Teacher's Leaflet. 1141 



THE WEATHER. 



We hope the lessons on the weather in this leaflet will lead the teachers 

 of the State to give this important subject careful attention. The lessons 

 here given are those which have been used for years with success by 

 Miss Mary E. Hill of the Burlingame-Goodyear School of Syracuse, 

 N. Y. We are also indebted to Mr. W. M. Wilson of the United States 

 Weather Bureau for practical suggestions. We shall consider it a favor 

 if the teachers who use these lessons will write us concerning their 

 experience. 



It is very important that the child begin early to observe weather 

 indications, for if a keenness of perception of weather conditions be gained 

 in childhood it will remain an involuntary habit during the years of 

 maturity. 



In order to understand the reasons for changes in winds, in tempera- 

 ture, and other weather phenomena, a few simple experiments should 

 be made and thoroughly explained, not only as to the reasons for the 

 results of the experiments, but the relation of those results to the weather. 

 If the teacher has the advantage of the apparatus of a physical laboratory, 

 she can make these experiments more elaborately, but many teachers 

 will be obliged to use the utensils at hand, and for them the following 

 experiments are suggested. 



Lesson XIV. 

 experiments to show air pressure. 



Purpose. — To convince the pupils that air presses equally in all direc- 

 tions. 



Experiment i. — To show that air presses upward. Fill a tumbler 

 which has an unbroken edge as full of water as possible. Take a piece 

 of writing paper and cover the tumbler, pressing the paper down firmly 

 upon the edge of the glass. Turn the glass bottomside up and ask why 

 the water does not flow out. Allow a little air to enter ; what happens ? 

 Why? Turn the glass filled with water and covered with paper sidewise. 

 Does the water flow out? If not, why? 



Experiment 2. — To show that air presses downward. Ask some of 

 the boys of the class to make what they call a sucker. This is a piece 

 of leather a few inches across. Through its center a string is drawn 

 which fits very closely into the leather and is held in place by a very 

 flat knot on the lower side. Dampen the leather and press it against 

 any flat surface and try to pull it off. If possible, place the sucker on 



