How to make a RAIN GAUGE

It might rain during these days. We don't know for sure but if it rains you must be prepared.

You can do this at home. It's very easy.

This is to measure rainfall.

YOU WILL NEED:

- An empty plastic bottle.

- A pair of scissors to cut the bottle.

- A permanent marker.

- A ruler.

- Tape.

- Some peebles (small stones)

FIRST, ask an adult to help you cutting the bottle in two. Cut the mouth off at the top where the bottle starts becoming smaller. 

NEXT place some stones in the bottom of the bottle. Turn the top upside down and tape around the edges where the two bottle parts meet.

THEN start marking the bottle with a permanent marker and a ruler using centimeters. Pour water into the bottle until it reaches the bottom strip on the scale. Congratulations, you have finished your rain gauge.

FINALLY place your rain gauge outside where it can collect water when it starts raining. After a rain shower has finished, check to see how far up the scale the water has risen.

What's happening?

Rain falls into the top of the gauge and collects at the bottom, where it can be easily measured. Try comparing the amount of rain to the length of time the shower lasted, was it a short and heavy rain shower or a long and light one?