Teaching Tips

• The rain gauge lesson plan uses story telling to walk through measurements that can be analyzed.
• A teacher's guide is not included and is not needed. This lesson requires minimal prep time - about 15 minutes to gather supplies. This lesson is engaging because it asks the students to participate by reading chapters in the story and taking measurements.
• This story is a great way to engage a classroom and has visual aids of the rainfall amounts.
• This lesson plan gives ideas on how to adapt the lesson for younger and older elementary students.
• YouTube video of the storm.

About the Content

• This lesson demonstrates the effects of extreme weather, and specifically, a week long flood that took place in Boulder, CO in 2013.
• Data was recorded by a science teacher during this time and his story was turned into a book/lesson on how to use a rain gauge, and about water in earth's surfaces. No other references were provided for the data.
• Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

• The objectives are in line with the outcome of this lesson, that students will learn about the event and how to use a rain gauge. No prerequisite knowledge is required.
• The activity has a natural flow with the intro, followed by story, then the activity.
• This activity allows students to use reading comprehension skills and work on graphing.

• This resource engages students in using scientific data.
  See other data-rich activities

Technical Details/Ease of Use

• This is a very accessible, low cost scientific lesson plan.
• Minimal prep time is needed, but a computer and projector are required.

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