# Lesson 133: Clouds and rain

🔬 SCIENCE (40 Lessons) • 🔵 B. The Earth and Sky

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## Objective

I can tell what clouds and rain are. I can say that clouds are made from tiny drops of water in the sky, and that rain falls from clouds and helps plants, animals, and people.

## Materials

- Window or safe place to look at the sky (if possible)
- Simple pictures of clouds, rain, sunny sky, and umbrellas
- Small clear cup with water (for a quick water example)
- Pencil and notebook or scrap paper

## Mini-lesson — What are clouds and rain?

When we look up, we see the sky. Some days it is blue and clear. Other days we see clouds and feel rain.

Clouds

- Clouds are made from tiny drops of water or ice high up in the sky.
- They can look fluffy like cotton or thin like a sheet.
- Clouds can move slowly across the sky when the wind blows.

Rain

- Warm air lifts water from seas, lakes, and puddles up into the sky.
- The water cools and makes clouds. When the cloud gets very full of water drops, the drops join and fall as rain.
- Rain makes the ground wet. It fills rivers, lakes, and puddles.

Why rain is important

- Plants need rain water to grow.
- Animals and people need water to drink and to wash.
- Too little rain can cause dry ground. Too much rain can cause floods.

When you see clouds and rain, you are watching part of the water cycle — water goes up as a gas, makes clouds, then comes back down as rain.

Picture strip: From puddle to cloud to rain

Up to the cloud

Rain back down

## Guided Practice — Watch the sky and talk about rain

You will look at the sky (or pictures of the sky) and talk about clouds and rain. Use simple words to say what you see.

1. Look at the sky: If it is safe, look out of a window or step outside with an adult. If that is not possible, use simple sky pictures.
2. Describe the clouds: Are they big or small? White or dark? Many clouds or only a few?
3. Check the ground: Is the ground dry or wet? Can you see puddles or drops on glass?
4. Talk about rain: Ask, "Do these clouds look like rain?" and "What happens when it rains a lot?"
5. Draw a quick picture: In your notebook, draw a simple sky with a cloud. Add rain if you think it might rain. Under the picture, write a short label such as "clouds" or "rain".
6. Use the tracing pad: Choose words like cloud, rain, sun, or wet from the dropdown and trace them slowly. Say the word as you write.
7. Finish with a sentence: Write one sentence such as "Rain makes the ground wet" or "Clouds move in the sky".

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice 1 — Sort sky pictures

Use real photos or simple drawings of the sky. Sort them into "Clouds", "Rain", and "No clouds".

1. Draw three boxes or circles on your paper and label them: clouds, rain, and no clouds.
2. Look at each picture. Is the sky clear, cloudy, or rainy?
3. Draw a mini copy of the picture in the correct box or write a tiny label such as "dark cloud" or "sunny".
4. Count how many pictures show rain. Count how many show no clouds.

## Practice 2 — Wet and dry

Think about what happens before and after rain. Talk about which things stay dry and which things get wet.

- Make two lists: "Wet after rain" and "Still dry".
- In "Wet after rain" you might write: road, pavement, grass, car roof.
- In "Still dry" you might write: inside of cupboard, books on shelf, things under a roof.
- Talk about how umbrellas and roofs help keep us dry.

## Practice 3 — Cloud and rain story

Use your imagination to tell a short story about a cloud and some rain.

1. Draw one big cloud in the sky and a small house or tree on the ground.
2. Add raindrops falling from the cloud onto the ground.
3. Write (or say) one or two sentences, such as: "Rain helps the tree grow" or "The cloud was full, so it rained".
4. Share your picture with someone and tell them your cloud story.

## Quick Check — Clouds and rain

Answer each question about clouds and rain. Think about what you see in the sky and what happens on the ground when it rains.

1) Where do we see clouds?

On the floor. Up in the sky. Inside a drawer.
Clouds are high up in the sky.

2) What are clouds mostly made of?

Sand. Paper. Tiny drops of water.
Clouds are made from many tiny drops of water or ice.

3) When clouds get very full of water, what can happen?

It starts to rain. The clouds hide forever. The sky turns into paper.
When clouds are very full, water falls out as rain.

4) What word best matches the ground right after a big rain?

Dry. Wet. Empty.
Rain makes the ground wet.

5) What helps keep you dry when it rains?

A ball. A book. An umbrella.
An umbrella helps keep rain off your body.

6) Why is rain important for plants?

It gives them water to grow. It makes them turn into toys. It makes them leave the ground.
Plants need water, and rain gives water to their roots.

7) Which picture would most likely show rain clouds?

A clear blue sky. Dark, thick clouds. Only stars at night.
Dark, thick clouds often bring rain.

8) What do we call water that stays on the ground after rain?

Dust. Smoke. Puddles.
Small pools of water on the ground are called puddles.

9) What do we usually see in the sky on a rainy day?

Clouds and raindrops. Only a bright sun. Only stars.
Rainy days have clouds and falling raindrops.

10) When there is no rain for a long time, the ground becomes…

Very wet. Very dry. Full of puddles.
Without rain, the ground dries out.

11) Which sentence about clouds is true?

Clouds are made of rocks. Clouds live under the bed. Clouds can move across the sky.
Wind can move clouds across the sky.

12) What does the sun help do after it rains?

Dry the ground. Turn water into rocks. Take away all clouds forever.
Sun and wind can help dry wet ground after rain.

13) Where does the water in rain come from?

From space rockets. From water on Earth that goes up into the sky. From inside our shoes.
Water from seas, rivers, and puddles goes up, makes clouds, then falls as rain.

14) Why do we learn about clouds and rain?

To understand our weather and how water helps life. So we never go outside again. Only to draw clouds on walls.
Knowing about clouds and rain helps us understand weather and water on Earth.

15) Which choice shows a good way to stay safe in heavy rain?

Stand in deep water alone. Run into the road to splash. Stay with an adult under a roof or umbrella.
In heavy rain, stay with an adult and keep dry and safe.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can say that clouds are made from tiny drops of water in the sky. Student can explain that rain falls from clouds and makes the ground wet. Student can give examples of why rain is important for plants, animals, and people. Student can use simple words like cloud, sky, rain, wet, and dry in short sentences. Student can answer worded questions about clouds and rain with a short explanation.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can explain what clouds and rain are and why rain is important. 🙂 I know some facts about clouds and rain but still need more practice. 😅 Clouds and rain still feel a bit tricky to explain.

#### Next time I will practise…

Naming things I see in the sky Talking about what happens when it rains Drawing and labelling clouds, rain, and puddles
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