March weather activities can teach your child science skills
According to the old saying, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Is this true where you live?
In many parts of the country, March brings changeable weather—which makes it a great time to enjoy science and other weather-related activities. With your child:
- Keep a temperature graph. Have your child record and graph the temperature each day for a month. Or, use the online weather report for your area. Record whether the day was sunny, cloudy or rainy.
- Measure the rain. You’ll need a plastic jar with straight sides and a flat bottom, a ruler and a marker. On the outside of the jar, use the ruler and marker to mark off each quarter inch. Have your child keep track of the amount of rainfall.
- Make wind chimes. You’ll need four clean, empty cans, some string and a coat hanger. Make sure the edges of the cans are not sharp. Help your child punch a hole in the bottom of each can. Tie a knot in one end of the string and thread the string through a can. Then tie the other end to your hanger. Repeat with each can. Each time the wind blows, the cans will make music!
You and your child can also go online to learn more about weather. Check out these fun, age-appropriate websites:
- Weather Wiz Kids, www.weatherwizkids.com
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids,
www.almanac4kids.com/weather
https://www.almanac.com/kids#weather - NASA’s Climate Kids, climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-climate
Reprinted with permission from the March 2023 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2023 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.