Weather stick facts for kids

A weather stick is a cool, old-fashioned tool that some Native American groups used to guess what the weather would do. It's usually a special stick from a balsam fir or birch tree. People would set it up outside, and it would move depending on how much moisture was in the air! If the air was dry, the stick would bend upwards. If the air was wet and rainy weather was coming, it would point downwards.

What is a Weather Stick?

A weather stick is a simple, natural device that helps predict changes in the weather. It's basically a dried branch that reacts to the amount of moisture, or humidity, in the air. When the air gets more humid, like before a rainstorm, the wood in the stick absorbs the moisture and bends down. When the air is dry, the stick dries out and bends up.

How Does a Weather Stick Work?

The secret behind a weather stick is how wood reacts to water. Wood is made of tiny fibers that can soak up moisture from the air.

• When the air is dry, the wood in the stick loses moisture and shrinks a little. This causes the stick to curl or bend upwards. This often means clear, sunny weather is on the way.
• When the air is humid (full of moisture), the wood soaks up the water and expands. This makes the stick straighten out or bend downwards. This usually means rain or other wet weather is coming soon.

This bending and unbending is a natural process called hygroscopy. It's the same reason wooden doors might stick in the summer (when it's humid) but close easily in the winter (when it's dry).

The History of Weather Sticks

Weather sticks were first used by Native Americans living in the northeastern parts of what is now the United States and the eastern and southeastern parts of Canada. These groups were very connected to nature and observed everything around them. They noticed that certain dry branches would move and change shape right before the weather changed.

For a long time, people relied on natural signs like these to predict the weather. The weather stick is a special example because it's a tool that helps predict weather without needing fancy equipment like a mercury barometer, which came much later. It shows how clever and observant early peoples were!

Using Your Own Weather Stick

If you have a weather stick, here's how you can use it:

• Find a good spot: Hang your weather stick outside, but make sure it's protected from direct rain or snow. A porch, a covered patio, or under the eaves of a roof are good places.
• Hang it freely: The stick needs to be able to move easily. Hang it from a string or a hook so it can bend up or down without anything blocking it.
• Observe daily: Check your weather stick every day. Notice if it's pointing up, down, or staying level.
• Compare to actual weather: After a while, you'll start to see patterns. Does it point down right before it rains? Does it point up when the sun is shining brightly?

It's a fun way to connect with nature and see how natural materials react to the environment around us!

See also

• Weather rock