Learning about all the different types of clouds is so much fun! These Types of Clouds Activity with Cotton Balls will have you and your child digging deep into the wonders of the sky and also teach you both how to pick out the type of clouds that are floating over your heads.

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Just think of this fun activity as a way you can take your schooling outside. Once you make the various types of clouds with the supplies listed below, you and your child will be able to go out the front door and look up at the sky to see what you can see.

This means that you’ll be able to put to use everything that you just learned. And when you can combine education with real-world learning, that’s always a good idea! This identifying clouds activity for kids is simple, fun, and engaging!

The kids are really going to love this type of cloud activity. And who knows, you just might learn something new, too!

Types of Clouds Activity with Cotton Balls

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Identifying Clouds Activity for Kids

The best part about this hands-on activity is that it’s great for younger kids and older ones, too. This allows them to learn with their minds and also create some really cool and varied clouds with their hands as well.

And what this means for you is that the next time you’re outside and your kids are looking up at the sky, you’ll know that they’re processing and thinking through all the clouds that you’re making from this simple cloud activity.

Recommended Weather Books for Kids

If you’re anything like us, we love to read. Here are some great weather books that will combine the lessons that you’re teaching with great stories in a book.

Explore My World Clouds Worm Weather (Penguin Core Concepts)National Geographic Readers: Weather National Geographic Kids Ultimate Weatherpedia: The most complete weather reference ever National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Weather (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)The Everything KIDS’ Weather Book: From Tornadoes to Snowstorms, Puzzles, Games, and Facts That Make Weather for Kids Fun!

What are the 4 types of clouds?

When it comes to clouds, there are 4 different types to be aware of. These are cumulus, cirrus, stratus, and nimbus. While there are 6 as a part of this lesson, the “extra” two are part of one of the main four listed in the sentence before.

Cirrus Clouds

Cirrus clouds are high clouds that look thin and feathery. They are made of ice crystals and get blown by the winds into different patterns.

Cumulus Clouds

These are low clouds that look like large cotton balls and come in all shapes, these clouds are the most fun to watch.

Stratus Clouds

These clouds look long and thin and cover the whole sky making things look very gloomy. The clouds are so thin that they don’t produce much rain or snow.

Stratocumulus Clouds

These grey and white patchy clouds may have a dark honeycomb look that says a storm may be coming.

Cumulonimbus Clouds

These low clouds form on hot weather days. Warm wet air rises to form clouds that look like mountains or towers. You will need to look out for rain, hail, or tornadoes.

Supplies needed for types of clouds activity

Cotton balls
Blue cardstock
Black marker
White labels
Gray paint
Paintbrush
Glue

supplies needed for cotton ball cloud activity

Recommended Weather Kits for Kids

These weather kits are great for kids that want to learn more about the weather in a hands-on and fun way.

4M Tornado Maker Science Kit, STEM Powered Kids Melissa & Doug Let’s Explore Weather/Seasons Board Brookstone Children’s Weather Station Kit – Meteorologist STEAM Toy SmartLab Toys Storm Watcher Weather Lab with 18 Wild and Windy Experiments Weather Station Kit – Climate Change, Global Warming, Lab – STEM Toys Toys Weather Science Lab – Kids Weather Science Kit

How To Make Clouds Activity

Since you now know all the cloud types because of these types of cloud activity, it’s time to make it happen! Write the cloud types on a white label with a black marker and stick them on a piece of paper to hold them in place.

Place the labels on the paper in two columns and three rows. This helps with organization and ease.

setting up the cloud experiment with cloud labels

You’re then going to want to create the clouds using the cotton balls.

Remember that for this activity, you’re going to create clouds for cumulus, cirrus, stratus, nimbus, stratocumulus, and cumulonimbus clouds.

types of cloud experiment showing cotton balls dipped with grey paint

For the nimbus cloud, stratocumulus, and cumulonimbus clouds, use gray paint and paint a shade of gray where needed for each type of cloud. Let your child do this part and have them focus on really making certain that each of the clouds looks differently.

Once they’re done, all that you have to do is take and glue the cotton in place on the paper under each cloud type.

different types of clouds for weather activity

As you can see, it’s a fun and simple activity that will really give the kids a real-world approach to what the clouds look like.

Types of Clouds Activity with Cotton Balls

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Learn how to make varied types of clouds using cotton balls.

Materials

Cotton balls
12x12 blue cardstock
Black marker
White labels
Gray paint
Paintbrush
Glue

Instructions

Write the cloud types on a white label with a black marker and stick them on a piece of paper to hold them in place.
Place the labels on the paper in two columns and three rows.
You're then going to want to create the clouds using the cotton balls.
Remember that for this activity, you're going to create clouds for cumulus, cirrus, stratus, nimbus, stratocumulus, and cumulonimbus clouds.
For the nimbus cloud, stratocumulus, and cumulonimbus clouds, use gray paint and paint a shade of gray where needed for each type of cloud.
Once they're done, all that you have to do is take and glue the cotton in place on the paper under each cloud type.