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Outdoor activity

Backyard Rain Observatory

Transform a simple glass jar into a colourful, scientific weather station to measure how much rain falls from the sky!

Ages 5-12 0-1 hours Education 9/10

Materials

  • Food Colouring optional
  • Glass Jar
  • Markers
  • Ruler

Illustrated Steps

1

Create the Measurement Scale

Use a ruler and permanent marker to draw centimetre lines and numbers up the side of your glass jar.

2

Add the Magic Drop

Place two drops of food colouring in the bottom of the empty jar to dye the incoming rainwater.

3

Secure the Observatory

Place the jar outside in an open area, surrounding the base with pebbles to keep it steady.

4

Record the Storm

Check the water level after the rain, write down your measurements, and empty the jar for next time.

What You’ll Create

You are going to build your very own meteorological instrument—a rain gauge! 🌧️ Using a recycled glass jar, some waterproof markings, and a drop of magical colour, you will create an observatory tool that tells you exactly how heavy the last downpour was.

Have fun!

  • ⛈️ Make predictions with your family: “I think we’ll get 3cm of rain today!” Who was closest?
  • 🗺️ Create a massive ‘Weather Wall’ chart indoors to graph your rainfall over the entire month.
  • 🌈 Try using red food colouring on Mondays, and blue on Tuesdays—make the rain match your mood!

Why It’s Amazing

  • Meteorology Mastery: Children learn exactly how weather stations track and record precipitation data. 📊
  • Precision and Patience: Measuring accurately and waiting for nature to perform teaches incredible patience. ⏳
  • Data Science: Turning physical water into numbers on a chart is the foundation of data collection.

Pro Tips

For ages 5-8, focus on the ‘magic’ of the water changing colour and learning to count the lines. For ages 8-12, challenge them to calculate the weekly average rainfall and compare it to the local weather forecast online!