It is important that students understand the differences in the types of clouds in the sky. Lesson plans that focus on various types of clouds before doing an experiment will help students fully grasp what they see. Teachers should explain that clouds are white when they are reflecting all the colors of rainbow from the sun, and when all the colors combine they turn to white. Gray clouds are formed when the cloud is so thick or high in the air that light can't pass through.
In this project, students will observe clouds and monitor the weather. Students are to keep a weather log. This can be for a week or for a month. In the log students record the date and time they observe the weather. They should note what type of clouds they see and what the weather is doing. Wind direction, cloud color and temperature are important data for students to record. After students complete their logs, have them independently analyze their data. Have them write a short report discussing their findings. Were there any weather patterns that they found based on the clouds they observed?
Students get to create a cloud with this experiment. You need an empty, 1-liter plastic bottle and a foot pump that has a rubber stopper attached. Have students put water in the bottom of the bottle, just enough to cover the bottom. Then students will swirl the water around the jug. An adult will then insert the rubber stopper into the plastic jug. Press the foot pump five times to start. Once you have pumped, remove the stopper. There will be a faint cloud. Students will notice that the more times you pump your foot and then remove the stopper, the bigger the cloud will get based on pressure within the bottle.
One of the most noticeable types of clouds is the funnel cloud, in part because of the danger associated with the funnel cloud. Once a funnel cloud reaches the ground it becomes a tornado. The indoor tornado experiment allows children to learn about the wind currents that bring funnel clouds to the ground. Kids can fill an empty bottle 2/3 full with water and add 1 tsp. of dish soap and 1 tsp. of vinegar. Food coloring may be added for display. Put a lid on the bottle, and then instruct the kids to shake the bottle as much as possible. Students will see firsthand how the vortex is created and spirals down to create a tornado.