• The students will understand that: clouds form when warm air meets cooler air and rain forms from water droplets in clouds

• Two liter plastic bottle
• Small bowl
• Several ice cubes
• Large mirror
• Kettle or Electric Pan
• Water
• Potholder or glove
• Desktop Publishing for Science Journal

Procedure: Students will participate in the following experiments.

Make It Cloudy Experiment

1. Fill the plastic bottle with hot water. (Not boiling water)
2. Leave the water in the bottle for five minutes; then pour three quarters of the water out of the bottle.
3. Put the ice cubes in a small bowl and carefully place the bowl on the top of the bottle.
4. Observe what happens.

Make It Rain Experiment

1. Put the mirror in the freezer, or place ice cubes on it to make it really cold.
2. Place water in a pan  or kettle and bring it to a boil.
3. When the water is boiling, hold the mirror so that the water vapor is hitting it. Use a pot holder or glove to protect your hand.
4. Observe what happens

Evaluation:

• The students will write in their computer science journals what they have observed on  how clouds and rain are formed. Students can print journal entry and add illustrations or use the draw application to create their own graphics.
• The students will infer how clouds and rain are formed.

• Observe the mirrors in your bathroom after you take a shower. Come prepared to talk about what occurred.

• Students will create a Cloud Observation Sheet
• Then go outside each day to observe the clouds
• Students will make predictions about what the weather would be like for that day by observing the clouds.
• Visit Cloud Boutique  to learn more about clouds. Click on the different names of the clouds to see great pictures and learn about each type.
• Visit NOAA to learn who named the clouds (Luke Howard) and why they were given their specific names.

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