Creating Rain Clouds
Submitted By: Patricia Newcomb Troy 2
Key Learning Area: Science
ELS Addressed: 3.2b.7 Science as Inquiry
Materials:
Clear Glass
Water
Food Coloring
Shaving Cream
Procedures:
In large group, ask the children, ‘Where do you think rain comes from? What is rain? Tell me
what do you see when it rains.’ Write the children’s answers on message board if appropriate.
Tell children that in small group we are going to do an experiment. We are going to make
pretend rain. You will get to tell me what is going to happen with our pretend rain.
Fill a glass ¾ of the way full with water to represent the air.
On top of the water, put shaving cream to represent the clouds.
After you have your clouds and air you will then have each child in your group to put a few
drops of food coloring on the clouds. It’s ok to use different colors of food coloring.
As they are watching the food coloring work its way through the clouds talk to them about
what’s going to happen? Ask them to tell you what they see once the coloring is through the
clouds and it begins ‘to rain.’