Measuring the Weather: Weather Instruments — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 5 earth, rocks & weather worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 5 · Science · Earth, Rocks & WeatherMeasuring the Weather: Weather Instruments — Answers
Part A: Weather instruments
Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.
Meteorologists are scientists who study the weather. They use instruments to measure it accurately, rather than just guessing.
A thermometer measures air temperature in degrees Celsius (°C). It is kept in the shade, about a metre or more above the ground.
A rain gauge collects rain in a container with a scale. Rainfall is measured in millimetres (mm). It should be in an open space, away from trees and roofs.
A wind vane shows the direction the wind is blowing from (north, south, east or west). An anemometer has spinning cups that measure wind speed, often in kilometres per hour (km/h).
By measuring at the same time each day and recording results in a table, we can find patterns and make better forecasts.
- Aa thermometer
- Ba rain gauge
- Ca wind vane
- Dan anemometer
Answer: a rain gauge
A rain gauge collects rain so we can measure it in millimetres.
- Athe wind's speed
- Bthe direction the wind is coming from
- Cthe temperature
- Dthe amount of cloud
Answer: the direction the wind is coming from
A wind vane points into the wind, showing the direction it is blowing from.
- Aan anemometer
- Ba rain gauge
- Ca thermometer
- Da compass
Answer: an anemometer
The faster the wind, the faster the anemometer's cups spin.
- Adegrees Celsius
- Bkilograms
- Cmillimetres
- Dlitres per hour
Answer: millimetres
Rainfall is measured as the depth of water collected, in millimetres (mm).
- Aso it does not get wet
- Bso direct sunlight does not heat it and give a reading that is too high
- Cso birds cannot see it
- Dso it reads faster
Answer: so direct sunlight does not heat it and give a reading that is too high
We want the temperature of the air, not of the sunlight hitting the thermometer.
Part B: Match and explain
- thermometer
- rain gauge
- wind vane
- anemometer
- wind direction
- wind speed
- temperature
- rainfall
Answer: thermometer → temperature; rain gauge → rainfall; wind vane → wind direction; anemometer → wind speed
Answer: meteorologists
Answer: So that the trees or roofs do not block rain or drip extra water into it, which would make the measurement wrong.
Part C: True or false?
Write True or False.
Answer: True
The arrow turns to face into the wind.
Answer: False
Measuring at the same time each day makes results fair to compare.
Answer: True
A bigger number of millimetres means more rain fell.
Part D: Working scientifically: a week of weather
Use the data to answer.
Data recorded at 9 am each day. Monday: 20 °C, 0 mm rain, wind 10 km/h. Tuesday: 16 °C, 12 mm, 30 km/h. Wednesday: 15 °C, 8 mm, 25 km/h. Thursday: 24 °C, 0 mm, 5 km/h. Friday: 22 °C, 0 mm, 15 km/h.
Answer: Thursday (24 °C).
Answer: 20 mm (12 + 8).
Answer: It was cooler (15–16 °C) and the wind was stronger.
Model answer: On the rainy days it was cooler and windier, and on the dry days it was warmer. One week is not enough to be sure; we should collect data for many weeks to see if the pattern is always true.
Success criteria:
- Describes the rain–temperature pattern
- Explains that more data is needed to be confident
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.
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