Science: Weather Instruments
Explore these links to learn about various meteorological instruments such as anemometer, thermometer, hydrometer, barometer, and weather balloons. Learn what type of atmospheric conditions each instrument measures. Read about the history and inventors of the weather instruments. Follow instructions and build your own wind and rain gauges, barometer, hydrometer, and other meteorological tools. Includes photographs, activities, flash cards, a word search, and online game.
Miami Museum of Science: Weather Tools
Read about several weather instruments and click on images to learn how to build these tools.
Franklin's Forecast: Make Your Own!
It is not difficult to become an amateur meteorologist if you have right tools. Follow instructions on this site and make your own barometer, hydrometer, rain gauge, weather vane, and a compass.
Fact Monster: Encyclopedia: Meteorological Instruments
Find various instruments to predict, measure, and analyze weather. Explore links to learn definitions and how to use meteorologists' tools.
NOTE: The site includes pop-up and banner ads.
Quia: Weather Instruments
This page has flash cards, a concentration game, and a word search that can help younger students learn about several weather instruments.
Education Place Activity: Measuring Rainfall
Learn how to measure rainfall using a clear container and marbles
This page explains how anemometer measures the speed of wind and how to make one.
Education Place Activity: Wind Observation
Use this activity to build a wind gauge, then observe wind and record the observation on a chart. Includes PDF for a wind gauge and an observation chart.
Make Your Own Barometer
Here is a design and instructions on how to build a barometer for measuring air pressure. Be sure and click on the "How Does It Work?" link to understand the principles of how the barometer works.
Exploratorium Magazine: Hair: Activity
Here is an original way to measure humidity. Build your own hair hydrometer using a strand of hair from your head.
Education Place Activity: Tracking Local Weather
This class activity can teach kids how to measure and record wind direction and speed, temperature, and participation. Includes PDF of meteorological tools: wind vane, rain and wind gauges, and an observation chart.
North Pole Meteorological Instruments
Follow highlighted page-numbers to view several photographs and read descriptions of meteorological instruments used on the North Pole. Select the "Taking Measurements" link to learn how meteorologists collect data from these instruments.
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