Making instruments for a weather station is a great rainy day activity. Weather is on the mind of any kid trapped indoors on a summer day: A rain gauge can be put to immediate use and a barometer is best set up when air pressure is low. To hold everyone's interest over the long run, you and your kids can set up a weather station and update it each day for a couple of weeks or you can visit the station when big weather happenings are in store.

PROJECT:
Set up a weather station with homemade tools

GOAL:
To learn the principles of meteorology, and chart and predict weather using meteorological tools

AGES:
6 to 12

MAKE THE TOOLS
A basic station starts with a wind vane, barometer, rain gauge, and a maximum/minimum thermometer. If you want a deluxe weather station you can add an anemometer to measure wind speed, a nephoscope to track cloud movement, and a psychrometer to measure relative humidity (directions are in most kids' weather books).

You'll be able to find the supplies you need to make the instruments either around the house or at a grocery or hardware store. Take a trip to your local library or bookstore for a copy of my favorite resource, THE WEATHER WIZARD'S CLOUD BOOK by Louis Rubin, et al (Algonquin Books; $8.95). You'll also want to find a wooden orange crate or other open box to house the final tools and supplies.