WATER CYCLE

LESSON
Day 2

The book we read the second day is an Eric Carle book called, LITTLE CLOUD.   After reading the book, the kindergartners are introduced to the different types of cloud formations. We look at resource pictures of each formation, introduce and name the 5 types of clouds and  discuss the likes and differences. I ask the cloud questions below. Following the cloud questions I read resource books defining a cloud.  While walking to recess, we will stop and look up to see what clouds are in the sky. Some kindergartners are very good at naming and identifying the clouds. They love this activity.

TIME: 15 minutes

Questions to ask the students:
"What are clouds?
How are they made?
Have you ever seen a cloud close to the ground?
What is that called? (fog)
How is fog made?
In the winter, when you walk outside, what happens to your breath when it hits the cold air?"

Clouds form when the air rises. As a blob of air rises, it expands and becomes colder. The colder air cannot hold as much water as warmer air. As the temperature and air pressure continue to drop, tiny water droplets group together into clumps called cloud droplets. At this point, the blob of air becomes a visible cloud. If the cloud keeps going up, the cloud droplets will clump together and form water droplets. These water droplets are too heavy to float in the air and they fall from the sky as either rain or snow.
 
 

•  Five types of clouds: stratus, cumulonimbus, cumulus, nimbostratus, and stratocumulus.
• Stratus clouds are spread out, dull clouds usually found at ground level. Stratus clouds are so close to the ground they are identified as fog
• Cumulonimbus clouds are piled up high like scoops of dark ice cream. These clouds usually bring rain showers.
• Cumulus clouds look like giant heads of cauliflower because they are white and fluffy.
• Dark, flat nimbostratus clouds often produce rain or snow.
• Stratocumulus clouds are spread out heaps of dense cover that rise higher in the atmosphere.

MATERIALS NEEDED: Large clear glass jar. Bowl of ice.
TIME: 5 minutes

• Link to the Lesson

RAIN   OR   SHINE ?

TIME: 2 minutes
 
 

TIME: 10 minutes

Each student will receive a large sheet of dark blue construction paper. We mix some white paint with shaving cream. The students create a shaving cream cloud. When they are almost finished I give them a few drops of black tempra paint. They will  use it to make their clouds look dark and heavy like rain clouds.

MATERIALS NEEDED: Dark blue construction paper. White tempera paint. Black tempera paint. Shaving Cream.
TIME: 10 minutes