Heads in the Clouds

by Michael Porter
Second graders can distinguish stratus from cirrus!
The second graders just had a wonderful lesson in science lab, where they learned to distinguish one type of cloud from another.
 
Science Specialist Deb Landon began the class with a quick discussion in the lab, defining what a cloud actually is and how they change over time (rapidly in the summer in Florida). Next, she went through a series of slides that illustrated different clouds.

Accompanied by a handout of cloud pictures, Ms. Landon took the students to the playground to find and identify several distinct types of clouds. Searching the skies and consulting their handouts, they took pictures of various types of clouds with their iPads.
 
"We are taking pictures of clouds, learning about different types," said second grader Sailor D. while excitedly wielding her iPad.

The students agreed that photographing clouds as they identified them helped them to remember what cloud was what.
 
Austin D. is definitely getting the basic idea of clouds.
 
"The very tall ones are like thunder...and lightning," said the second grader. "And the small clouds are kind of like the safe clouds."
 
Ms. Landon also pointed out contrails left by airplanes, which can be confused with clouds but aren't formed by nature.
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