Lesson 3: Clouds

New York Times Article:

"The Ecology of Clouds"

By Henry Fountain

February 5, 2002

Point A: Have you ever eaten cotton candy? Look out the window. What do you see in the sky that reminds you of the cotton candy? Describe the clouds. What do they look like? What kind of weather do you think these clouds will bring?

I. Bell Ringer: Can you distinguish between these 3 types of clouds? What is different about them? Which of these 3 types of clouds do you see in the sky today?

II. Objectives: Students will be able to describe and distinguish between the 3 main types of clouds: Cirrus, Stratus, and Cumulus. What are they made of? How are they formed? Also, students will be able to define the following prefixes which are added to these 3 cloud types to account for other clouds in the sky that arenÕt exactly one of the 3 main types. The prefixes they will define are:

1. Cirro

2. Alto

3. Nimbo

III. Lecture/Discussion: See PowerPoint Presentation- Click here

IV. Anticipatory Set: Students will go onto the internet to view the Clouds Forecast simulation. Click here: Clouds Forecast simulation

V. Learning Activities: Students will break into groups of 3-4 and they will complete the following cloud webquest: Click here: Cloud Quest Also, students may engage in the following WebQuest if time permits- Click here: WebQuest

VI. Closure: What are the 3 main types of clouds? What prefixes can be added to the cloud types? What do these different prefixes indicate? How are clouds formed? What are they made of? What kind of weather is usually accompanied by each cloud type?