The longer I teach, the more I appreciate the value of reteaching the same material over again using different methods. People absorb knowledge in a variety of ways. For instance, this art project for kids is a simple way of reinforcing a science lesson about clouds while having fun doing it.
Currently my science class is learning about weather and water. Since our co-op teaches homeschoolers, there are students of different ages and grade levels in my group. That makes it all the more important to mix up the teaching methods, so to speak. What works for one child, may not work for another.
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Some kids thrive on hearing a lesson and taking notes. Others enjoy getting to read the material aloud, taking turns with others in the class. Still others are very hands-on and need something active to do while they learn. We use many techniques, even sometimes allowing kids to model with air-dry clay as they listen to the lesson.
For our unit on weather I had already given them crossword puzzles and word searches, along with supplementary videos and classic lecturing. I wanted to do something new. So, after teaching them the types of clouds (stratus, cumulus, cirrus) and how to identify them, we did a simple art project.
As they made the different kinds of clouds out of balls of cotton, they had to recall which kind of cloud is at each level of the atmosphere and what those clouds looked like. It was fun and a great reinforcement of the material, as well!
Simple Cloud Art Project For A Science Lesson
Supplies
Construction paper – yellow, brown, green
Directions
This is really self-explanatory. Your kids may want to use only glue sticks but I found that each of my students has a different style. That is why I put both glue sticks and white school glue on the supplies list. The cotton balls should be fluffed or stretched depending on the type of cloud.
Stratus clouds are at the lowest layer and they are stretched out in a flat layer.
A bit higher in the sky will be your cumulus clouds. They are fluffy and billowy.
At the highest level are cirrus clouds. They are thin and wispy.
Cut rectangles out of the white card-stock paper to use as labels. Write the name of the cloud type on the label with a felt pen. The construction paper is for the student to cut out shapes for scenery like a tree or a house or a mountain. And, of course, the sun!
Fun way to teach science students of all ages about clouds! #ece #science #weather #teaching #homeschooling Click To Tweet
Resources for teaching children about clouds:
Teach Junkie – Clouds Science For Kids
ID a Cloud Online Quiz for Kids
Teaching Children About How Clouds Form
Types of Clouds – Lesson For Kids
Enjoy!
