Investigation Lab: Weather Journal
Research Question
How does weather change over one week, and what patterns can we observe?
Materials Needed
- Weather journal or notebook
- Outdoor thermometer (or check a weather app)
- Homemade rain gauge (jar with ruler markings)
- Pencil and colored pencils
Procedure
- Set a time: Choose the same time each day to record weather (morning is best).
- Record temperature: Read the thermometer or check a weather app.
- Note precipitation: Record if there's rain, snow, or clear skies.
- Describe clouds: Are there clouds? What type? (fluffy, thin, gray)
- Feel the wind: Is it calm, breezy, or windy?
- Repeat for 7 days.
Sample Data Table
| Day | Temp (°F) | Precipitation | Clouds | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 68°F | None | Sunny, few clouds | Calm |
| Tuesday | 72°F | None | Partly cloudy | Breezy |
| Wednesday | 65°F | Rain (0.5 in) | Overcast, gray | Windy |
Analysis Questions
1. What was the highest temperature you recorded?
Think About It
Look at your temperature column and find the largest number.
2. What was the lowest temperature you recorded?
Think About It
Look at your temperature column and find the smallest number.
3. Did you notice any pattern between clouds and precipitation?
A) Rain only came with clear skies
B) Rain usually came with gray, overcast clouds
C) Cloud type didn't affect rain
D) It never rained
Answer
B) - Precipitation usually comes from thick, gray clouds that block the sun.
4. How did temperature change when it was cloudy vs. sunny?
A) Sunny days were usually warmer
B) Cloudy days were usually warmer
C) Temperature was the same
D) I couldn't tell
Answer
A) - Clouds block sunlight, so cloudy days are often cooler.
5. Based on your week of data, can you describe your area's climate?
A) Yes, one week is enough to know the climate
B) No, climate requires years of data
C) Climate and weather are the same thing
D) I only need one day of data
Answer
B) - Climate is the average weather over many years, not just one week.
6. If you collected data for 30 years, what would you be studying?
A) Weather
B) Climate
C) A single storm
D) One season
Answer
B) Climate - Long-term weather patterns over decades describe climate.
7. Why is it important to record weather at the same time each day?
A) It doesn't matter
B) For accurate comparison, since temperature changes throughout the day
C) Because weather is always the same
D) To save time
Answer
B) - Temperature varies during the day, so measuring at the same time gives comparable data.
8. What tool would help you measure wind direction?
A) Thermometer
B) Rain gauge
C) Wind vane
D) Barometer
Answer
C) Wind vane - A wind vane points to show which direction the wind comes from.
9. If your data shows it rained 3 out of 7 days, what was the rainy day percentage?
A) About 3%
B) About 43%
C) About 70%
D) 100%
Answer
B) About 43% - 3 ÷ 7 = 0.43 or about 43%.
10. How could you improve this investigation?
A) Record data for longer than one week
B) Only record sunny days
C) Guess instead of measuring
D) Only check once a month
Answer
A) - More data over a longer time period gives better understanding of patterns.
Next Steps
- Graph your temperature data
- Compare your data with official weather records
- Continue to CER Writing