Activity

Become a wild weather wizard

The experts that measure the weather and who try to predict whether it will rain, shine, snow or hail are called meteorologists.

The side view of a child cupping the sunset in their hands stood on a bridge.

This Experiencing Nature activity can be completed as part of Schools or Families Wild Challenge (It counts as Wild weather for Families).

Estimated time: 1-2 hours Season: All year Skill level: Not too tricky

Instructions

Become a human weather gauge

Step one: Use your super senses

  • Use your senses to experience the effects of the weather.
  • Listen to the sounds of the weather such as rain pattering and wind rustling leaves.
  • Feel the effect of warm sunshine or cooling wind. Maybe you can smell a different smell after rain or find muddy puddles to squelch in.
  • Watch the clouds – are there any shapes that look like objects or animals?
  • There are lots of different types of clouds and they can mean different things for the weather.
An overview of a meadow with yellow flowers with a tree in the background, against a dark rainy sky and a rainbow.

Step two: Check your gauges

  • If you've set up weather measuring tools like a windsock or rain gauge, check them to see what's changed.
  • Want to build your own – see below.

Step three: Write it down

  • Record your gauge info and make a note of anything interesting you spot in a weather diary. This could also include how the weather makes you feel, which wildlife come out in which weather or anything else interesting you find.

Step four: Mix it up

  • See how the weather changes different places, you could travel to a woodland, a river, the park or the beach with your family. In the woods, you might find more leaves on the ground or broken branches if there's been a lot of wind. You might also notice that rivers or streams are higher or lower due to how much rain there has been.

Are you a teacher?

Why not try taking your pupils to different areas in the school? Ask your students if they feel any difference in the effect of the weather depending on where they are.

A group of four children sat outside on chairs making notes on clipboards.

Make your own weather station

Meteorologists (weather scientists) measure the speed and direction of wind using instruments called anemometers. But we can measure it too, by making a simple windsock and rain gauge, see how below.

A lightening fork at night against a purple cloudy sky.
Partnering with

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International.More