Home Weather Station

How much exactly does it rain? What's the temperature? By making a weather station, you can answer these questions. 

Rain gauge:

1. Take a soda bottle and cut the top off. 

2. Place what you cut off  of the bottle through the hole left from cutting the top as shown in the picture. 

3. Measure the bottle and write down measurements(inches or centimeters). You do not need to do every inch or centimeter. You can do every two or three. If you want a smaller rain gauge, just cut off more of the bottle. 

4. That's it! You are ready to wait for the rain!

Anemometer:

This devise measures the wind speed. The wind makes it spin, giving you a rough estimate of how fast the wind is blowing. 

1. Take four plastic cups and punch one hole in each, about ½ inch (1.5 cm) below the rim.

2. Take the fifth cup and punch two holes in it, directly opposite from each other, about ½ 

inch (1.5 cm) below the rim. Now punch two more holes in the cup, each ¼ inch (1 cm) 

below the rim that are equally-spaced between the first two holes.

3. Using a push-pin and  scissors, make a hole in the center of the bottom of the cup 

with four holes in it. The hole should be large enough that a pencil can fit easily 

through it.

4.Slide one of the straws through the hole in one of the cups that has only one hole in it. Bend the end of the straw that is inside the cup about ½ inches (1.5 cm) and tape it to 

the inside of the cup.

5. Place the other end of the straw through two of the holes in the fifth cup and then through 

the hole in one of the other cups. Tape the end of the straw to the inside of the cup as 

you did earlier, making sure that the openings of the two cups face opposite directions

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the remaining two cups, sliding the straw through the 

remaining two holes in the fifth cup. Make sure that the opening of each cup faces the 

bottom of the cup next to it (in other words, no two openings should be facing each 

other). Each of the four cups should be facing sideways.

7. Insert the pencil with the eraser facing up through the bottom of the fifth cup. Carefully 

push the pin through the two straws and into the eraser on the pencil.

8. Take the permanent magic marker and draw a large X on the bottom of one of the cups.

Your anemometer is now ready to use! Take it outside and hold it in front of you in an 

open area where the wind is blowing.

9. Look at the X on the bottom of the cup as it spins around. Count the number of times it 

spins around (revolutions) in 10 seconds. The pencil must have extra room to spin. 

This is what you should have. 

You can also purchase a thermometer if you want to know the exact temperature.