Name:
Can you walk through a cloud? Yes you can! Just take a walk when it is foggy.
A fog is one kind of cloud. A fog is a cloud that is touching the ground.
Most clouds do not touch the ground. We have to look up into the sky to see them.
Clouds come in many shapes and sizes. These kinds of clouds you often see are cumulus
[KYOOmyuh lus], stratus [STRAT us], and cirrus [Sir us].
CUMULUS CLOUDS are white and fluffy. They look like large puffs of cotton, (Figure A). Cumulus clouds form mostly on warm summer days and usually mean the weather will be fair. In hot weather, a cumulus cloud may grow extra big and turn dark. It becomes a thunderhead (Figure B).
A thunderhead is a storm cloud. It brings heavy rain with thunder and lightning.
STRATUS CLOUDS are low in the sky. They spread over a large area like a giant gray blanket
(Figure C). Stratus clouds are rain clouds.
CIRRUS CLOUDS are streaky. They look like thin feathers (Figure D).
Cirrus clouds are very high in the sky where it is very cold. They are made up of tiny ice crystals.
Cirrus clouds tell us that it may rain or snow within a day or two.
Study the pictures of the clouds below. Then answer the questions under the pictures.
Figure A- Cumulus Clouds Figure B - Thunderhead
1. What kind of weather do cumulus clouds 2. What kind of weather does a thunder head bring? bring?
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Figure C – Stratus Clouds Figure D – Cirrus Clouds
1. What kind of weather do stratus clouds bring?
4. What do cirrus clouds tell us will happen?
Complete the sentences with the choices below. Two of these may be used twice. One may be used three times.
Ice
Cumulus droplets of water stratus cirrus fog sizes and shapes condensed water vapor
1. A cloud is made up of billions of tiny ______________________.
2. The water that makes up clouds comes from _____________________.
3. A cloud that is touching the ground is called a __________________.
4. Clouds come in many _________________.
5. Three common kinds of clouds are ______________ , _________________ , and
__________________ clouds.
6. Gray clouds that spread over a large area are called _________________.
7. Feathery
– looking clouds are called ________________ clouds.
8. Clouds that look like puffs of cotton are called _________________ clouds.
9. A thunderhead builds up from a ________________ cloud.
10. Cirrus clouds are made up of crystals of ____________________.
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Match the two lists. Write the correct letter on the line next to each number.
1. _____ cumulus a) low, gray rain clouds
2. _____ stratus
3. _____ cirrus
4. _____ thunderhead b) cloud that touches the ground c) storm cloud d) fair-weather clouds
Look at these pictures of clouds. Then answer the questions.
Which picture . . .
1. _____ shows stratus clouds?
2. _____ shows cirrus clouds?
3. _____ shows cumulus clouds?
Which kind of cloud . . .
4. _____ is the highest in the sky?
5. _____ is lowest in the sky?
6. _____ is made up of ice crystals?
7. _____ means fair weather?
8. _____ means possible rain or snow?
9. _____ means rain?
10. _____ may become a thunderhead?
Write T on the line next to the number if the sentence is true. Write F if the sentence is false.
1. _____ Clouds are made up of water vapor.
2. _____ There is only one kind of cloud.
3. _____ A fog is a cloud.
4. _____ Stratus clouds are low clouds.
5. _____ Cumulus clouds mean fair weather.
6. _____ Stratus clouds are made of ice crystals.
7. _____ Cirrus clouds are the highest clouds.
8. _____ A thunderbird builds up from cirrus clouds.
9. _____ Stratus clouds are rain clouds.
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