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The ‘Weather Watchers’ in Cumbria keep a weekly record of various aspects of the weather. They use a thermometer to measure the air temperature; an anemometer to measure the wind speed; a weather vane and compass to work out the direction of the wind, and a rain gauge to measure rainfall. They then record all their results on a computer.

After watching the clip, students could keep a weather diary of the weather in the UK for a set period, and compare this with weather from different countries. Students could also have a go at making their own weather station, by building their own rain-gauges, barometers and weathervanes.

They could construct their own thermometer using a clear plastic bottle and equal amounts of rubbing alcohol and water to fill the bottle about ¼ full. Add a few drops of food colouring. Insert a straw, mark on the scale, and seal with modelling clay. As the alcohol gets hotter, it will expand, forcing the coloured water up the straw.

Students could also research how meteorologists predict the weather, and attempt to write their own weather reports, either by using their own data to make a ‘fake’ one, or by using actual data they have researched