By now, your students have learned how to measure liquid into a measuring cup. They understand that liquids can be measured by the cup. In this lesson plan we are going to discuss another way of measuring liquids. The instructions for this lesson plan are listed below.
- Ask your students to bring in a jar or some other type of clear, upright container.
- You will need enough magic markers for each student to have two colors. You may also use enamel paint, which actually makes for a more creative and lasting item, but can be a bit messy.
- Each student should have a ruler.
- Bring in your own clear, upright container.
Before beginning the activity, discuss rainfall with your students. Have they ever watched the weather man and heard him say that we got 3 inches of rain? How could he possibly know this?
Ask the students to take place their ruler upright next to the clear container. The ruler should measure up, which is to say zero is at the bottom of the upright container. Now, have the students mark off each inch in one color. Demonstrate this action on your own container. Instruct students to repeat the action in a different color for each half inch. Assist students in decorating their containers.
The students now have rain gauges. They can either take them home and record their measurements or leave them in a safe place at school so that the entire class can observe as a unit how rain is measured. Either way, assist or instruct the students in placing their rain gauges so that they are outside and in an area where they are able to collect rain. Once it rains and the rain gauges are used, observe the amounts and discuss any differences. What is a possible cause for the differences? Does it matter that each container is a different size?
