Student Weather
Make a Rain Gauge Project: Measure Rainfall for a Weather Journal
A student guide to making a simple rain gauge, placing it correctly, reading totals, and comparing rainfall with nearby official reports.
Quick answer: A simple rain gauge project helps students measure precipitation and learn why placement affects weather data.
Build idea
Use a straight-sided container or marked bottle with a stable base.
The scale needs to be consistent and readable.
Placement
Place the gauge away from roofs, trees, walls, and splash zones.
Poor placement can make rainfall totals too high or too low.
Data use
Record totals after each rain event and compare them with nearby stations.
Differences can show how local rainfall varies.