April 2012
1st Grade: Unit- Air and Weather
Duration: 30 Minutes
Title: Clouds
Materials needed:
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Class Poster (In classroom)
Science Journals
Portable Boards
Cotton Balls (if rain)
Paper (if rain)
Crayons (if rain)
Glue (if rain)
Resources:
FOSS Kit
Objective: Students will be able to identify the 3 types of clouds and their characteristics.
Procedures:
I.
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Opening: (2:40-2:48)
We will begin by talking about weather.
What’s the weather like today?
Does anyone know what temperature is?
What is the temperature outside today?
o If temperature was not recorded in the morning, have students estimate what it
will be.
What happens when it rains?
Do you see clouds?
What do clouds look like?
What are the three types of clouds?
o We will discuss the identifying characteristics that we spoke about last week.
o Cirrus
 Thin, wispy strands. Look like streaks in the sky. Like they were painted
on with a paintbrush.
 Only form above 18,000 feet.
 The Empire State Building is only 1250 feet.
 Planes fly between 20,000 and 30,000 feet.
o Cumulus
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 Form low down – 6000 feet.
 They are described as puffy and cotton like.
 Usually appear during fair weather.
 Can grow into rain clouds that cause storms.
o Stratus
 Form very vey low. The lowest.
 The clouds that are usually out on “cloudy” days.
 Flat clouds, which are grey.
 Can produce snow, but not very much.
o We can look at poster while we do so.
Activity 1 (2:48-3:04)
We will go outside to observe the clouds for our activity.
o Students will draw what they see and label the clouds they draw.
o INSTRUCTIONS:
 “You must be able to tell me and the class why you think each cloud is
what you think it is!”
 We will discuss their drawings and statements inside. Students can share
their pictures and sentences.
IF IT IS GOING TO RAIN:
o We will create our own cloud posters.
o Students will pick one type of cloud and create it using cotton balls on their paper.
o Students must pick one “characteristic” that we spoke about and write a sentence
describing their cloud using this characteristic in their sentence.
o NOTE: Their sentence MAY NOT be “This is a cumulus cloud.” MAKE THIS
CLEAR!!!!
III. Closing/Wrap Up: (3:04 – 3:11)
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We will discuss their drawings and sentences. Students will tell me how they know the
difference between different clouds.
Student Assessment:
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The students will be assessed as the lesson goes on after each drawing and sentence.