Rain Cloud In a Jar

Listening to Allison, Kim, Paula, and Stephanie talk tonight about their cloud lesson reminded me of something SO fun I did when I was a student at UT (Oh my gosh whyyyy am I always referencing back to UT?!?!). For my teaching science class there, I made a rain cloud in a jar (or glass) with my classmates. I thought this would be a great resource for you all to use! I have pasted my complete lesson plan that accompanied the activity, and above is a picture of the actual "rain cloud" I made with my classmates! Enjoy :) And feel free to use this! 

Holly Ford

Science Activity Plan

3 February 2014

3^rd Grade

Rain Cloud in a Jar

State Standard:

GLE 0307.8.3 Identify cloud types associated with particular atmospheric conditions

Activity Objective:

-The students should be able to work both individually and collaboratively while using the materials provided in order to make a rain cloud.

-The students should be able to identify what happens in a cloud before a rain shower.

-The students should be able to identify features of a cumulonimbus cloud.

-The students should be able to contribute and aid in group discussions about their experiences with weather and observations of the activity.

Guiding Questions:

What type of cloud produces rain?

What is a cumulonimbus cloud?

What are clouds made of?

Why does it rain?

What causes rain to fall from the sky?

Materials:

Glass jars (one per student)

Food coloring in various colors

Access to water

Small containers for colored water (one per color)

Paper towels

Droppers

Shaving cream

“Little Drop Drop’s Big Rainy Day” by Carolyn E. Turcotte

Procedures:

1. Before students enter the classroom, fill glass jars 2/3 full with water from the sink.

2. Using additional containers or cups, prepare colored water using the food coloring (I suggest using at least two colors so the students have options).

3.  Lay paper towels out on desks, tables, or wherever the students will be working. This activity can be messy!

4. Place jars with clear water, colored water, and droppers around the room where students will be working. I suggest setting the room up where students can work in groups of four, that way you do not have students moving around the classroom to obtain colored water from other locations. Each “station” should have four jars with clear water, cups filled with colored water, and four droppers. 

5. As students walk into the classroom, instruct them to find a station and sit with three other students in front of a jar filled with clear water.

6. Before beginning the activity, read “Little Drip Drop’s Big Rainy Day” by Carolyn E. Turcotte. This is a children’s book about little drip drop, who is a rain drop deciding whether or not he should leave his cloud. This book will demonstrate how a raindrop first lives in a cloud before it showers the earth. It also demonstrates what would happen without rain, and it describes how vital rain is to our earth.

7. After you have finished reading, talk to the students about rainy weather, and ask them questions to find out how much they already know. Do you like rain? How often do you think it rains? Why does it rain? What do the clouds look like when it rains? What do you notice about the sky when it rains? Does it always sprinkle/pour when it rains? 

8. Once the discussion has found a break point, explain to the students that you are now going to give each of them a “cumulonimbus cloud.” Using the shaving cream, top each jar filled with the plain water off with a heaping pile of shaving cream.

9. Once each student has a “cumulonimbus cloud,” instruct him or her to use the droppers and drop colored water onto their “cloud.” The colored water should make its way through the shaving cream and settle at the bottom of the “cloud.” Once enough colored water has accumulated in the “cloud,” the colored water will begin seeping into the clear water in the jar. (This is the rain!)

10. After a few minutes of dropping color into the cloud, ask the students what they are noticing. What happens when you drop colored water into the cloud? Where does the colored water go? What do you notice about the bottom of the cloud? Does the colored water stay in the cloud, or does it drip into the clear water? What does the clear water look like? What does the cloud look like?

11. Using your knowledge, explain to the students the process of rain. During this time the teacher should talk about a cumulonimbus cloud, what clouds are made of, and what conditions are in place for a rain shower.

12. Provide a closing discussion about what was demonstrated during the cloud activity. Ask students if they have any remaining questions or comments about the lesson. Ask questions that help to formatively assess the class understanding.

13. If time permits, allow students to draw a picture of a rainy day. After drawing their picture, students should write a brief story about an experience they have had with rain, or a fictional and creative story about rain. This activity will allow students to reflect on the science portion of the lesson and build their writing and creativity skills.

Science Background:

All students know that it rains from time to time, and most of them have noticed the gray and gloomy skies when this happens, but what makes rain fall out of the sky? There are many types of clouds in the sky, but only two of them have the ability to produce rain, hail, and snow: nimbostratus and cumulonimbus clouds. The formation of these clouds is a result of condensation. The sky is filled with water, and it usually tends to be a hot and humid day.

            This activity focuses on the cumulonimbus cloud. This cloud starts as a cumulus cloud, but once it produces rain, it is referred to as cumulonimbus. These clouds are made up of tons of moisture, and they are the biggest clouds in the sky. Sometimes cumulonimbus clouds can reach 30,000 feet in height, which is taller than any mountain on earth! There is so much going on in this cloud. Raindrops are constantly traveling up and down throughout the cloud during the processes of updrafts and downdrafts. During this motion, raindrops are colliding with one another and forming bigger raindrops. Once the rain drops are too large and too heavy for the cloud to hold, they finally drop from the cloud and fall to the earth. During this time, the cloud tends to appear gray. It is important to note that gravity is responsible for pulling the heavy raindrops down to the earth.

            Students should learn about this phenomenon, because they experience rainfall throughout the year. I think this is an important and relevant topic, because after the lesson students will look at gray and gloomy days a little differently. Hopefully students will think twice when they look into the gray sky or feel a raindrop hit their head. It will no longer be a random rainy day, but a day characterized by interesting and scientific phenomena!

Sources:

Teach Preschool Website (for the activity)

http://www.teachpreschool.org/2012/03/clouds-in-jars-and-on-the-table-top-too/

Snedeker, J. (2012). The everything kids' weather book . Avon: Adams' Media

Dorsey, C. (2008). Uncovering student ideas in science . National Science Teacher's Association

Staub, F. (2005 ). The kids' book of clouds and sky . New York : Sterling Publishing Company

Safety Considerations:

Teachers should be aware of certain allergies that exist in their students. Students may be allergic to the food coloring or shaving cream used during this lesson. Also, teachers who are weary about using glass in the classroom with young students should substitute plastic cups and containers for the clear water and colored water. In case of accident, teachers should have a broom and dust pan handy. Before the lesson begins, students should be instructed of rules and safety regulations: do not drink the water, do not consume the shaving cream, do not use the pipette to put the water onto clothes or in mouth. During the activity, the teacher should walk around the classroom and monitor student behavior. Also, the teacher should always model correct safety behavior.

Additional Content:

1. During the lesson, the class will read “Little Drip Drop’s Big Rainy Day” by Carolyn E. Turcotte. This is a children’s book about a small raindrop that is deciding whether or not it should fall from the cloud and down to earth. This book will be an excellent choice, because it demonstrates that clouds are made of rain drops, and it also exposes children to the idea of rain drops falling out of clouds.

2. This activity can also extend to other content areas. I believe the best extension would be to literature, reading, and writing. Students will be read to before the lesson begins, and they could also practice reading the book on their own or aloud to their group. Another extension to focus on reading and writing would be to have students draw a rain cloud or a rainy day, and write a brief paragraph. The paragraph could be about a fictional rainy day or a real life experience students have had with rain or clouds. Both of these additional activities will extend students experience with literature and writing.