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MATERIALS
- student journals
- classroom cloud chart (sample provided)
- photographic equipment
- digital cameras
- camcorder or other movie camera
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PROCEDURE
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Activity
- Mount a classroom cloud chart as a reference tool for students
or provide other images of clouds that have been properly classified.
- Discuss the nature of clouds and become familar with their terminology:
- High clouds ("cirrus")
- Middle clouds ("alto")
- Altocumulus
- Altostratus (click here
to see an example)
- Low clouds ("cumulus")
- Clouds with great vertical development (a.k.a., "thunderheads")
- Over a period of time, observe cloud formations outside and
classify them using the classroom cloud chart for reference. Record
the following information in the student journals:
| Date |
Cloud Name |
High, Mid, Low Altitude |
Weather Forecast |
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- Document the clouds using whatever technology is available
in your classroom. Date and label the photographs and attach them
to the journals to correspond with cloud entries. Points to remember
while taking images of clouds:
- Take photographs in the morning or late afternoon, but not
midday,
- Do not shoot directly toward the sun, and
- If using a 35 mm camera, use a polarizing filter to increase
the contrast between clouds and the sky.
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Assessment Ideas
- have students develop and produce their own cloud charts specific
to the region that they live in.
- (Requires Computers and or software) have students create hyperstudio
stacks of clouds. The sophistication of the stacks may vary according
to grade levels and equipment available to the classroom.
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CROSS-CURRICULAR IDEAS
- Media arts (photography): Have students use the images taken
for the above activities as the basis of an art project such as a card.
- Art: Use clouds as the basis of a study in shapes
- English/language arts: journaling
- Math: Use clouds as the central application in the use of the
Chaos theory in math.
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VOCABULARY
- alto: indicative of a medium altitude cloud
- cirrus: high altitude white clouds resembling curly wisps or
feathers
- cumulus: a thick cloud (appearing piled on a flat base), originating
at a low elevation
- nimbo: indicative of producing rain or snow
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SOURCE
- Adapted from "Winds of Change" educational CD-ROM, Copyright
Caltech and NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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