by catching
rain in a measuring
cylinder.

• It also measures all

other forms of
precipitation
(snow, rain, hail)..

Rain Gauge
Wind vane or wind sock…

A wind vane or wind sock

measures wind direction
by pointing towards
North, East, South or
West
Anemometer
• An anemometer
measures wind speed
in mph.
• The most common
type looks like a toy
windmill. The stronger
the wind blows the
faster the cups spin
around. The wind
speed is shown on a
dial, just like a car's
speedometer
Barometer

• This instrument is
used to measure
changes in air
pressure.
• Air pressure falls
when there will be
rain, and rises
when it is sunny.
 Sunshine recorder – sunshine hours

A glass ball that directs

sunlight onto a card that is
treated with a special
chemical. The sunlight burns
or chars a mark onto the
card.
 Weather detectives
Task
Cut and sort the pictures, names
and descriptions into the table.

Extra
Draw pictures to show the
different levels of wind speeds

Challenge:
Write a weather forecast today mentioning as many aspects of weather
as you can!
Checking your learning…
What are these instruments and what do they measure?

1 2 3

4 5
Checking your learning…
What do these instruments measure?

1 2 3

Sunshine recorder
Sunshine hours Rain gauge - precipitation

4 5
Wind sock/wind
vane - Wind
direction

Anemometer -
Barometer - Air
Wind speed
pressure
Homework
My Weather Diary

• Write down homework in your journal!

• Keep a weather diary for a week.
• Draw pictures around it
- weather symbols,
- weather scene for day…
- decorate it and make it colourful.
Scavenger hunt
info
Thermometer - Temperature
• Thermometers
measure air
temperature.
• Most thermometers
are closed glass
tubes containing
alcohol.
• When air around the
tube heats the
alcohol, the liquid
expands and moves up
the tube.
Rain gauge - Rainfall
• The instrument used
to measure rainfall is
a rain gauge.
• Rain is collected in
the gauge and should
be carefully poured
into a measuring
cylinder.
• The amount is then
read off the scale on
the side.
Barometer - Air Pressure
• The instrument
used to measure
air pressure is
called a
barometer.
• When air pressure
falls there will be
rain.
Anemometer - Wind Speed
• Wind speed is measured using an anemometer.
• An anemometer is made up of cups attached to
handle with a scale on it.
• The stronger the wind the faster the cups rotate
and the higher the reading on the scale.
Wind vane - Wind Direction
• A wind vane is
used to measure
wind direction.
• It is measured
using compass
directions (north,
south, east or
west) from which
the wind has
blown.
Worksheets
How do we measure the weather?
Picture Name of instrument How it works

Measures air temperature

Thermometer Contains a tube of alcohol
which rises and falls

Rain collects in the

Rain gauge container and the level
is read off the side

Made of spinning cups that

turn in the wind
Anemometer Speed is measured in miles
per hour

Measures wind direction

Arrow spins to point
Wind vane either north, south, east
or west

Measures air pressure

Falling pressure means rain
Barometer Rising pressure means clear
skies

Measures hours of sunshine

Sunshine Rays shine through glass
and leave a mark on a piece
recorder of card
 Beaufort scale – measures wind speed
Beau- Wind Effect Picture Beau- Wind Effect Picture
fort speed fort speed
level (mph) level (mph)

0 Under 1 Calm 6 25-31 Large

Smoke rises branches
straight up move
from chimney

7 32-38 Whole trees

1 1-3 Smoke lightly move
drifts from a Difficult to
chimney walk in the
wind

8 39-46 Twigs and

small
2 4-7 Wind vane branches
begins to break
move

9 47-54 Tiles blown

off house
3 8-12 Leaves move roofs
on trees

10 55-63 Trees blown

down
4 13-18 Small
branches
move
11 64-72 Whole roofs
blown off

5 19-24 Small trees

sway
12 73 or Whole towns
higher damaged
How do we measure the weather? How do we measure the weather?
Picture Name of instrument How it works Picture Name of instrument How it works
 Made of spinning cups Made of spinning cups
that turn in the wind that turn in the wind
Rain gauge Speed is measured in
Rain gauge Speed is measured in
miles per hour miles per hour

Measures air pressure Measures air pressure

Falling pressure means Sunshine Falling pressure means
Sunshine rain rain
recorder Rising pressure means recorder Rising pressure means
clear skies clear skies

Measures hours of Measures hours of

sunshine sunshine
Thermometer Rays shine through Thermometer Rays shine through
glass and leave a mark glass and leave a mark
on a piece of card on a piece of card

Measures air Measures air

temperature temperature
Barometer Contains a tube of Barometer Contains a tube of
alcohol which rises alcohol which rises
and falls and falls

Measures wind Measures wind

direction direction
Anemometer Arrow spins to point Anemometer Arrow spins to point
either north, south, either north, south,
east or west east or west

Rain collects in the Rain collects in the

container and the container and the
Wind vane level is read off the
Wind vane level is read off the
side side
 Beaufort scale – measures wind speed
Beau- Wind Effect Picture Beau- Wind Effect Picture
fort speed fort speed
level (mph) level (mph)

0 Under 1 Calm 6 25-31 Large

Smoke rises branches
straight up move
from chimney

7 32-38 Whole trees

1 1-3 Smoke lightly move
drifts from a Difficult to
chimney walk in the
wind

8 39-46 Twigs and

small
2 4-7 Wind vane branches
begins to break
move

9 47-54 Tiles blown

off house
3 8-12 Leaves move roofs
on trees

10 55-63 Trees blown

down
4 13-18 Small
branches
move
11 64-72 Whole roofs
blown off

5 19-24 Small trees

sway
12 73 or Whole towns
higher damaged