Weather Projects for Young Scientists: Experiments and Science Fair Ideas

From the everyday phenomena of wind and clouds to the awesome, destructive power of lightning, tornados, and hurricanes, children can explore weather in detail with this fascinating science activity book. Throughout the text instructions for building weather-measuring tools—barometers, psychrometers, anemometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, and thermometers—allow the reader to assemble them into a working weather station. More than 40 weather projects are included, such as building a model of the water cycle, creating a tornado in a bottle, calculating dew point, and reading a weather map. Most of the experiments also include ideas for expanding them into full-fledged science fair projects. Weather-related environmental issues are also addressed, such as global climate change, ozone depletion, and acid rain, as well as profiles of scientists working in the field of meteorology.

From the everyday phenomena of wind and clouds to the awesome, destructive power of lightning, tornados, and hurricanes, children can explore weather in detail with this fascinating science activity book. Throughout the text instructions for building weather-measuring tools—barometers, psychrometers, anemometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, and thermometers—allow the reader to assemble them into a working weather station. More than 40 weather projects are included, such as building a model of the water cycle, creating a tornado in a bottle, calculating dew point, and reading a weather map. Most of the experiments also include ideas for expanding them into full-fledged science fair projects. Weather-related environmental issues are also addressed, such as global climate change, ozone depletion, and acid rain, as well as profiles of scientists working in the field of meteorology.

Children's Literature

"Everyone likes to watch, talk about, and try to predict the weather. The weather influences more than just what to wear or whether a picnic is canceled. Weather can also make or break a harvest or bring about a heating-fuel shortage. And severe weather can cause widespread destruction and even death." Because weather fascinates so many, this piece appeals to students who are fascinated by nature's phenomena and their effects. Information and experiments deal with the following aspects of weather: air, the sun, seasons, clouds, rain, wind, and forecasting. In each chapter, Carson explains the specific phenomenon, provides informative charts, graphs, and photographs, suggests several fun experiments to illustrate the concepts, and shares stories about real-life scientists and meteorologists. The readability level and types of experiments (such as creating a snow globe, a "homemade rainbow," "tornado in a bottle," etc.) are suitable for students in the middle school setting. Visual learners will appreciate the photographs in each chapter, while kinesthetic learners will love to engage in the activities suggested in this piece.

Mary Kay Carson has written more than 15 nonfiction books for children, including Exploring the Solar System, The Underground Railroad for Kids, and The Wright Brothers for Kids.