Kindergarten METEOROLOGY

ACTIVITY 1
What Are Clouds?

Standards:
11.A.1b Develop questions on scientific topics.
12.E.1a Identify components and describe diverse features of the Earth’s land, water and atmospheric systems.


The Experiment: Making a Cloud
Place just enough warm water in the bottle to cover the bottom. Light a match and let it burn for a few seconds. Blow the match out and immediately place the head of the match in the bottle. Let the smoke from the match fill the bottle. After a few seconds, the smoke will seem to disappear, but the invisible particles are still floating around in the bottle.
Screw the cap on the bottle being careful not to let too much smoke out of the bottle.
Squeeze the sides of the bottle really hard 6 or 7 times Squeeze the bottle again, hold the squeeze for a few seconds and then quickly release the squeeze. The second you release the squeeze, you should see the formation of a little fog in the bottle. This is the cloud!
Lesson: Even though we don't see them, water molecules are in the air all around us it's called water vapor. The air expands and cools, and clouds form as the temperature drops below the dew point.

Materials: empty 2liter bottle WITH lid, matches, water



ACTIVITY 2
ON-GOING WEATHER RECORD

Standards:
12.E.1b Identify and describe patterns of weather and seasonal change.
12.F.1b Identify daily, seasonal and annual patterns related to the Earth’s rotation and revolution.

On the first day of ever month, the class will discuss the weather. Noting the sun, clouds, checking the temperature, noting rain, snow, fog, etc, the class will record these observations. Observations will be posted on a giant calendar (each month will be the size of one 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper). Symbols, numbers (degrees), and words will be used.

Materials: Large calendar, thermometer