Suggested Grades

3+

Objective

Students will examine, identify, and record cumulus, cumulonimbus, cirrus, and stratus cloud formations.

Materials

• drawing utensils
• drawing paper

Method

• Teach students the names and the characteristics of the various cloud formations.

 
Cumulus -heaped clouds with flat bases and cotton-like tops.  Cumulonimbus -anvil-topped cumulus bringing thunder and rain.
 
Cirrus -white feathery lines or bands at great height.

Stratus -layer clouds usually smooth and dark.

• Set out a time of the day when the class can go out and do a cloud observation and drawing daily (about 15 minutes).
• During this time ask students to draw, colour in, and try to identify the cloud formations that they see.
• Gather as a class and ask students to share their guesses and their reasons for them.
• As a class make a calculated guess at the type of cloud that was seen the most.
• Eventually each student will have drawings of many variations of these cloud formations.
• Note:You may want to include predicting the weather by observing cloud formations.