PRINTABLE WORKSHEETS FOR THIS UNIT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B6NtYsGBQmaHi1dXUvqFaI0pX-_F2Zyk/view?usp=sharing
Monday, March 23
Main Lesson: What is a cloud made of?
A cloud is a large collection of very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals. The droplets
are so small and light that they can float in the air.
How are clouds formed? All air contains water, but near the ground it is usually
in the form of an invisible gas called water vapor.
Stratus
Cumulus
Cirrus
Cumulonimbus
Book: Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Rain cloud science activity to do with kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tAmm1NuGjc
Youtube Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuW1jhxCgx0
Tuesday, March 24
Main Lesson: Some types of Clouds
First Group: stratus, cumulonimbus, cirrus, cumulus.
For more information on the different types of clouds please see the first few pages of our printable worksheets to go over pictures, names, and descriptions.
Play Memory Card game using pages 10-17 the printable worksheets.
For extended learning:
Practice these other types of clouds:
Start your own Cloud Observation Journal and spend time outside everyday to keep note on the clouds you see!
Cloud Song by Miss Eleana
I look up at the sky, the sky,
See so many clouds rolling by, oh my!
Stratus clouds just fill the air,
Nimbus clouds, mean rain is there,
Cumulus clouds, are fluffy and tall,
Cirrus clouds are thin, and that’s all!
Poems about clouds read by Miss Eleana during this morning's ZOOM Circle Time:
The Clouds by Anonymous
Clouds that wander through the sky,
Sometimes low and sometimes high;
In the darkness of the night,
In the sunshine warm and bright.
Ah! I wonder much if you
Have any useful work to do.
Yes, we're busy night and day,
As o'er the earth we take our way.
We are bearers of the rain
To the grasses, and flowers, and grain;
We guard you from the sun's bright rays,
In the sultry summer days.
June by F.G. Sanders
Far up in the deep blue sky,
Great white clouds are floating by;
All the world is dressed in green;
Many happy birds are seen,
Roses bright and sunshine clear
Show that lovely June is here.
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Book: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
Art Project Ideas:
Wednesday, March 25
Main Lesson: Making Clouds in a Jar
Cloud in a Jar experiment with Miss Jackie
What does a cloud need to be formed?
water
cool air
condensation nuclei or cloud seed
Book: Shapes in the sky by Josepha Sherman
Art Project: Puffy Cloud Painting
Thursday, March 26
Main Lesson: Exploring the Water Cycle
Water Cycle Coloring Pages:
Water travels in a cycle. It is a continuous journey from the sky to land and back again. The water cycle is the continuous journey water takes from the sea, to the sky, to the land and back to the sea. The movement of water around our planet is vital to life as it supports plants and animals.
Try to go over some of these vocabulary words with the children.
Evaporation
Energy from the sun heats up the surface of the Earth, causing the temperature of the water in our rivers, lakes and oceans to rise. When this happens, some of the water “evaporates” into the air, turning into a gas called “vapour“. Plants and trees also lose water to the atmosphere through their leaves. This process is known as “transpiration“.
Condensation
As water vapour rises up high into the sky, it cools and turns back into a liquid, forming clouds. This process is called “condensation“. Currents high up in the air move these clouds around the globe.
Precipitation
When too much water has condensed, the water droplets in the clouds become too big and heavy for the air to hold them. And so they fall back down to Earth as rain, snow, hail or sleet, a process known as “precipitation“.
Collection
The fallen precipitation is then “collected” in bodies of water – such as rivers, lakes and oceans – from where it will eventually evaporate back into the air, beginning the cycle all over again. How it is collected, depends on where it lands…
Some will fall directly into lakes, rivers or the sea, from where it will evaporate and begin the cycle all over again. If the water falls on vegetation, it may evaporate from leaves back into the air, or trickle down to the ground. Some of this water may then be taken up by the plant roots in the earth. In cold climates, the precipitation may build up on land as snow, ice or glaciers. If temperatures rise, the ice will melt to liquid water and then soak into the ground, or flow into rivers or the ocean.
Water that reaches land directly may flow across the ground and collect in the oceans, rivers or lakes. This water is called “surface run-off“. Some of the precipitation will instead soak (or “infiltrate”) into the soil, from where it will slowly move through the ground until eventually reaching a river or the ocean.
And there you have it, gang – the ongoing water cycle!
Water Cycle in a Bottle Experiment
(As seen in our Morning Zoom lesson with Miss Eleana)
You will need:
Plastic or glass water bottle or jar with lid
Water
Blue food Coloring {optional}
Sharpie
STEP 1: Draw clouds, a sun, water on the sides of the bottle or jar.
STEP 2: Mix about a 1/4 cup of water and blue food coloring. Pour the mixture into the bottle or jar.
STEP 3: Place by the window or on the porch/in your garden in the sun and watch as the water evaporates and then condenses on the side of the bottle.
HOW DOES THE WATER CYCLE WORK
A few important terms relating to the water cycle are:
evaporation – turning from liquid into vapor (gas).
condensation – turning from vapor gas to liquid.
precipitation – the product of condensation that falls from the sky under gravity. E.g. drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, hail
The water cycle: the sun heats water on earth (in oceans, lakes, streatms, rivers) and the water evaporates (turns from liquid water to gas vapor). The vapor rises and at higher altitudes it is cooled, causing it to condense (turn from vapor gas back to liquid water droplets). As more and more of the liquid water droplets come together, they form clouds. If the water droplets become too large and heavy, they fall as rain (or in colder climates as snow) back to earth and the cycle begins again.
Art Project Ideas:
Friday, March 27
BREAKFAST IDEA TO END CLOUD WEEK
A Sweet Cloud Week Finale: Cloud-Shaped Buttermilk or
Basic Pancakes
These buttermilk pancakes will certainly transport you and your family to cloud 9! If buttermilk is not a pantry staple in your house, you can use the basic pancake recipe or any family recipe you might have. Cut the pancakes into cloud shapes, drizzle them with blueberry rain-drops, pour sticky syrup rain over them, or simply dust them with powdered sugar snow! Delicious fun for the whole family!
Children love to help cook, so get your aprons, measuring cups, bowls, and whisks ready and have some family fun!
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
2 ½ cups buttermilk
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable, canola or coconut oil for the pan (I use avocado oil to make them extra crispy!)
Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt together in a bowl. Using the whisk, make a well in the center. Pour the buttermilk into the well and crack eggs into buttermilk. Pour the melted butter into the mixture. Starting in the center, whisk everything together, moving towards the outside of the bowl, until all ingredients are incorporated. Do not overbeat (lumps are fine). The batter can be refrigerated for up to one hour.
Heat a large nonstick griddle or skillet, over low heat for about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Turn heat up to medium–low and using a measuring cup, ladle 1/3 cup batter into the skillet. If you are using a large skillet or a griddle, repeat once or twice, taking care not to crowd the cooking surface.
Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to surface and bottoms brown, about 2 to 4 minutes. Cook until the other sides are lightly browned. Enjoy!
Alternative Basic Pancake recipe:
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar, optional
2 eggs
1 ½ to 2 cups milk
2 tablespoons melted and cooled butter (optional), plus unmelted butter for cooking, or use neutral oil (I use avocado oil)
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat.
In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, sugar).
In a separate bowl, beat eggs into 1 1/2 cups milk, then stir in 2 tablespoons melted cooled butter, if using.
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat.
In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, sugar).
In a separate bowl, beat eggs into 1 1/2 cups milk, then stir in 2 tablespoons melted cooled butter, if using.
Gently stir the egg and milk mixture into dry ingredients, mixing only enough to moisten flour; don't worry about a few lumps. If the batter seems thick, add a little more milk.
Place a teaspoon or 2 of butter or oil on the griddle or skillet. When butter foam subsides or oil shimmers, ladle batter onto griddle or skillet, making pancakes of any size you like. Adjust heat as necessary; usually, the first batch will require higher heat than subsequent batches. Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to the surface and bottoms brown, after 2 to 4 minutes.
Cook until the second side is lightly browned. Serve, or hold on an ovenproof plate in a 200-degree oven for up to 15 minutes.
Source for both recipes: New York Times Cooking
Main Lesson: Rain Cloud Experiment
Book: The cloud book by Tomie de Paola