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Cloud Spotting

Activity

What Different Clouds Tell Us About Weather

Go cloud spotting! Try to identify the types of clouds you see and make predictions about the weather. Are the clouds high or low? Do they look fluffy or flat? What color are they? Compare your observations and discuss how different cloud types are associated with specific weather patterns.

Science Seed

Clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. The type of cloud we see can tell us a lot about the weather. For example, cirrus clouds are high-altitude clouds that look like a horse’s tail often signal a change in the weather, while cumulus clouds look like cotton balls and are typically associated with fair, warm weather. Stratus clouds are low, gray clouds that can bring light rain or drizzle, and nimbus clouds are thick, dark clouds that indicate heavy rain or storms. Cumulonimbus clouds are towering clouds that can produce thunderstorms and strong winds. By observing clouds, meteorologists can predict if it will rain, snow, or stay clear.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

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join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.