Crickets Are Nature’s Thermometer. Count the Chirps to Tell The Temperature

With summer in full swing and the temperatures rising, this is a great outdoor experiment for the kids. Did you know that you can (fairly accurately) tell the temperature by counting the chirps of a cricket?

Here's the formula:

Count the number of chirps in 14 seconds then add 40 to get the temperature.

Example: 35 chirps = 75 degrees (F.)

Last evening, at dusk, the kids and I tried this and counted 31chirps in 14 seconds from the nearest cricket in the backyard. We added 40 for a total of 71. Then, we checked the temp on the patio thermometer. It said 72.

One degree off was good enough for us.