Cloud gazing and walking through fog are some of childhood's most wondrous moments. As children observe their world, they may ask questions about natural substances like clouds, fog, mist, haze and steam.
- Vapour is a visible liquid suspended in the air.
- Clouds are tiny visible water droplets in Earth's atmosphere.
- Fog is a thick cloud that reaches the ground.
- Mist is a thin cloud that reaches the ground.
- Steam occurs when boiling water evaporates.
- Haze is suspended dry particles of pollution.
- Condensation is the process of water vapour turning into a liquid.
Children may also ask questions about water, air and the sky.
EYLF learning outcomes
The Early Years Learning Framework supports children connecting with natural materials (4.4) that teach respect for the environment (2.4) and provoke curiosity, imagination, creativity (4.1), problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating (4.2).
Learning experiences
Make clouds
There are several different science experiments where children can make their own clouds in bottles. Try one of these:
- Make a cloud in a bottle by NASA
- Make rain clouds in a bottle by National Geographic Kids
Make steam
- Carefully bring a steam iron into your classroom. Add water to the iron and turn it on so children can see the heated water turn into steam.
- Boil a pot of water to see steam.
- Use a bamboo steamer to prepare Asian vegetables or dumplings.
Make condensation
- On a cold day, let children breathe on window panes and watch what happens.
- Boil a pot of water and put the lid on top. Lift up the lid to see the condensation that has formed underneath.
Watch clouds
Children can spend a long time cloud gazing. Introduce them to the concept by reading the book Little Cloud by Eric Carle.
Go outside and lie on the grass, looking up at the clouds. Which clouds are moving? Which clouds look like pictures? Are any clouds breaking up or joining together? Will it rain today?
Monitor clouds
Watch clouds daily for a few weeks and document what you see. Record how many clouds are in the sky, the colour of the clouds, the types of clouds, and any other interesting observations.
Your children could make a chart, a book, or a collaborative artwork to communicate their cloud observations.
Paint clouds
Talk to your children about painting soft, fluffy clouds. Ask them for ideas on how they could do this. What equipment could they use? What do they want their clouds to look like?
Try using cotton wool, sponges or scrunched up fabric as brushes. Provide children with blue paper and different shades of white and grey paint.
Play with shaving cream
Young children adore playing with shaving cream, which looks a lot like clouds. Add it to a tub and encourage them to dig their hands in. Shaving cream also makes great finger paint for use on windows and light boxes. It washes off easily!
Resources
Picture books
Little Coud by Eric Carle
Websites
Curious Kids: What do clouds feel like?
Bureau of Meteorology: