Title: TYPES OF CLOUDS

Grade: 2nd – 3rd

Subject: Science

Duration: 30-45 minutes

 

Objective

Students will:

Identify/review the basic elements of weather.

Identify the basic cloud types.

 

Materials

1. Cloud Key worksheet

2. Scissors

3. Paper Fasteners

4. Weather Folder

5. K-W-L chart

6. Class Weather Graph (optional)

 

Procedures

1. Use a K-W-L chart to determine what the students already know about clouds. Create a list of questions that the students want to learn about.

2. As a group, examine and discuss the different cloud types using photographs, a diagram, or the DanÕs Wild, Wild Cloud Gallery link found at the bottom of this page.

3. Independently, have students make a cloud finder using the ÒCloud KeyÓ worksheet #45-46.

4. Come back together as a group and have students practice using their cloud finder using the photographs from the beginning of the lesson.

5. Go outside and examine the clouds in the sky. Have students use their cloud finder to determine the clouds in the sky. Discuss the type of clouds today and the relationship between the clouds and the weather. Record the type of cloud on a class graph. (optional: Keep a chart of the weather and type of clouds for a 2 week period.)

6. Have students keep cloud finder in their weather folder to use throughout the unit.

 

Related Literature

            1. Hide and Seek Fog by Alvin Tresselt

2. The Cloud Book by Tommie dePaola

3. Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons

4. What Will the Weather Be? by Lynda DeWitt

5. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judith Barrett

 

 

 

Extensions

  1. Reading/Language Arts - Read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Have students think of something different that falls out of the sky. Students can write and illustrate their idea. Put it together to create a class book. Have students vote on a title for the new book.
  2. Language – Take students outside to observe the clouds. Have them choose a cloud. Using blue construction paper and a white crayon, have the students draw the cloud. Return inside and have the students list adjectives that describe their cloud. Create a class chart of all the adjectives.
  3. Math – Keep a class graph of the types of clouds each day and the weather (including temperature, wind, and precipitation). Use the graph to make inferences and create/solve math problems.

 

Links

1. Dan's Wild, Wild Cloud Gallery

http://www.wildwildweather.com/clouds.htm

This site can be used to show students photographs of each type of cloud.

2. Invention Playhouse Cloud Dreamer

http://www.inventionatplay.org/playhouse_cloud.html

This is an online activity that allows students to create a cloud of their own and send it up to the sky.

3.     Bay KidÕs Weather Page

http://library.thinkquest.org/3805/

This is a website created by sixth graders. There is a great list of fiction and non-fiction books on this site. Kids can also access daily weather reports, jokes, recipes, weather stories, and weather events.

4. The ÒWeather DudeÓ

www.wxdude.com/

This website has great weather songs that the students can listen to. One in particular is called ÒCloud Cover.Ó

 

Vocabulary

1. stratus - Flat layer of low, gray clouds. Light rain or drizzle likely.

 

2. cumulus - Flat bottomed, white, puffy clouds found during sunny days. Usually mean fair weather.

 

3. Altocumulus - Thick blue-gray blanket-like clouds made of ice and water at middle heights. Rain or snow likely.

 

4. Cirrus - Thin, feathery clouds that are high in the sky. Clear skies, and good weather.

 

5. Stratocumulus - Dark, heavy water-droplet clouds at low heights. Brings rain or snow.

 

6. Cumulonimbus - Mountains of heavy, dark clouds. Thunderstorms are on the way.

 

Pennsylvania State Standards

 

3.5.4 PennsylvaniaÕs public schools shall teach, challenge and support every student to realize his or her maximum potential and to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to know basic weather elements: