The Different Types of Clouds Essay Example for Free

The Different Types of Clouds Essay Water on Earth moves between the oceans and land through the processes of evaporation and condensation. As a basis for understanding this concept: c. Students know water vapor in the air moves from one place to another and can form fog or clouds, which are tiny droplets of water or ice, and can fall to Earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow. Objective: Students will create a picture that shows three different cloud types (Cirrus, stratus, and cumulus). Student Materials: 1 piece of blue construction paper per student 3-4 cotton balls per student bottle of glue per 4 students crayons Management Strategies: This lesson is intended to be an introduction to cloud types and is appropriate for large group (whole class) instruction. The complete lesson will take about 50 minutes. Cooperative group work is not required, but could be implemented at the teachers discretion. Procedure: 1. Begin the lesson by discussing the weather at the time. Ask probing questions like, What is the difference between the weather today and the weather yesterday? , What kind of an effect do you think clouds have on weather? or What makes one loud different from another? . 2. Show the students selected pictures from the book Spacious Skies and a series of pictures from the laser disc. Talk about what they are seeing by discussing the different characteristics of the clouds. Be sure to point out height (elevation), texture and color. 3. Introduce the four types of clouds with which the class will be working. These clouds are cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and cumulonimbus. Write the four names on the chalkboard and ask the class to describe each type (where it would be found, what it looks like, its color). While working on ach name, use the corresponding picture from the laser disc. When the class is done listing characteristics, ask them to place the four different types of clouds in the appropriate spot on the cloudscape that youve created. 4. Explain to the students that they will be responsible for making a cloudscape. They will be using construction paper, cotton balls, glue and crayons to create a scene that incorporates all four of the cloud types discussed. Their cloudscape must show the clouds in relation to ground level and the clouds should depict the attributes discussed by the class. Their scene should include buildings as well as the ground. They will have 15-20 minutes to complete this activity. 5. Bring the class back together as a whole by having the children present their cloudscapes to the class. Make sure that they explain what each cloud is and its relation to the horizon. Concept: Cloud formation results when warm, humid air rises and cools, causing the water vapor in the air to condense and form clouds. Teacher Materials: a large Jar a plastic bag of ice that will fit over the Jar opening a pitcher of warm water 1 sheet of black paper flashlight -matches Student Materials: pen and paper to record observations Optional Extension Student Materials: more Jars, bags of ice, black paper, flashlights, and warm water flour sand cedar shavings any other particulate materials white construction paper newspaper crayons Teacher Background Information: -collected dust Sunlight causes water to evaporate into the atmosphere. This air containing the water vapor is heated at the surface of the earth and rises. As it rises, it cools and the water vapor condenses on some form of particulate matter such as dust, ash, or moke to form clouds. Management Strategies: This activity would be most appropriately done with small groups so that all students can view the cloud formation in the Jar. Other class members could be working on researching the different types of clouds, drawing and labeling these clouds, researching and drawing the water cycle, working on a forecast for the rest of the day based on the clouds in the sky, etc. The activity itself should not take more than 10 to 15 minutes. For safety reasons, students should not be allowed to handle the matches. Also, students need to be careful around the glass Jars. Much of the following procedure will vary, depending on students reactions, comments, and levels of understanding. Procedure: 1 . Ask students what some of the different types of clouds are, what they are made of, and ask the focus question, how do you think clouds form?