Amaze Your Brain at Home: Weather and Nature
When life gives you rain – play in the puddles! Nature lovers and meteorologists-in-the making can explore the outdoors and get the scoop on poop, discover why the sky is blue, or rhyme along with Gerald the Gnome about weather.
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All Ages
Atmospheric Adventures
Part 1: Weather & Temperature
We all want to know what the weather is to help us plan out our days. Meteorology is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere which helps determine the weather and temperature outside. In this science demonstration, watch what happens when cold fronts form and notice how they affect the air around you. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Part 2: Making Clouds
There are various types of clouds and not all are created equal. In this experiment, watch how warm water vapor and cold air creates the images we see in the sky. Afterward, go outside and observe clouds – are they different today? WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Part 3: Weather & Pressure
If you love marshmallows, you’re going to love this science activity! Join the educators as they help explain if clouds will precipitate or not. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Part 4: Create your own Barometer
Create a barometer and produce your own weather forecasts! Compare your results to your local weatherperson and see who gets closest to the real thing. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Creando Lluvia
Asombra tu mente y explora el ciclo de agua con este sencillo experimento! Veras evaporación, condensación y la formación de lluvia. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Why is the Sky Blue?
Look up – what color is the sky and why? Join a Museum educator with an at-home experiment using a water tub, milk, and flashlight to show how the sky changes color as the sun rises and sets. Note: this experiment looks out of this world in the dark! WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Neighborhood Botany Scavenger Hunt
Can you identify poison ivy or a dandelion? What about a henbit? Use this fun botany printable scavenger hunt in your local park or around your neighborhood to identify some current spring plants – now in bloom! How many can you find? DOWNLOAD PDF
Weather and Nature Trivia
Can you guess what came first – the chicken or the egg? Gather your new and old nature weather knowledge and get ready for a challenging at-home quiz that is sure to strengthen your mind! DOWNLOAD PDF DOWNLOAD ANSWER KEY
I Spy a Cloud
Gaze up towards the sky! Did you know that no two clouds look the same? Find out why they come in so many different shapes and sizes. Don’t forget to send us some cool clouds near you. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Use your newly learned weather words to describe and document the clouds you see each day! DOWNLOAD PDF
Early Childhood (Ages 18 months - 4 yrs)
Mini Meteorologists
Construct your very own rain catcher and predict and prepare for varying amount of rain. Aspiring meteorologists can put their homemade rain gauge to use and measure precipitation such as rain or snow. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Follow along and create your own! DOWNLOAD PDF
What’s the Weather with Gerald the Gnome
It’s a beautiful day to learn some new weather words! A Museum educator will easily explain how the sound of thunder is created, where bolts of lightning come from, and recite the Five Little Weathermen poem. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Leaf Chromatography
Have you ever wondered about how leaves get their colors? Explore the exciting process of photosynthesis through this hands-on experiment. Take a walk through your backyard and get started!
Make a Rainbow
Are you feeling colorful and creative? Using three objects from around your house, find out what happens when light passes through water and choose your favorite color!
Weather and Nature Book List
We’ll keep our heads in the clouds and our eyes on the sky as we observe and predict the weather around us through this fun reading list!
Grades K-3
Backyard Bug Exploration
What kind of insects live in your backyard? Head outside and learn how to tell a centipede from a millipede, build your own pitfall to attract an array of bugs, and perhaps become inspired to create your own insect collection!
Butterfly Hide and Seek
Celebrate spring with this nature friendly activity! Get acquainted with the blue morpho and monarch butterfly and discover how they use camouflage and mimicry to protect themselves. Don’t forget to design your own butterfly and share your creation with us!
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Did you know that plants respond to gravity? In this experiment, learn the different directions plants can grow by using a zip-lock bag and Earth’s pull.
Scat Chat
Head to the woods and check out trail camera footage to find out who made the poo! Analyze scat from an outdoor wooded area to understand how different animals interact with their environment.
Cloudy with a Chance of Science
Why does Earth experience so many different types of weather? Learn how important the sun and the water cycle is in influencing Earth’s weather with two short and fun at-home experiments.
Today’s Weather Journal
Using this guide, meteorologists-in-training will make observations about the current weather conditions to help them to decide what clothing is best to wear for that day.
Grades 4-8
Biomimicry
Dive into the topic of biomimicry and uncover the history and inventions of how we’ve been able to solve complex human problems through nature. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
There are examples of biomimicry all around us—from fabric to trains! What are some other examples of biomimicry? What about nature inspires you to create a new product? DOWNLOAD PDF
Life in Ephermal Ponds
Get your feet wet on this nature hike! Learn how to build a device to help explore underwater life at parks near your home or in backyard ponds. WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Build a Frog Robot
Get crafty and learn about nature and engineering through this fun, hands-on project! Gather some materials such as cardboard, craft sticks, hot glue, and a few simple pieces of electronics to get started. DOWNLOAD PDF
Weather Observations
Have you always wanted to be a weatherperson? Now is your chance! Record daily weather conditions and collect data to build an overall understanding of weather patterns. Since we’re in Texas, this should be fun during severe weather season. DOWNLOAD PDF
Grades 6-12
Poetic Plants
Paintings, poems, and books, oh my! Listen in to discover how nature has inspired some of the most iconic pieces of art like the paintings from the famous Impressionist artist Claude Monet, and poems like “The Caterpillar” by Christina Rossetti. Then, learn how to write a haiku and put together your very own nature collage!
Science of Storms
Join Museum educators for an explanation on thunderstorms and how they form. Plus, learn how to make your own thunderstorm with an awesome at-home experiment!