Build a Rain Gauge as a STEAM Activity for Preschoolers. Teach them to build a rain gauge using recycled household items, teach them what a rain gauge is and how a rain gauge works. As a simple science weather project your preschoolers will engage and learn so much.
Weather science is a fun activity for kids of all ages. This STEAM activity includes all major elements of STEAM, including science, technology, engineering, art and math! Use this rain gauge activity to add to a complete weather unit study for even more weather learning fun!
Materials Needed to…
Build a Rain Gauge
- Empty/Clean 2 Liter Bottle
- Permanent Marker
- Measuring Tape
Step by Step
How to Build a Rain Gauge
- From top of 2 liter bottle measure down approx 4.5 ” and mark several times around the bottle.
- Cut the bottle around the measurement of the 4″ (step 1) mark.
- Now your 2 liter is in two pieces. Set top aside.
- Place medium size rocks in the bottom of the bottle…these will help keep it from getting blown over if it’s windy. Mark where the top of the rocks end.
- From the mark (of the top of rocks #5) take the tape measure at 0 and have your preschooler use the permanent marker and mark every inch. Then you, mom or preschool teacher, write 1″, 2″ etc.
- Take the top of the 2 liter, that you set aside and turn upside down into the bottom of the 2 liter.
- Cover the rocks with water, to the mark that starts your rain gauge.
- Set your rain gauge in a garden and wait for rain…your preschooler won’t be able to wait they’ll be so excited to check it. You’ll need to pick a really good spot! You want somewhere level that’s open to the sky and that’s not likely to get too windy, where the gauge isn’t likely to be disturbed. There shouldn’t be anything hanging over the gauge that could either block any rain or make extra raindrops drip into the bottle (like a tree or a power line or the edge of a roof).
- That’s how you build a rain gauge!!! So simple and fun.
Education.com had a great reference– If it has rained, check your gauge and see how high the water is now. That’s how much rain has fallen in the last day! On a piece of paper, make a note of the date and the amount of rain. Then read the newspaper or go online and find out the official amount of rainfall in your area for the day and make a note of it—see how closely your figure matches the official one!
Ideas on how to…
Build an Accurate Rain Gauge
For older students desiring to make a more accurate rain gauge…
- Use a measurement of cm.
- Watch for dry days and evaporation
- Use a Jumbo Test Tube. – as suggested here.
STEAM Activities for Preschoolers
We have lots more STEAM Activities HERE.
Be sure to read EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STEAM
We are a husband and wife team, pairing our strengths together to teach our preschooler in the most fun and engaging way we possibly can. The mister is a high school educator at Northlake Christian school in Covington Louisiana and over the Innovation Center, which is all things STEAM. I am a SAHM that blogs pretty much everything we do in our little paradise, from what we eat, to where we travel to how we teach our little one. We hope you are inspired to incorporate STEAM into learning with your children. Follow us: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST