How Clouds Make Rain
A cloud is where the rain comes from. A cloud is water in the air (water that we can see). When the weather is hot, water on the Earth becomes vapour (like the vapour coming out of a kettle when the water in it boils). This vapour rises in the air. Since up in the air it is colder, the vapour turns back into drops of water (ice). These drops of water in the air stick together and form clouds. When the clouds get full of water, the water falls back to the ground as rain.
Science Experiment: Making Rain
Materials needed:
- Glass jar
- Shaving foam
- Water
- Food Colouring
Before you start the experiment, explain to you child that:
- Water is the air
- The shaving foam is the cloud
- The food colouring is the rain
Experiment:
Make predictions before the activity and talk about what is happening while you are doing the experiment with your child.
- Half fill a jar or a glass with water.
- Put some shaving foam on top of the water.
- Finally with a pipette or teaspoon put some droplets of food colouring.
- Watch carefully as the droplets fall from the clouds (shaving foam) into the air (water) down below
Click here to watch the video of this experiment.
Ms. Charlene Farrugia KG1. 8
St Ignatius College, Patri Ġużè Delia, Siġġiewi Primary 