Types of Clouds Activity with Cotton Balls

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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 that 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 types of cloud activity. And who knows, you just might learn something new, too!

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 about 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 CloudsWorm Weather (Penguin Core Concepts)National Geographic Readers: WeatherNational Geographic Kids Ultimate Weatherpedia: The most complete weather reference everNational 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 is 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.

Supplies needed for this types of clouds activity

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

Directions for this How To Make Clouds Activity

Since you now know all the cloud types because of this types of clouds 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 the organization and ease.

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. 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.

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.

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