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Sizing Up the Clouds ActivitySizing Up the Clouds Activity
Publisher
International Technology Education Association
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
6th - 8th
Subjects
Science
4 more...
Resource Types
Activities & Projects
5 more...
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
30 mins
Instructional Strategies
Demonstration
1 more...
Technology
Scientific Equipment
Year
2003
Activity

Sizing Up the Clouds

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Sizing Up the Clouds activity also includes:
  • Activity
  • Reading Passage
  • Informational Text
  • Join to access all included materials

How much rain can that cloud make? Through a simulation, the class estimates the amount of candy rain contained in different cup clouds. After probing the clouds using different methods, class members adjust their estimates. Participants use ground truthing to verify the estimates on how much candy rain was in the clouds. 

47 Views 49 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

clouds, rainfall, precipitation, estimation, ratios

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • This activity can be used right before studying cloud formation and cloud types
  • Instead of using as a whole class demonstration, set up identical sets of clouds for groups to investigate

Classroom Considerations

  • The teacher needs to construct the clouds before the class starts
  • Make individual data collection and prediction tables like those found on page two so individuals have their own to work on

Pros

  • Reading material provides background information on forecasting the amount of rain
  • The resource takes some time to describe the difference between volume and weight of ounces

Cons

  • None

Common Core

6.RP.A.3.a MP1

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