Cloud Shapes

Clouds

What are the different types of clouds?

Clouds

Clouds may only seem to be white puffs or gray streaks but if you begin to look at them more closely, they show a great variety of shapes and colors. In fact, that is how scientists group them: according to their shape and color.

Poll

What do you know about clouds?

• nothing

• a little

• a lot

• they all look the same

Cumulus Clouds

• Cumulus means "mound" in Latin

• They look like puffy balls of cotton

• They are low level - 1 mile up

• They are often separated by clear blue sky

Multiple Choice

Cumulus Clouds

• are white, puffy, mounds that are low in the sky

• are gray streaks that are high in the sky

Stratus Clouds

• Stratus means "spreading" in Latin

• They are low level, gray and foggy

• They are like a broad thin blanket across the sky

• They might produce light rain

Multiple Choice

Stratus Clouds

• are high wispy and thin clouds

• are like a gray blanket spreading like fog

Cirrus Clouds

• Cirrus means "a wisp of hair" in Latin

• They are thin wispy high level clouds

• They are formed of ice crystals

• They arrive before a warm front

• They forecast unsettled weather

Multiple Choice

Cirrus Clouds

• are thin, wispy, high level clouds that indicate rain or snow

• are low level hair-like clouds

Precipitation

Water that falls to the ground in liquid or solid form. It could be drizzle, sleet, snow, and hail.

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

What is precipitation?

• any combination of snow, rain, hail, or sleet

• dry weather that causes a drought

Poll

What did you learn about clouds?

• nothing

• a little

• a lot

• I am not sure