Supercooling Water

Matter: Can water remain a liquid below its normal freezing point 0°C (32°F), then crystallize on command (solid)?! Click here for the scientific explanation behind supercooling and snap freezing! Weather: Learn about supercooled water droplets in clouds here and how this experiment relates to freezing rain!



Turn this experiment into a delicious treat! Check out Grant Thompson's video tutorial: Self Freezing Soda!

Cloud Pets

A cloud in your pocket from the Girl Scouts - SWAPS! Kids create their very own cotton ball cloud pet. Then, they race them!

Cloud Racing

Integrate science and math with cloud racing! Lay a large, long sheet of blue paper down. Kids blow (wind) cotton balls (clouds) across the race track (sky) using straws. 

Try making other types of cotton ball clouds (cirrus and stratus by pulling the cotton ball). Click here for an example. Have kids predict which cloud they think will go the fastest. If cirrus went up against a cumulus cloud, which one would win?!

Next, have each kid predict which cloud will go the farthest: Go out into a large hall way. Blow each type of cotton ball cloud using a straw. Measure the distance each cloud traveled. Which cloud traveled the farthest distance?

Cloud Viewer

Everyone has seen the classic weather window: cloud identification. This is a fantastic hands on activity for kids! I created one and kids had a blast using it! The viewer really helped kids retain the different cloud types. Click here for the printable!

Precipitation, Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation

Precipitation - Make it Rain!

Raining Rainbows (shaving cream and food coloring) -  A Bit of This and a Bit of That!

Rain in a Jar - Guest Hollow

Transpiration - Collect Plant Sweat!

Learn about transpiration through this hands on experiment from Weird Science Kids. By tying a large baggie around a plant's leaves on a super hot, sunny day, you will demonstrate how transpiration is part of the water cycle. Pour the water from the plant into a measuring cup. Kids use their measuring skills to figure out how much water the plant produced. Click here for full instructions! Save your water for the puddle experiment below!
Also, check out Parents.com to see how to conduct this experiment with a patch of grass and a jar!

Evaporation - Watch a Puddle!

Science With Me conducted a puddle experiment to teach kids about evaporation! Pour water on the pavement in a sunny spot. Then, draw a line around it with sidewalk chalk. Let it sit, then check up on it later. What happened? The water evaporated! 

Condensation - Create a cloud!