3. Cumulus Clouds
• There are three types of
cumulus clouds:
• humilis are wider than they are tall
• mediocris are as wide as they are tall
• congestus are taller than they are wide
Can “grow” on
sunny days
4. Cumulonimbus Clouds
Form best under these conditions:
• Lots of warm and moist air
• Increasing winds make the cloud slant
forward.
• The atmosphere around the cloud needs to
be “unstable”
Thunderstorms on the way!
5. Stratus Clouds
• Stratus clouds are formed when large air
masses cool, also known as fog or mist.
• Stratus clouds are also the lowest forming
clouds.
Light rain most likely
6. Stratocumulus Clouds
• Stratocumulus clouds are textured and puffy.
• Stratocumulus clouds usually form from
cumulus or stratus clouds.
Snow is possible
7. Altocumulus Clouds
• Altocumulus clouds are very high in the sky,
so they are usually above the influence of
thermals.
• The usual precipitation is light rain.
!
This type
This type
makes really
makes really
cloudy skies!
cloudy skies!
8. Altostratus Clouds
• Altostratus Clouds altitude is between 6,500
and 23,000 ft
• But since they are up so high they are the
reason for pretty sunsets.
9. Nimbostratus Clouds
• Usually thick and wet, with lots of
precipitation that is steady and slow.
• Formed from altostratus clouds when they
collect water.
10. Cirrus Clouds
• Cirrus clouds are the highest of all clouds
and made of ice crystals.
• Cirrus clouds have no visible precipitation.
11. Cirrocumulus Clouds
• Another cloud mostly made of ice crystals.
• Lots of large cirrocumulus clouds may
indicate bad weather.
• Formed in the troposphere in high winds.
Indicates lots
of precipitation
on the way!
14. Name
Appearance
Conditions
Facts
Altocumulus
Blue-gray, blanket-like Rain or snow likely
Made of ice and water
at middle heights
Cirrus
Wispy ice clouds
Seen in clear skies
Mean good weather,
but can mean a
change in weather
Stratocumulus
Dark, heavy waterdroplet clouds
Rain or snow likely
Seen at low or lowermiddle heights
Cumulonimbus
Giant thunderhead
clouds
Thunderstorms with
heavy rain
Hail, wind and
lightening are on the
way
Stratus
Flat, low clouds
Overcast skies
Light rain, drizzle, or
flurries likely
Cumulus
Fluffy, lower clouds
Fair weather
Clouds can grow. If
growing late in day,
indicates change in
weather
17. Action Plan
My action plan is:
1. Teach students common cloud subject
matter.
2. Read cloud section in textbook.
3. Present Cloud PowerPoint.
4. Do worksheets, charts, and study guide.
5. Take quiz over clouds.
18. Objective/Goals
•
•
•
•
•
•
My goals are to teach the students the names of the clouds, the
appearance, the conditions they form in, and a few facts about the
cloud.
Rubric
Student was able to name 6 common clouds -6 points
Student was able to label the pictures of the 6 common clouds -6
points
Student was able to state the conditions needed for at least 2 of the
common clouds -3 points
Student was able to state at least one fact for 5 of the common
clouds -5 points
Extra credit points are earned by additional information on chart or
cloud labeling
Editor's Notes
My audience will be Middle School and Jr. High School students and I will be teaching them the types of clouds using various resources.
This will be the opening picture, this is a good visual reference for the students because it lists the clouds names shows their appearances and the average altitude for each cloud. Before I bring the picture in, I have a learning moment to see if the students know any of the cloud names already! 2nd week changes (fly in picture)
Cumulus clouds have three different types and I will explain these different types of cumulus clouds and let them take notes.
2nd week changes (text box used)
These clouds usually bring heavy storms and will have lightning with them.
These clouds are more commonly known as fog or mist instead of clouds, these clouds are very low because they have lots of precipitation and form when its cool therefore sinking to the ground.
These clouds form on blue skied days up high and are usually moving pretty fast.
Altocumulus clouds are very high up in the atmosphere so they aren't influenced by thermals, this is why they only create light rain.
These clouds are very high up in the sky and cause pretty sunsets because of the light bouncing off of them, they do not create precipitation.
More commonly known as the “rain” cloud, these clouds bring heavy storms and have a slow rainfall, this cloud can also make snow or sleet.
These wispy clouds form on bright sunny days and are usually seen quickly through the sky. These clouds do not create precipitation.
Very similar to the cirrus cloud, but the only difference is this cloud does produce precipitation and lots of it, it you see lots of these clouds together you will know you are going to have bad weather soon. 2nd week changes arrow for emphasis and text box
Exactly like the cirrus cloud but are not easily spotted, and when they are spotted they produce optical effects. These clouds do not produce precipitation.
This is the chart I talked about in my action plan, in this chart students will fill out the name of the cloud, the appearance of the cloud, the conditions the clouds best form in, and a few facts about the cloud that they found interesting. (2nd week changes-present filled in and then students will be given a blank chart. Answers may vary in facts column)
Answers: left to right, top to bottom – cirrostratus, cirrus, cirrocumulus, altostratus, altocumulus, cumulonimbus, stratocumulus, stratus, nimbostratus, cumulus, fog
2nd week addition
Action plan, goals, answer sheet and rubric
2nd week changes
