WEATHER RECORDS IN THE LOWER GRADES 



By FRED L. CHARLES, University of Illinois 



Continuous weather study throughout the eight grades may 

 develop into a routine, but there is much that can be done each 

 year without repetition or monotony. In the primary grades 

 with which the writer has had to do, the pupils have learned the 

 cardinal points, direction of winds, forms of water as affected by 

 heat or "cold", nature and movements of clouds, simple reading 

 and interpretation of the thermometer, identification of north star, 

 dipper, Orion and the milky way, phases of the moon, variation 

 in shadow length (noon angle), sunset point and length of day. 

 and the panorama of the seasons as characterized by familiar 

 nature phenomena and the dependent activities of men. 



A simple and satisfactory primary weather record consists 

 of a cardboard wall chart (22 x 28) upon which is ruled in large 

 squares the calendar form for the month, with ample margin 

 allowing a design and quotation appropriate to the month and 

 chosen by the class. In opening exercises or in the nature-study 

 period a child places in the square for the day a disc of colored 

 paper — yellow for clear (sunny), gray for cloudy, purple for 

 rainy and sprinkled with "diamond dust" for snowfall. Later, 

 if desired, observations may be made twice daily, using half 

 circles when the weather has changed at noon, thus dealing with 

 fractional parts. When wind direction has been mastered, it 

 may be represented by a red paper arrow placed upon the day's 

 circle and flying with the wind. If the chart hangs upon the 

 north wall, and is laid flat when the arrow is applied, the map- 

 ping of the direction will be easy and natural. A wind striking 

 the east window will carry the arrow across the chart from right 

 to left, etc., and the direction scheme will soon become auto- 

 matic. North will doubtless be associated with cold, the sunny 

 south with warmth, and the prevailing wind will soon become 

 apparent. This chart work may be continued throughout the 

 entire first year, serving to fix the days of the week, the name 

 and character of the month, the seasons, holidays and birthdays. 



A step in advance is the construction of an individual 

 weather record which at first may consist of a ruled form, one 

 inch by five, allowing an inch square for each of the five school 

 days of the week. The "kind of day" — clear, cloudy, rainy or 

 snowy — may be indicated by colored crayon (using color key 

 as on wall chart) or the adjective may be written in the space 



