BellaOnline Forums Education Homeschooling Make a Rain Gauge!

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May I also suggest that you check with your local National Weather Service Station. When I homeschooled my children (they are both in their 20s now), we became weather observers for the NWS in Jackson, KY. They visited and put up a not only a rain gauge, but also a temperature gauge. We began reporting daily temperatures, amount of precipitation, and other weather phenomena that occurred. Now that my kids are no longer schooling, I have taken over as the weather observer. It is truly enjoyable thing to do.

How cool! Was this part of the "Citizen Science" projects?

I've not heard of the "Citizen Science" projects. We were studying weather in science when I read an article in Kentucky Living magazine about people who were observers for the National Weather Service. My children and I talked about it and decided that was something we really wanted to do.

I've been a weather observer for about 10 years now. People know that I have a temperature gauge from the NWS and they know I keep up with the forecasts, so they tend to call me to find out what is going on with the weather.

A bonus of being a weather observer is that you are free to call the observers and ask them questions about anything relating to the weather. They even have classes that teach you different things about weather observation. And you can take your children to the weather station for a field trip.

If you do decide to become a weather observer, just remember that even though you don't get paid to do it, it is a commitment. They really appreciate it when you are faithful to send in your observations.