Field Investigations in Weather

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As part of the weather unit, 5th graders constructed anemometers to measure wind speed.  Using their protractors, they taped a string with a ping-pong ball to the central angle point.  Students were given directions and a chart to determine the wind speed from the angle of the ping-pong ball.  Students learned that it is important to stay high from the ground to get an accurate reading.  They learned how to detect wind direction and use wind observations to determine the rating on the Beaufort Scale.