Where Does Rain Come From?

As the rain pours down again we start to wonder!


Rain comes from clouds but do you know how rain gets into clouds? This clip shows how clouds are formed (made). You will see how important the Sun is in making it rain.

What kinds of clouds have you seen in the sky? Which kind of clouds do you see when it is raining? How do you think clouds form?

What part does the Sun play in making clouds?

In the clip a kettle with steam is shown. Why is that shown?

Where does rain really come from?

The clip talks about the 'water cycle'. Why is it called a 'cycle'? Do you know any other types of cycles? Can you work out what the word 'cycle' means?

Draw a picture of the water cycle. You can use arrows in your drawing to join up each part of the water cycle. Explain your drawing to someone else.

What sort of clouds produce rain? Observe the sky for a week or two. Take a digital photograph of the different types of clouds you see. Create a chart to show those that produced rain and those that did not. Label the clouds to describe their appearance and how high they are in the sky. Look up cloud types to see if you can find out the names of different types of clouds.