Rain Measurements Tell a Story

UCAR Center for Science Education

This activity focuses on measuring, graphing, and interpreting rainfall following an 8 day rainfall event story in Boulder, Colorado from 2013. Data is from this real world example, and background materials including how to read the rain gauge are included.

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Notes from our reviewers

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The rain gauge lesson plan uses story telling to walk through measurements that can be analyzed. A teacher's guide is not included and is not needed. This lesson requires minimal prep time - about 15 minutes to gather supplies. This lesson is engaging because it asks the students to participate by reading chapters in the story and taking measurements. This story is a great way to engage a classroom and has visual aids of the rainfall amounts. This lesson plan gives ideas on how to adapt the lesson for younger and older elementary students. [link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwbdAJGvj_o 'YouTube video of the storm.']
This lesson demonstrates the effects of extreme weather, and specifically, a week long flood that took place in Boulder, CO in 2013. Data was recorded by a science teacher during this time and his story was turned into a book/lesson on how to use a rain gauge, and about water in earth's surfaces. No other references were provided for the data. Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
The objectives are in line with the outcome of this lesson, that students will learn about the event and how to use a rain gauge. No prerequisite knowledge is required. The activity has a natural flow with the intro, followed by story, then the activity. This activity allows students to use reading comprehension skills and work on graphing.