Here is a simple way to measure how much rain falls in your own backyard.

What You Need

• A straight-sided glass jar (olive jars work well)
• Permanent marker
• Ruler

What You Do

1. Prepare Jar
   Using a ruler, make inch marks on the outside of the jar with the permanent marker. Remember to start at the bottom of the jar and work your way up.
2. Check Your Jar After a Rainfall
   Set the jar outdoors in a place where the wind won’t knock it over. After the next rain, estimate how much water has fallen by checking on your new rain gauge.
3. Make a Bar Graph
   During rainy months, you may want to help your child make a bar graph of the rainfall. On grid paper, number the left side of the page from 1–10 in 1-inch increments. Label the bottom of the graph with the days of the moth. Have your child track the rain with the rain gauge and help him/her to graph the results by coloring in the appropriate number of squares for each rainy day.