Earth Science Lessons

Lesson plans for teaching Earth science, such as rocks and minerals, Earth’s structure, and weather.

Cloud Types with Cotton

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Look at these cloud photos.

Questions for you to think about:

  1. How are they the same?
  2. How are they different?
  3. WHY are they different?
  4. What makes the clouds change?

Stratus Clouds

How would you describe stratus clouds?

What words would you use?

Cumulus Clouds

How would you describe cumulus clouds?

What words would you use?

Cirrus Clouds

How would you describe cirrus clouds?

What words would you use?

Cumulonimbus Clouds

How would you describe cumulonimbus  clouds?

What words would you use?

Different Cloud Types

There are actually a lot more types of clouds!

But there names combine the ones we heard above.

Stratus = low or layered

Cumulus = puffy, heap, or pile

Cirrus = high, curl, or fringe

Nimbus = storm or rain

How to Make Clouds from Cotton

  1. Fold the paper in half
  2. Fold the paper in half again
  3. Open up the paper
  4. In the first box, write your name
  5. Write the cloud words in each of the other three boxes. 
  6. Stretch the cotton balls to make the shapes of the clouds.
  7. Use white glue to glue them on.

Stratus are low clouds and cover the sky.

Cumulus clouds are puffy

Cirrus clouds are high, thin, and stretched.

We are going to read this book. 

Remember the questions that we have above. 

  1. How are they the same?
  2. How are they different?
  3. WHY are they different?
  4. What makes the clouds change?

 

Weather

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This year’s Earth science theme is weather. I have been working with Mrs. Schmidt at Tierrasanta Elementary with some curriculum rotation and NGSS lessons. We will also have some engineering lessons mixed in, but we will be studying weather between now and winter break.