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Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________
The Formation of Clouds
A cloud is a collection of tiny, liquid water droplets not water vapor gas.
1. Warm water vapor rises in the air.
2. Water vapor moves from a warm place to a cool place and condenses.
3. After it condenses, it forms the water droplets that make up a cloud.
A cloud is a collection of tiny, liquid water droplets not water vapor gas.
Air Cools, Rises, and Condenses
(Dots represent moisture or water vapor)
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________
Directions: Summarize the picture of the cloud formation in your own words. (4-4.2)
Air Cools, Rises,
and Condenses
(Dots represent moisture or
water vapor)
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________
Cloud Formation Project (4-4.2)
Directions: In the box below, draw and label the formation of a cloud.
Write the steps shown in your diagram.
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Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________
Cloud Formation Project Rubric
Student Name: ______________________________
4
3
2
1
Drawing provided
a clear
understanding of
cloud formation
Drawing provided
some
understanding of
cloud formation
The drawing was
very neat
Drawing provided
very little
understanding of
cloud formation
The drawing was
somewhat neat
Drawing did not
provide any
understanding of
cloud formation
Could not tell
what the drawing
was about
Steps of Cloud
Formation
All three steps
were present
Two steps were
present
One step was
present
No steps were
present
Penmanship
Handwriting was
very neat and
legible
Handwriting was
somewhat neat
and legible
Handwriting was
not neat and only
some parts were
legible
Could not
understand any
words on the page
Cloud
Drawing
Neatness
Points Earned: ______ out of 15
Name: _________________________________________ Date: _________________
Cloud Formation Project Rubric
Student Name: ______________________________
4
3
2
1
Drawing provided
a clear
understanding of
cloud formation
Drawing provided
some
understanding of
cloud formation
The drawing was
very neat
Drawing provided
very little
understanding of
cloud formation
The drawing was
somewhat neat
Drawing did not
provide any
understanding of
cloud formation
Could not tell
what the drawing
was about
Steps of Cloud
Formation
All three steps
were present
Two steps were
present
One step was
present
No steps were
present
Penmanship
Handwriting was
very neat and
legible
Handwriting was
somewhat neat
and legible
Handwriting was
not neat and only
some parts were
legible
Could not
understand any
words on the page
Cloud
Drawing
Neatness
Points Earned: ______ out of 15
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________
Formation of Clouds
A cloud is a collection of tiny, liquid water droplets not water vapor gas.
The formation of clouds happens when water vapor in the air rises, cools and
condenses (or moves from a warm place to a cool place and condenses), forming the
water droplets that make up a cloud.
Steps of Cloud Formation
Step 1
Water heats up and
evaporates turning into
water vapor (gas) in
the atmosphere.
Step 2
Water vapor keeps
traveling up and cools.
When it cools, it turns
back into a liquid (tiny
water droplets).
Step 3
The tiny droplets start
collecting around
particles of dust in the
atmosphere.
Step 4
When enough droplets
surround the dust
particles it eventually
forms a cloud.
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________
Cloud Types
There are many types of clouds. They form in similar ways but have different shapes. They also appear at
different heights in the sky. Draw each type of cloud.
CUMULUS
CIRRUS
STRATUS
Cumulus
Cumulus clouds are puffy white clouds. You see them in nice weather. They are usually
higher in the sky than stratus clouds. Cumulus clouds are usually spread out so that you can see
blue sky, too. Cumulus clouds can grow tall on a hot, sunny day. They can become
cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulonimbus clouds are also called thunderheads. They bring
thunderstorms and gusty winds.


Puffy, lumpy-looking clouds often with a flat bottom.
When cumulus clouds are dark they usually bring rain; white cumulus clouds do not bring
rain.
Cirrus
The highest clouds are cirrus clouds. They are wispy and look a little like feathers in the sky.
These thin clouds also appear in nice weather. They are so cold that they are made of particles
of ice instead of drops of water. If you see cirrus clouds, in the sky, it might mean that bigger
rain clouds are on their way.



High, thin, wispy clouds.
They are formed mostly of ice crystals.
Cirrus clouds are most often associated with fair weather.
Stratus
Stratus clouds are low sheets of gray clouds. They look like a blanket covering the sky. On a
gray day, if you look up at the sky and it is filled with clouds, they are probably stratus clouds.
Stratus clouds can change into nimbostratus clouds. These clouds bring periods of rain. Any
cloud with nimbo in its name is a rain cloud.


Layers of clouds that spread out covering a large area.
Stratus clouds are often lower in the sky.