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Cloud Chase

Activity

Tracking Cloud Movement and Decoding Weather Clues

Lie down outside and watch the clouds. Pick a cloud and race it across the sky by running in its direction, trying to keep up! See if you can guess how fast it’s moving by timing how long it takes to pass a tree or a building. Afterward, try to identify cloud types like cumulus or cirrus. What kind of weather might they bring?

Science Seed

Clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air, and their shape and height can tell us about the weather. Cumulus clouds are fluffy and appear on sunny days, while cirrus clouds are high, wispy, and often signal a weather change. Stratus clouds form low, gray layers that cover the sky, and nimbus clouds are dark and full of moisture, bringing rain. Cumulonimbus clouds, or thunderheads, are tall and towering, producing thunderstorms. The speed of moving clouds depends on wind currents—fast-moving clouds may signal storms, while slow ones often mean calm weather. Watching cloud movement and types can help predict what’s coming next!

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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.

This project was made possible by HEB.