ALCA Members PLC Domains Data Standards Map Plan Curriculum Assessment Strategies

What Do Barometers Tell Us? Copy

This activity has students make barometers and investigate the correlation between air pressure and weather conditions. Completing the activity will have students acquire knowledge of could types

Engaging Questions

  • Based on your data and observations, how are air pressure and the chaging weather related?

  • What season do you think has the most days with low air pressure?

Teacher Goals

  • Students will make barometers.

  • Students will observe and record cloud types and weather conditions.

  • Students will examine the correlation between air pressure and weather conditions.

Required Resources

  • Materials per group :

    scissors
    ballon
    plastic jar
    rubber band
    glue
    plastic stirrer
    tape
    metric ruler
    sticky tack or clay
     

  • Air Pressure

    Upload your data and answer the following questions:
     

  • Barometer Activity

    Check the appropriate box for each item.
     

Optional Resources

  • Weather map from a newspaper
     

  • The Weather Channel

    Use the Internet to find weather maps online. Here is a link to "The Weather Channel" to start the search.
     

Steps

  1. Cut off the open end of the balloon.

    Stretch the balloon over the open end of the jar while your partner holds it for you. Pull it tight. Secure the balloon with a rubber band. Use tape to seal the edge of the balloon around the jar.

  2. Glue on the stirrer.

    Glue one end of the stirrer to center of the balloon. Put a piece of tape over the stirrer to hold it in place until the glue dries. Once the glue is dry, carefully remove the tape.

  3. Stand the metric ruler on end.

    Use sticky tack or clay to secure the ruler so it stands up. The end of the ruler with the zero should be in the sticky tack . Place the barometer against the ruler so that the stirrer touches the ruler.

  4. Record your data.

    Read the number of millimeters at the top edge of the stirrer. Record your measurements in your chart and note the date and time. Observe the cloud types and weather conditions at the same time; record these on the chart

  5. Observe and record.

    Repeat step 4 each day for the next 9 days.
     

  6. Interpret your results.

    Download of the attached form and answer the questions on the form.
     

Teacher Notes

  • Show students a weather map and have them locate high and low pressure areas.

  • Low pressure usually means rain or other precipitation. High pressure usually means clear weather.

  • Stratus and large cumulus clouds that bring rain are more common when air pressure is low. Clear skies and cirrus clouds are more common when air pressure is high.

  • 45 minutes to make the barometer, then 10 minutes a day for 10 days.

Learner Notes

  • Be very careful not to remove the stirrer from the glue when removing the tape.
     

  • Make sure you measure using the top edge of the stirrer each day.

     

  • Cloud type choices are cirrus, stratus, cumulus, or fog.

     

  • Weather choices are cloudy, partly cloudy, rain, snow, windy, or other (describe).
     

    • Mentor Notes

    • Your son or daughter will build a barometer at school and use it to record barometric pressure and associated weather conditions for ten days. Help your child extend this lesson by using the instructions to build a barometer at home and record the same information for the same ten days, but at a later time of day, or for a different season. Guide your daughter or son through the correlations between pressure and weather for these data gathered at home.

    • Cloud type choices are cirrus, stratus, cumulus, or fog.

    • Weather choices are cloudy, partly cloudy, rain, snow, windy, or other (describe).

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