Clouds

Take or find nine photographs of different cloud types. Crop them into small squares after printing them. Arrange them into a nine-square design to create a cloud collage.

Research basic cloud types. Get a poster board and paint the earth (or your street) on the bottom fifth of the poster board. Next, research cloud types and locations (low to the ground, middle sky, high in the sky). Using cotton balls, white felt, or watercolors, make a poster that shows the different types of clouds.

Now that you can name the basic cloud types, begin to observe clouds. For one week, keep a cloud journal. Make a note in your journal of the cloud types you notice, along with a quick sketch of what you see. How high are the clouds? Do they cover the whole sky? What shape are they? From your observations, predict what type of weather is coming. Rain clouds are often easy to recognize, but do you know when a storm is forming? To help with your predictions, take a look at Weather Prediction or Cloud Types and Predictions

Have you always thought cloud names have a fun ring to them? Why are clouds called those unusual names? Many of the basic cloud types have names with Latin roots. Find out what’s behind those Latin names here

Cumulus and nimbus may sound unusual, but they aren’t the only curious sounding cloud names. Research and sketch these unusual cloud types:

cloud street, bubble high, banner cloud, accessory cloud, roll cloud, and cap cloud. What other unusual cloud types can you find? Why do you think they have the names that they do? Weather Facts

• What is the main process behind cloud formation?
  • evaporation
  • wind
  • condensation
  • radiation
• What three ingredients must be present for clouds to form?
  • cooling air, condensation nuclei, moisture
  • hot air, lightning, dark skies
  • dry air, thunder, a rainbow
  • wind, a drought, dust
• Cirrus means:
  • Mustache
  • Curl of Hair
  • Rain
  • Heap
• Clouds hold ice and water, as well as fumes, smoke, or dust:
  • true
  • false
• Cumulus clouds:
  • Can be present on sunny days
  • Can develop vertically
  • Can form into thunderstorms
  • All of the above