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Home » Early Years Science » How to make a Rain Gauge

How to make a Rain Gauge

Modified: Feb 10, 2025 · Published: Sep 22, 2011 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

Welcome to the first of a series of weather science related investigations. Rain gauges are easy to make and a simple first science activity for learning about the weather. My children love to check and record the rainfall each day, which has also helped my 2-year-old learn to recognise numbers.

Homemade Rain gauge made from a plastic bottle

How to make a rain gauge

You’ll need

An empty jar or plastic bottle ( remove labels )

Permanent marker

Tape

Scissors

Ruler

Instructions

There are two ways to make the rain gauge, either by using an empty jar or a plastic bottle.

Jar Rain Gauge

Place the ruler on the side of the jar and mark in cm up the side.

Plastic Bottle Rain Gauge

Cut the top off the bottle and place it upside down inside the main body. Get an adult to help, as the edges might be sharp.

Place a ruler on the side of the bottle and mark in cm up the side.

Bury the bottle outside. It should be in an open area and away from any trees which might trap some of the rain. Leave the top sticking out. We didn’t bury ours very well. You might want to put yours further into the ground.

Rain Gauge - easy weather science for kids

How to record the weather

The important part of recording the weather is that it needs to be done frequently. You should record the amount of rain in the bottle/jar each day and empty the rain gauge each time.

Can you design a table to record the results? Or use my free rainfall recording sheet.

Rainfall tracker
Rain Gauge made from a plastic bottle
Free Rain Gauge Instructions Printable
Make a rain gauge instruction sheet
Rain gauge weather recording sheet

Don’t forget to look at my other weather science activity ideas, including making a pinwheel, a storm in a jar and lots more.

Image of a rain gauge in a garden - made from a plastic bottle

Last Updated on February 10, 2025 by Emma Vanstone

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Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Mad House

    September 22, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    I made these with the boys a couple of years back and they loved them. We put the markings on a spoon as they could lift them out to check, which was easier for them

    Reply
  2. ScienceSparks

    September 22, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    That is a fantastic idea! Thank you. x

    Reply
  3. Phyllis at All Things Beautiful

    September 25, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    Oh, I want to make this!

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      September 26, 2011 at 2:25 pm

      Let us know how you get on!

      Reply
  4. Michele

    September 27, 2011 at 7:14 am

    My son would so want to do this! thank you for the idea and instructions!!

    Reply
  5. Liberty

    September 27, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    Neat! We did a bottle outdoors to see how much rain… it filled all the way up. Too much rain 🙂 I like this one better, I think we’ll add this in soon. Thanks for sharing.

    Visiting from Science Sunday!

    Reply
  6. maggy, red ted art

    September 28, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    *One Day* I will make a WHOLE weather station with the kids…

    Thank you for liking to Kids Get Crafty!

    Maggy

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      September 29, 2011 at 6:12 pm

      I am trying to make a whole weather station 🙂

      Reply
  7. Aimee

    September 29, 2011 at 12:58 am

    Always finding something interesting on your site- love it! Thank you so much for linking up to The Sunday Showcase.

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      September 29, 2011 at 6:11 pm

      I’m so glad you like it. x

      Reply
  8. Kim @ Learning Hypothesis

    October 02, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Thanks for the idea. We are started nature study today and this will be a nice addition.

    Reply
  9. Elvis M. Ives

    February 26, 2019 at 11:18 am

    This is amazing, I really wanna make this.thanks for sharing this.

    Reply

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