Here are some ideas to get you started:

Keep a temperature graph. Have your child record the temperature each day for a month. Or, use the temperature listed in your local newspaper. 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 to create your own “measuring stick.” Mark off each quarter inch. Keep track of the amount of rainfall.

Make a wind gauge. Cut out a piece of cardboard about 5 inches square. Label each corner: N (for north), S (for south), E (for east) and W (for west). Cut a hole in the center of the cardboard and push it onto a wooden dowel. Cut out a cardboard arrow with a vertical piece (to catch the wind) on the tail. Fasten it loosely to the dowel with a thumb tack. Now set your wind gauge in the ground with the N facing north. When the wind blows, have your child keep track of its direction.

Wind chimes. You’ll need four clean, empty tin cans and a coat hanger. Make sure the edges of the cans are smooth. Punch a hole in the bottom of each can. Tie a knot in some string to keep it from pulling through the hole. Then tie the other end of the string to your hangar. Each time the wind blows, you’ll make your own music.

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