Cloud classification craft {lessons about weather}

During our weather unit, we spent quite a bit of time studying clouds. I had no idea how truly fascinating they were until we began learning more about them!

We read several books about clouds that talked about the cloud classification system. My kids and I worked on classifying clouds ourselves.

Then we did this cool cloud classification craft project that combined art with a lesson about the clouds.

Note: You’ll find more weather-related activities on my Weather Unit Study page.

From our previous work learning about cloud classification, we knew that clouds were classified primarily by their shape and their altitude in the sky.

We started with a piece of blue construction paper, which I helped the kids divide into several sections. The kids added labels that said “high,” “middle,” and “low.”

I provided three different types of materials for them to create different types of clouds on their papers:

Regular paint
Puffy paint (using the recipe I share in this post)
Cotton balls

The kids chose the material they wanted to use based on the type of cloud they were creating on their papers. QBoy, for example, chose puffy paint to make fluffy cumulous clouds, while XGirl chose cotton balls to do the same.

XGirl created three different kinds of clouds for her craft: Cumulous clouds at low altitude, altostratus clouds at middle altitude, and cirrus clouds at high altitude.