rain cloud experiment worksheet

Rain Cloud in a Jar Science Experiment with Printable Recording Sheets

This rain cloud in a jar is a weather science experiment gives young children a chance to explore clouds and rain in a hands-on and engaging way!

If you are looking for a simple and easy science activity to do with the kids this spring, this is perfect for you. Plus, it includes free printable recording sheets for kids in preschool and elementary!

Make a Rain Cloud in a Jar

This classic weather activity for kids is favorite in classrooms and homes. I did a similar version of it when we did this clouds and rain experiment a while back. My version lasts a bit longer and is great way to incorporate additional fine motor practice, but I wanted to give the classic a try too.

*Note: This science experiment should be done with adult supervision at all times.

Plus, I have printable recording sheets for preschool and early elementary students and another one for older students.

Supplies Needed:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Printable recording sheets (button to download at the bottom of the post)
• A large jar  (I used a plastic one like this)
• Shaving cream  (not a gel version)
• Gel Food coloring  or  washable watercolors
• Pipettes  or  droppers

Setting Up the Weather Experiment

• In a small cup, mix the food coloring with some water.
• Fill the large jar with water until it is about 3/4 full.
• Place the jar and the cups of colored water on the table. Place a pipette in each cup of colored water.
• Right before the kids are ready to do the experiment, spray a bunch of shaving cream in the jar until it is just a small bit above the top of the jar.

Doing the Rain Cloud in a Jar Experiment

Ask the kids to pick up some colored water with a pipette and squirt it on top of the shaving cream cloud. Repeat this step one or two more times, but pay close attention to what is happening below the cloud!

The colored water will begin to seep down through the shaving cream and into the water below. Just like rain!

How it Works

The shaving cream represents the clouds and the water represents the air. The colored water represents rain. As the colored water saturates the “cloud”, it gets heavy and eventually is so heavy that it can no longer hold the water. It “rains” down into the jar – through the “air.” It is just like real rain falls through the air.

This was a fantastic simple science activity to do with the kids (3 and 5). So I think this would be a great one to do in the preschool classroom or at home with your own kids.

If you are doing it with a class of students, I would suggest setting up several jars and cups of colored water so that each child has a chance to add some colored water to the jar.

Check out these other neat science experiments for kids!

30 Science Activities for Preschoolers That are Totally Awesome

Growing Plants Science Activity

Melting Snow Science Experiment

• February 25, 2020

Just a heads up-This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something through one of my links-you won't pay a penny more-but I'll make a small commission. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Purposeful play, rain cloud science experiment, science experiment for kids, the rain cloud science experiment is a simple and fun way for kids to explore weather concepts, has your child ever asked how or why rain falls from the sky, well this is the perfect hands-on way to teach your child all about how clouds create rain, the shaving cream rain cloud science experiment is perfect for preschoolers and school aged kids-heck even my husband and i loved it, this colorful weather experiment illustrates how rain falls from clouds once the rain inside the cloud becomes too heavy-falling to the ground due to gravity., before you begin, explain the experiment to your child and talk through the directions together., ask your child to make predictions before you begin. write their predictions down on a piece of paper. set the paper aside to use later in the experiment. , food coloring, shaving cream (foam not gel), explore weather concepts, experiment with cause and effect, introduce new vocabulary words, hands-on learning experience, learn about the water cycle, explore clouds and rain, shop this project here.

How to do the Rain Cloud Science Experiment

Step 1: prep for experiment, mix blue food coloring with a small amount of water, fill wide mouth jar or clear glass nearly to the top with water, step 2: create cloud, add shaving cream on top of the water to create a “fluffy cloud”, let the shaving cream settle for a couple of minutes, step 3: add food coloring, invite your child to add slowly add food coloring “rain” to the “cloud” using the pipettes, continue to add drops of “rain” into the cloud, step 4: watch and talk, observe what happens, after a couple of minutes you will see the “rain” coming out of the cloud into the water , ask your child what they see, verbalize what you see, invite your child to record their observations on the same piece of paper that their predictions were written on. , observations can be through pictures and/or words, explain to your child the science behind the experiment (explanation below), what is the science behind the rain cloud experiment, how the shaving cream rain cloud experiment works, a cloud is formed when rain droplets combine together, when the cloud gets too heavy and full- the rain droplets fall out of the cloud due to gravity., in the rain cloud experiment, the colored water acts as the rain., the shaving cream acts as the cloud., the clean water in the jar is the air., when the colored water (“rain”) gets too heavy it falls out of the shaving cream “cloud” and into the water (“air”)., how to explain why it rains to kids, how does rain fall from the sky, water is everywhere on earth, water evaporates into the atmosphere in the form of water vapor, water vapor rises and then cools causing condensation , condensation is tiny water droplets, the tiny water droplets gather together and form clouds, once the cloud is full of tiny water droplets and becomes too full or heavy- they fall out of the cloud and onto the earth (due to gravity), after the precipitation falls to the earth the whole water cycle begins again, rain cloud experiment vocabulary words, introduce these vocabulary words to your child while you’re conducting the experiment , even if your child is young and won’t necessarily retain the new words-exposing even young children to advanced vocabulary will have a powerful effect on their literacy base as they get older. , for older children, introduce the words, write the words down for them so they can see the spelling, and encourage your child to use the new words while you discuss the science experiment , precipitation (release of water from the sky in the form of rain, sleet, hail or snow), atmosphere (thin layer of gases surrounding our planet), evaporation (when liquid changes to gas or vapor), water vapor (water in the form of transparent vapor), condensation (when water vapor cools and turns into liquid form of water), water cycle (the process of water moving around from air to land), more science activities for kids.

Rainbow Cupcake Science Experiment

Rainbow Lava Lamp Science Experiment

Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Snowflake Baking Soda Experiment

Snowstorm in a Jar Science Experiment

Chocolate Reindeer Playdough

Christmas Magic Milk Science Experiment

Christmas Lava Lamp Science Experiment

Christmas Science Experiment

Apple Pie Cloud Dough

Apple Volcano Science Experiment

Vanilla Cupcake Cloud Dough

Kool-Aid Playdough

Summer Beach Moon Sand

Erupting Rainbow Volcano

Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Rainbow Rain Science Experiment

Beach Moon Sand

Oil and Water Science Experiment

Climbing Rainbow Science Experiment

Hello there! I'm Sarah Britton and I am so excited you stopped by! Join me as we explore simple yet effective ways to create purposeful play opportunities for your child.

Back to School 10 Frames

Sign up to our email squad and get your hands on this set of back to school 10 frame cards, this website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. learn more here..

Rain Cloud in a Jar

Making a rain cloud in a jar is a fun and easy way to teach children how it rains .  Kids will love the magical wow factor and YOU’LL love the easy prep!

Check out the simple step-by-step below and then take our 5 Day Challenge to set up STEM centers your students will love and to build a system for teaching STEM in your classroom!

Getting Ready

To make our rain cloud in a jar, we gathered a few simple items:

• Food coloring
• A clear jar
• Shaving cream
• Plastic pipettes

First, we mixed a few drops of food coloring into some water and set it aside. This served as our “rain.”

My preschooler loved making rain so much that we ended up repeating this activity several times with blue, yellow, purple, red and green food coloring.

I filled our glass jar about 3/4 of the way full with cool water.

Once we made a fluffy “cloud” on top of the water using shaving cream, we were ready to get to the fun part: making it rain!

I instructed my preschooler to suck up some of the colored water into her pipette and then gently squirt it on top of our shaving cream cloud. She quickly became a pro.

As she squirted more and more water onto the shaving cream, our cloud became heavier and heavier.

Within a few minutes, the first drops of colored rain made their way through the cloud and dropped into the water underneath.

There were cheers of excitement and lots of jumping up and down as we watched the colored water drop down through the clouds!

We continued to saturate the shaving cream clouds with water until they started to deflate and melt down the side of the jar.

My daughter had so much fun, we rinsed out the jar and started all over again with a new rain color!  We had a blast making differently colored rain clouds in a jar.

The Science Behind It

Clouds are formed when water vapor rises into the air and condenses onto tiny particles of dust. When billions of these droplets come together, a visible cloud forms.

Over time, the droplets and crystals that make up a cloud can attract more water to themselves.

When water droplets grow heavy enough, gravity pulls them down as raindrops.

Making a rain cloud in a jar is obviously a simplistic model of how it actually rains, but it gives young children a hands-on visual that is extremely valuable to their learning. Plus, it’s fun!

More Fun for Little Learners

Want more STEM?  Take our 5 Day Challenge to set up STEM centers your students will love and to build a system for teaching STEM in your classroom!

Similar Posts

Build a Snowman Clock

Expanding Ivory Soap Experiment

Mermaid Addition Match Up

Crystal Heart Valentine’s Science Experiment

Straw Bridges

Snowflake Geometry

• Pingback: STEM Activities to do at home with your preschooler
• Pingback: Alphabet Letter R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile
• Pingback: 7 Days Of Creation | PRINTABLE Matching Game - Arrows & Applesauce

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rain Cloud in a Jar Experiment

Hi! I shared this rain cloud in a jar experiment on my Instagram, and thought it would be fun to share it here too! It’s a very easy science experiment and you probably already have everything you need at home!

This rain cloud in a jar activity is such a fun and easy way to see how rain works! To make it more fun, explain what you are going to do, then have your child fill out this Cloud in a Jar worksheet to see if their predictions are correct!

• glass mason jar
• gel food coloring
• shaving cream
• Pipette or eye dropper

DIRECTIONS:

• In a small glass mix gel food coloring and water until it’s the color you want. (We used a few colors just to make it more exciting!)
• Fill a separate glass jar 3/4 of the way with water.
• Fill the rest of the jar with shaving cream.
• Use an eye dropper to drop the colored water on top of the shaving cream.
• Wait and watch as the food coloring goes through the shaving cream, and falls out the bottom much like rain!

HOW CLOUDS WORK:

Clouds are formed when water vapor rises into the air. When the vapor hits cold air, it turns back into droplets of water.  Those tiny drops of water floating in the air collect and “stick” together to form clouds. When clouds get so full of water that they can’t hold any more, the water falls back to the ground as rain!

I hope you enjoy this quick little science experiment! We had a lot of fun watching our cloud rain!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Make a Rain Cloud in a Jar!

Use this hands-on activity to teach children how a cloud fills up with water droplets until rain falls! You and your students will love making a rain cloud in a jar with a few simple supplies. Read on to find out how!

This science experiment is an awesome activity for wrapping up a weather unit or reinforcing a lesson on the water cycle. The idea behind this activity is to demonstrate how a cloud becomes saturated with water droplets until it cannot hold any more moisture, resulting in rain. 

It's super easy to do this activity with your students! You only need a few supplies: a glass jar , a medicine dropper ,  food coloring , and shaving cream . 

Once you have your supplies, fill the glass jar three-quarters of the way full with water. Then add a "cloud" of shaving cream to the top. The fluffier and puffier the cloud, the better! It looks really good if the shaving cream puffs over the top of the jar, like this: 

Now fill a medicine dropper with blue food coloring. (It's easiest to squirt some food coloring into a paper cup or bowl and fill the dropper from there.) Carefully drop food coloring into the cloud of shaving cream. It may take one or two full droppers of food coloring before the cloud becomes "saturated" enough, but when it does, the food coloring will start to rain down from the cloud! 

How cool is that?! We bet your students will love watching the drops of food coloring streak through the water in the jar! 

It's a really quick and simple activity, but the textures and colors in this experiment will grab kids' attention and help reinforce basic rain cloud concepts. 

If you try this activity with your students, we want to know how it goes! Will you leave your feedback for us in the comment section below? We want to hear from you! 

Also, you may want to pair this activity with other awesome cloud and weather worksheets from the Super Teacher Worksheets Weather Page . Our collection is brimming with charts, posters, articles, scavenger hunts, and more!

Now it's your turn. Bring on the rain! 

{{elem.comment}}

Leave a comment

Reply to {{reply.parent_name}}

has over 10,000 printable activities for elementary school teachers.

has interactive online skill practice lessons.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

• Alphabet Worksheets
• Coloring Pages
• Easy Science Experiments
• Nature Crafts
• Nature Books for Kids
• Number Charts
• Number Worksheets
• Printable Flashcards
• Printable Games
• Copyright. Disclosure. Privacy Policy

Cloud in a Jar with Printable Worksheets

Published: Jan 27, 2022 · Modified: Jul 9, 2024 by Julie

• Save for Later!

Kids in pre-K, kindergarten, and elementary school love learning about clouds. Learn how to make your own cloud in a jar with your kids in this step by step tutorial!

There is something fascinating about weather and climate. Maybe its because the weather is always changing. Or because you can easily observe it right outside your window.

I find doing a weather unit study with kids is an easy way to get them excited about learning science.

Making your own cloud in a jar with your kids is a fun way to learn about how clouds form. Hands-on activities are always a hit with kids.

Simple enough to do with preschoolers, yet easy enough to adapt for older children.

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy .

How Clouds Form

Making a cloud in the jar, printable activity sheets, how this experiment works, related posts, how to make a cloud in a jar.

Directions for how to access the free printable pack of worksheets can be found at the bottom of this post.

I actually did this activity with a group of 6th graders during my first year teaching. The kids absolutely loved making their own clouds in jars within small groups.

Each group had their own jar, hot water, and ice. Once they were ready, I went around with the matches.

I vividly remember one child being so excited that they climbed up onto the desk to get a closer look!

Kids enjoy this demonstration so much they often ask for it to be repeated several times. I love how such as simple activity can create so much excitement around learning science!

On a few basic supplies are need many of which you probably already have on hand. Just make sure to have a good supply of matches, so you can repeat the demonstration multiple times.

Glass Jar: contains the cloud as it forms. I used a 24 ounce glass jar , but a recycled pickle or spaghetti sauce jar work great.

Hot Water: about ½ a cup of water warmed up in the microwave (hot, but not boiling)

Match: one match per jar as you will be dropping it inside the warm water.

Metal Lid or Foil: I like to make a bowl shape out of foil, but you can use the cover that comes with the jar. It will be placed upside down on top of the jar to hold the ice and keep the cloud contained.

Ice Cubes: at least 2-4 per jar

Activity Sheet: optional, but a place for your kids to record observations.

Directions for how to access the free clouds in a jar worksheets can be found at the bottom of this post.

For a cloud to form you need small particles in the air along with the cooling of warm moist air.

In nature, particles from fires, blowing soil, and even salt from ocean water move into the air.

When warm air rises in the atmosphere, it begins to cool. The now cold air can not hold as much water vapor as it could when it was warm.

As a result, the water vapor will condense onto those fine particles found in the air.

If you look closely at the jar during the demonstration you can see fog moving down from the top of the jar.

Not only is this activity a great way to explore cloud formation, but to see how cool air sinks. Basically, your kids will be creating a convection current within their jar!

• To learn more about cloud formation, check out Cloud Development by NOAA. Their resource is written for adults, but explains the entire process along with how clouds and precipitation form.
• Along with Convection by the University of Illinois

* Adult supervision is required during all parts of this activity.

First gather all of your supplies and place them on a table.

Next, place the lid upside down on the table next to the jar. Add 2-4 ice cubes into the lid and set it to the side.

You can use a metal lid that comes with the jar or a piece of foil. The goal is to hold the ice along with keeping the air inside the jar. I prefer to use a piece of foil curved into a bowl shape.

Adding the Water

Then place ½ cup of water in a microwave safe container. I used a glass measuring cup. Heat up for 1 minute.

If you do not have a microwave, pour the water into a pot and heat it up on the stove until warm (not boiling).

Once heated, pour the warm water to the glass jar.

Often times, excess condensation will form on the sides of the jar. To remove, simply tilt the jar and swish the warm water around. You want your kids to be able to see what is happening inside.

Aside from the risk of burns, using boiling water will create too much condensation on the sides of the jar.

Adding Smoke Particles

Once you can see inside the jar from the side it is time to light the match!

Now, the goal is to trap as much as the smoke inside the jar before it escapes.

To do this blow out the match then drop it into the jar while it is still smoking. Quickly, place the lid holding the ice on top of the jar.

Within seconds a cloud should begin forming. I like to leave the lid on for about 2-3 minutes before releasing the cloud.

You want to give your kids enough time to observe what is happening inside the jar. If they look closely they can see fog falling down from the lid.

Releasing the Cloud

Now, for the fun part, letting your kids release the cloud. Simply hold the lid with two hands and lift it up and off of the jar.

I love how something so simple can make a magical moment for your kids!

Recording Observations

If recording observations on a worksheet, now is a good time to write a few things down. Another option is to do this twice.

Let your kids just observe the first time, then write down their observations the second time.

• Does the water need to be boiling?

No, hot water works just fine for this experiment. If the water is too hot, excess condensation will form on the jar. Making it hard for your kids to see what is happening.

• Can you use a plastic jar instead of glass?

The experiment should still work, but you want to make sure the plastic does not begin to melt if the water is too hot. Pick a jar that is transparent and not tipsy.

• I don't have any ice, will anything frozen work?

Yes! I actually used a bag of frozen peas as a test and it worked just fine. Again, just make sure the frozen object is not going to fall off the jar.

• We don't have any matches can something else be used instead?

Yes, a quick spray of aerosol hair spray will also work. In the past, I used both hairspray and a match, but really you only need to use one or the other.

Just make sure to spray directly inside the jar if using aerosol hair spray.

• There is too much condensation on my jar. Why is this happening?

Just like how water vapor condenses on dust particles in the air, it will do the same on the surface of the jar.

Try swirling the jar around to clear off some of the condensation before dropping in the match. You can also use a towel to wipe away the water on the surface of the jar.

If this happens it is a great time to discuss why it is happening with your kids!

One of the best things about this science investigation is you really can do this activity with a wide range of kids.

Even as a homeschooling parent with children of different ages, you can all do this experiment together.

Included in the printable pack are three different worksheets.

Related Post: Printable Weather Flashcards for Kids

Basic Activity Sheet

A large jar on the page with lots of room for your little one to draw their observation.

Labels including: hot water, ice, condensation, water droplets, and cloud can be added to their illustrations. A great basic worksheet to use with kids.

Detailed Activity Sheet

Room for your kids to write the question they are going to explore. Along with spaces to write out the materials and safety.

This page also has room to draw observations within the jar. Plus a spot to record written observations

Worksheet with Further Questions

Pair this page with some research about how clouds form. Children's books about weather are a great place to start. Many can also be found at your local library.

Kids love looking through The Cloud Book . Large real life photographs of clouds and different optical events in the sky.

The Great Big Water Cycle Adventure is a beautifully illustrated story that explains how water moves through the water cycle.

There is so much to be learned from reading a few good books with your kids. Let this sheet guide their research after they conduct the investigation.

As the warm moist air rises in the jar, it cools once it reaches the top of the jar where the ice is placed.

In order for a cloud to form within your jar, you need to add some particles into the air.

Aerosol hairspray is often used along with a freshly blown out match.

I've used both and have found that even a smoking match without hairspray adds enough particles into the air for a cloud to form.

Warm water in the bottom of the jar provides the warm air and moisture. While the cold ice cubes on top of the jar will cool the air as it rises.

As moist warm air rises, it comes into contact with the cold ice, it cools and becomes supersaturated. Basically, it can not hold onto as much water vapor as it did when it was warmer.

The smoking match added the particles into the air. While the ice on the top of the jar made a cold patch which cooled down the warm moist air.

At the same time, the water vapor in the air also comes into contact with the smoke particles within the jar.

If you look closely at your jar when the lid is still on, you should be able to see fog moving down from the lid within the jar.

It is really fascinating for kids to see!

Along with cloud formation you can easily talk about why cold air sinks and warm air rises. Or even how water travels through the water cycle .

So much fun science topics to explore with one hands-on activity!

• Types of Clouds Activities and Worksheets
• Cloud and Storm Coloring Pages
• Water Cycle Coloring Pages

Don't forget to get the copies of the worksheets below!

Set of Cloud in a Jar activity sheets in PDF format!

Make your own cloud in a jar using simple household materials! Perfect for kids in pre K through 6th grade.

• ½ Cup of Water
• 2-4 Ice Cubes
• Metal Lid or Piece of Foil
• Container to heat up water
• Microwave or Stove Top
• ½ Cup Measuring Cup

Instructions

• Place empty glass jar, matches, lid or foil, and ice cubes on a table.
• If using foil instead of a lid, make it into a bowl shape to hold ice cubes.
• Add 2-4 ice cubes to the upside down lid or bowl made out of foil. Place to side.
• Heat up ½ cup of water in a microwave safe container for 1 minute. You can also heat up water using a stove top and a pot.
• Carefully, pour warm water (not boiling) into the empty glass jar.
• Light a match above the opening of the jar. Then blow it out.
• While the match is still smoking, drop it into the jar. (You want to capture the smoke particles within the jar)
• Quickly, place the lid or foil holding the ice cubes over the jar.
• Watch and wait 1-2 minutes.
• When ready, lift off the lid to release the cloud.

*Adult supervision is required for all steps of this experiment.*

For best results, use warm water not boiling. Sometimes the sides of the jar contain too much condensation once you add the warm water. To fix this, swish the warm water around within the jar to remove the condensation.

To repeat the experiment, dump out the water with the match and re-fill with freshly warmed water.

If you do not have any matches, an aerosol based hair spray can be used instead. Simply, add one quick spray into the jar of warm water before adding the lid with ice.

More Easy Science Experiments

Reader Interactions

January 27, 2022 at 10:07 am

This is a great exercise to teach children (and adults - ahem*) about cloud formation. Great activity, thanks for sharing!

January 31, 2022 at 10:35 am

Yes! Great for adults and kids 🙂

January 27, 2022 at 10:16 am

I love how creative you are. It’s nice to give kids a project, versus watching tv. I always forward your posts to my best friend. Her kids always enjoy the printable’s and projects.

Thank you for your kind words Allie! I'm so happy to hear that she is enjoying the resources (and thank you for sharing them!)

January 27, 2022 at 5:59 pm

This is so interesting! I don't have any kids, but I still want to try it 🙂 Thank you for sharing!

January 28, 2022 at 9:31 am

You should it is really easy and fun even for adults!

August 22, 2022 at 6:04 pm

Wonderful experiment Julie, I love it and can't wait to do this with my kids! Thank you for the thorough resource.

August 22, 2022 at 7:53 pm

Your very welcome Jamie! I hope you and your kids have fun conducing the experiment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Fun with Mama

Toddler and preschool activities

Written by Nadia T • Feb 7, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Rain Cloud In A Jar Science Experiment

Have you ever tried the rain cloud in a jar science experiment that uses shaving cream, food coloring and water? It is such an easy science experiment that truly looks like art! While we didn’t do the experiment in a jar, but rather a plastic glass… the effect was the same (and likely even more pretty!) This activity is a part of our 90+ Indoor activities for kids

Rain Cloud In A Jar

We are constantly doing science experiments at home (see Easy Science Experiments For Preschoolers ),

So many activities can be done just by using water mixed with food coloring like the Color Mixing Water Activity For Kids and the walking water experiment too.

The rain cloud in a jar explains to a child more about the weather/water cycle… The ‘cloud’ holds water until it can no longer do so… All the droplets of water add up to the point where the cloud eventually releases it and this turns into ‘rain’

Here is a quick video:

All you need to do the rain cloud in a jar activity is:

• Glass or jar
• Food coloring (you can use just one color but I chose to use multiple colors)
• Jars, bowls or test tubes for the food color mixed with water. ( I am using this one )
• Foaming Shaving cream
• Pipettes or food droppers. ( This is the one I am using here .)

I have included a video of the activity here:

Here is a step by step tutorial:

First you mix your water color with your selected food colors.

Then add a good amount of shaving cream to each jar or glass. This part can be tough for kids … you can have your children try to do this first (when you are working with older children) or mom/teacher can do this part.

I suggest you include a thicker layer of shaving cream, I was having a bit of shaving cream malfunction here. (haha! But it still worked.)

Then have your children drop the food coloring on top of the shaving cream.

Observe what happens.

If you use just blue and green, this would be great as an earth day activity.

But I think the hot pink is absolutely beautiful in there!

It is about a 5-10 minute activity that the kids will love!

Pair the rain cloud in a jar activity with the Exploring Ocean Layers Science Activity for Kids .

Do your kids love playing with shaving cream? Then check out the  Shaving Cream Painting Process Art for Preschoolers activity.

Our next activity is going to be a condensation cloud activity to build upon this activity.

Nadia is a mom of 4, with a passion for making childhood education fun through play. She encourages parents to spend quality time with their kids through fun kids activities and enjoys art, traveling, and doing activities with her children.

View all posts from this author

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

Get easy and instant access to ALL of our printable activities and resources by joining the Fun With Mama printables club.

Get all the details and join here.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Have you grabbed the latest FREE printables?

Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →

Shaving Cream Rain Clouds

Explore weather science with this quick and easy cloud activity for preschool and kindergarten. Find out how to make a visual model of a rain cloud with shaving cream that is perfect for young kiddos. Great for a Spring weather theme or home science activity, making a rain cloud is a fantastic preschool science experiment !

Enjoy A Cloud Activity For Earth and Weather Science

Studying weather and experimenting with a foam rain cloud is a fantastic way to introduce kids to Earth Science. Earth Science includes the atmosphere , hydrosphere , geosphere , and biosphere . Weather deals with the day-to-day changes in the atmosphere that directly impact our lives. Should I take a rain jacket to the playground or not?

Here are some good ideas to add to your foam rain cloud activity!

Water Cycle: The foam rain cloud experiment helps kids grasp the water cycle concept, a super important part of life on Earth. The water cycle describes how water moves between the atmosphere, land, and oceans through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Creating a foam rain cloud allows kids to represent and understand how clouds form and produce rain visually. You can also create a water cycle in a bag !

Cloud Formation: Clouds are essential elements of weather. As a result, by experimenting with a foam rain cloud, you can discuss different kinds of clouds. Our cloud viewer project has visuals!

Precipitation Types: The foam rain cloud experiment introduces kids to different types of precipitation, including rain. But what else falls from the sky? Snow, sleet, and hail are all forms of precipitation.

Real-World Weather: Weather affects our daily lives, from what you decide to wear for the day or the activities you plan to do! Learning about weather through hands-on experiments helps kids connect scientific concepts with real-world experiences! Add this free printable weather tracker to the project.

How To Do Science Experiments At Home

Science learning starts early, and you can be a part of that with setting up science at home with everyday materials. Or you can bring easy science experiments to a group of kids in the classroom!

We find a ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments. All our science experiments use inexpensive, everyday materials you can find at home or from your local dollar store.

We even have a whole list of kitchen science experiments , using basic supplies you will have in your kitchen.

You can set up your science experiments as an activity focusing on exploration and discovery. Make sure to ask kids questions at each step, discuss what is happening, and discuss the science behind it.

Alternatively, you can introduce the scientific method, get kids to record their observations, and make conclusions. Read more about the  scientific method for kids   to help you get started.

Even though the scientific method feels like it is just for big kids…

This method can be used with kids of all ages! Have a casual conversation with younger kiddos, or do a more formal science notebook entry with older kiddos!

What Is A Rain Cloud?

This rain cloud model is an easy weather activity for Spring science and a great way to show how clouds hold water until they can no longer hold it, and then it rains!

The shaving cream is a picture of a cloud, which isn’t really light and fluffy like we imagine. Instead, clouds form from water vapor (think of steam coming from a kettle) coming together in the atmosphere.

Adding drops to the shaving cream is like more water vapor coming together in a cloud. In the atmosphere , when water vapor cools, it turns into liquid water, the rain cloud becomes heavy, and it rains. Similarly, our drops of colored water make the rain cloud “heavy,” and it rains!

Get your FREE Weather Science Worksheet Pack!

Shaving Cream Cloud Experiment

Let’s get right to our simple rain cloud model and find out how clouds form rain. Alternatively, you can try this sponge rain cloud method as well.

• jar filled with water
• shaving cream
• liquid food coloring
• an extra bowl to mix the colored rainwater

Instructions:

STEP 1:  Squirt a nice fluffy, puffy shaving cream rain cloud on top of the water in your vase or jar. We made a huge rain cloud.

STEP 2:  Mix up a separate bowl of blue tinted water. I heavily tinted it blue so we could see our rain cloud in action. Choose whatever colors you want to try for your cloud.

STEP 3  Use the eyedropper to squeeze the colored water into the shaving cream cloud. In the above picture, you can see the bottom of the cloud is quite full of our rain.

STEP 4:  Keep adding rainwater to your cloud and watch the storm take shape!

More Fun Weather Activities

Introduce your kids to fun ways to explore the weather with the various weather activities below.

• Tornado in a Bottle
• Cloud In A Jar
• Making Rainbows
• Water Cycle in a Bag
• Make A Cloud Viewer
• Make an Anemometer
• Weather Playdough Mats

Helpful Science Resources

Here are a few resources to help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids

Printable Weather Activities Pack

If you’re looking to have all of your printable activities in one convenient place, plus exclusive worksheets with a spring theme, our 300+ page Spring STEM Project Pack is what you need!

Weather , geology, plants, animal life cycles, and more!

14 Comments

Wow! What a brilliant idea! My toddler will be so amazed by this 🙂 Sharing on fb and pinning!!

I absolutely love this idea! Would it be ok if I used one of these pictures for a school project? It will go up on a website for a hypothetical children’s STEAM library program about weather. I will give you credit, of course!

Yes, that’s fine. Glad you like the idea. If it is going to be published on the internet, please add a link to this post! Thanks.

I was planning on doing so. Thank you very much!

Your welcome!

• Pingback: Spring Into STEM: 15 Science Activities For Kids | Bear Hugs And Blanket Forts
• Pingback: Preschool Science Experiments and Science Activities
• Pingback: 14 Rain Related Crafts & Activities For Kids - Mama to 6 Blessings
• Pingback: Weather Theme - 123 Homeschool 4 Me
• Pingback: 25 Spring Science Experiments for Kids
• Pingback: 50 Spring Break STEM Activities for Kids
• Pingback: Spring STEM Activities For Kids | Little Bins for Little Hands

Is there a book that anyone has used to go along with this lesson?

This series of science books has always been a favorite: affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2LiQlWn

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide

~ projects to try now ~.

Shaving Cream Rain Clouds STEM Investigation & Printable

Preschool STEM is all about exploring scientific concepts safely and beginning to understand the scientific method. In this shaving cream rain clouds activity , preschoolers explore the basics of rain clouds and why rain happens when clouds get filled with water.

Recommended Grade Level:

Kindergarten

• Supply List
• Coordinating Activities

Rain Cloud STEM Investigation Supplies:

• Shaving Cream
• Food Coloring

The printable worksheet is the perfect addition to round out this classic science experiment. The activity will keep kids fascinated over and over again, and teaches a lot about the scientific method, making a hypothesis, making an experiment, analyzing data, and recording results.

You can have children draw to fill in the worksheet or let them write their answers in. Kids will love repeating this activity, which makes it ideal for use in science centers and for independent learning stations. Use this activity alongside any weather studies in your classroom .

Little science lovers will love this fun STEM investigation on rain clouds . Best of all, kids can do this experiment alone in a science center, or as a group!

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THE RAIN CLOUD STEM INVESTIGATION

• Crayons or Writing Utensils

Shaving Cream Rain Clouds STEM Investigation Steps

Fill a jar about 2/3 of the way with clear water.

Fill the rest of the jar up with shaving cream. This is the “cloud.”

Tell kids a bit about the water cycle and how clouds are collections of water evaporated from the earth.

When the clouds get too heavy, the water falls back to earth.

In this STEM activity, kids can find out about the capacity of clouds and watch their very own cloud rain.

Color some water with blue food coloring.

Drop the water one drop at a time into the jar using a pipette.

Have the kids count how many drops it takes until the water fills up the shaving cream rain clouds and falls to the jar below.

In our experiment, it took 100 drops before the water broke through the cloud and started to rain.

Do you love this activity?

Pin it for later!

join the newsletter & Get your free activity

Get your rain cloud experiment activity now, already a subscriber no worries. just enter your email here to have the activity sent directly to your inbox., more activities you’ll love:.

No Leak Magic Bag Science Experiment for Kids

Easy, Exciting Skittles Rainbow Experiment for Kids

Rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment for Kids

Exciting Baking Soda & Vinegar Easter Egg Science Experiment

Snow Volcano Winter Science Activities for Preschoolers

Apple Volcano Preschool Science Experiment

Soda and Pop Rocks Easy Science Experiments for Young Kids

Rainbow Soda and Mentos Science Project for Kids

Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiment for Preschoolers

Fizzing Ice Experiment: Science for Kids

Snow Volcano Science Experiment

Magic Milk Science Experiment

Search all activities.

Looking for more? Find exactly what you need here:

Find Coordinating Resources

Kim Staten is a mother of four children ages 20, 19, 16, and 12. Kim has taught at the preschool, kindergarten and early elementary levels for 16 years. With extensive experience working with special needs children, including her own children with special needs (Rett Syndrome, autism, anxiety, and ADHD), she creates hands-on curricula and activities that are great for working with children of all abilities in the classroom and at home. Hands-on, accessible activities are her passion. 

Similar Posts

LEGO STEM Challenge Cards

Free Printable Blends Word Building Activity

Easy New Years Eve Slime for Kids

Gingerbread Emotions Mini Book

DIY Sensory Balloons Calm Down Toys for Kids

FREE Valentine Printable Sight Word Hearts in a Sensory Bin

One comment.

Having a birthday and a new printable all in a single day! There’s no point in asking aren’t you supposed to have fun on your birthday. Working on a new printable is fun. Many happy returns of the day. Many new fun printables, too.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save 10% off your first order with us when you join our list Join Now

The Playful Parent

PLAY, LEARN, GROW

RAIN CLOUD IN A JAR EXPERIMENT: PLAYFUL SCIENCE

Just the other day my oldest son who’s almost six started asking a lot of questions about the weather. He especially was very interested in understanding why it rains. I thought it would be a lot easier and much more fun to show him than to just tell him. Making a rain cloud in a jar is a great hands-on activity for kids that gives a visual understanding to this basic earth science concept of how rain clouds form and why it rains.

LEARNING ABOUT THE RAIN CYCLE

• Clouds form when water vapor rises into the air. Once billions of these droplets come together, a visible cloud forms.
• Over time, the droplets and crystals begin to grow heavy, so heavy that gravity pulls the droplets down as raindrops.

We enjoyed reading books, watching videos and even coloring in worksheets to really help the concept sink in. Recommended books include A Wild Ride on the Water Cycle  by Anthony Yanez and Down Comes Rain by Franklin M. The  Magic School Bus Water Cycle episode  was informative and fun. We also enjoyed making the Water Cycle Circle by Kindergarten Mom.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• 1 Can of Shaving Cream
• Liquid Food Dye
• Clear Container (Plastic Cup or Glass Jar)

HOW IT WORKS

• Next, add shaving cream to the top of the water. I had my kids do this part too. (This will be the clouds . )

• The last part is the fun part! Sit back and watch the rain pour down. As your cloud fills up, the food coloring will fall down into the water creating a raining effect. My boys enjoyed this rain in a jar experiment so much that we repeated this activity a bunch of times using different colors: purple, orange, pink, etc.

Share this:

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Powered by WordPress.com .

Discover more from The Playful Parent

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Fun Rain Cloud in Jar Science Experiment

Have you ever wanted to play with the clouds? This fun rain cloud in jar science experiment will give you and your children the chance to do just that — at least in part.

These shaving cream rain clouds will get your children excited about weather science and leave them wanting more! This is the perfect introduction or conclusion to your science unit on weather, storms, the water cycle, or ecosystems.

>> See the other weather activities for kids here.

This rain cloud in a jar experiment is super simple and super easy. And the result is amazing! So it will capture the attention of both younger and older children. So before we go into how to make a rain cloud in a jar, let’s go over some resources you may want, to take advantage of your children’s new interest in weather.

As much as thunderstorms might be a little scary, rain can be soothing and fascinating. There’s nothing like a good rain shower to clean out the air and make the world feel clean and new again. Get up close and personal with a cloudburst with these shaving cream rain clouds! Let’s get started.

This post may contain affiliate links meaning I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

See a list of my favorite Amazon Deals for your home and homeschool.

Recommended Weather Books for Kids

There’s nothing like a good book to help kids learn. And these are some of our favorites for teaching about weather and rain. Follow along with National Geographic’s fantastic lineup of education books for kids, or try one of the cute stories on rainy weather, rainbows, and having fun in the rain. What will be on your list today?

Recommended Educational Weather Kits

If you’re looking for a fun and educational way to teach your kids about the weather, these toys are perfect for that purpose! Get one of these hands-on and engaging activity kits for your kids and see for yourself that they will love it!

Supplies for Rain Cloud Experiment

You’ll need a large jar for this experiment. We like mason jars, but an old spaghetti sauce or cheese spread jar would work just fine. For best results, get a quart-size or bigger jar.

You’ll also need some shaving cream and, of course, blue food coloring.

How to Make a Rain Cloud in a Jar

Ready to create the rain cloud in a jar science experiment? Let’s get started!

This experiment is actually easy to do. First, fill your jar with water, leaving only about an inch between the surface of the water and the edge of the jar.

Then spray some of the shaving foam onto the top. You’ll want enough to stick up above the jar.

Then comes the fun part. Let your kids drip some food coloring directly onto the shaving cream and watch what happens!

Watch as the magic happens for 5 minutes. Have fun with your shaving cream rain clouds!

How Clouds Make Rain

Much like our experimental shaving cream floating on the water, clouds float in the atmosphere. Clouds are, essentially, made of vaporized water droplets that have collected together, with tiny particles of dust. The water condenses slightly around the dust, and those tiny droplets stick together.

Clouds are pretty much steam or fog banks, up in the sky where they belong. So no, unfortunately, you can’t walk, sit or lay down on a cloud, no matter how fluffy it looks.

Clouds attract more and more water, which condenses and collects inside the cloud. As it condenses, it sticks together and forms bigger droplets. Eventually, those droplets become too heavy to stay floating in the air, and they fall to the earth in rain, snow, sleet, hail, ice pellets, or other precipitation.

In our experiment, the food coloring is heavier than the shaving cream. So it seeps through the cream and “falls” into the water the shaving cream is floating on. The color looks like “rain” droplets and creates interesting patterns as more food coloring drips into the water.

This Fun Rain Cloud in Jar Science Experiment is a great way to introduce children to the wonders of science. Kids of all ages can enjoy creating their own mini-rain cloud and learning the basics of how clouds form.

• 1-quart sized jar
• Enough water to fill the jar
• Foam shaving cream
• Blue food coloring

Instructions

• Fill up the jar with water, but leave about an inch of space at the top
• Fill in the space you left with a layer of shaving cream. Don't add too thick a layer, or the food coloring won't make it through quickly.
• Drop several drops of food coloring onto the shaving cream.
• Sit back and watch the food coloring release into the water!
• Observe the water for about 5 minutes to see the changes taking place.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

With just a few simple materials and a little bit of water, kids can have hours of fun experimenting and creating rain clouds that appear almost magically at the touch of a button.

Not only is this experiment educational, but it’s also an engaging way for kids to learn about physical phenomena in a safe environment. It’s a perfect activity for curious minds who want to explore science!

If you’re looking for fun spring activities that elementary students will love, this  Spring Activities for Elementary Students  is the perfect list.

More Weather Activities

Rainy Day Activities for Kids

Weather Worksheets for Kids

Weather Coloring Pages

Extreme Weather Activities for Kids

Rain Activities for Preschoolers

Weather Sensory Activities

These sensory activities are perfect for little learners who are learning about the different types of weather.

Weather STEM Activities

Do you want a more fun and engaging approach? Try these weather STEM activities!

Cloud Activities for Kids

Weather Tracing Worksheets

Weather Activities for Preschoolers

Weather Crafts for Kids

Weather Games for Kids

Type of Clouds Activity with Cotton Balls

Weather Books for Kindergarteners

Water Cycle Bag Experiment

Weather Chart Printable

Water Cycle Worksheets for Kids

Simple Weather Science Experiments for Kids by STEAMsational

Weather Popsicle Stick Craft by Homeschool Preschool

I share educational printables and activities to help homeschoolers make learning science fun and engaging!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Make a Rain Cloud in a Cup with a Free Printable

This is a fun experiment, materials needed:.

• shaving cream
• a clear cup

Directions:

• Fill the cup with 3/4 full of cold water
• Spray shaving cream on top
• Sprinkle a few drops of food coloring 

Questions to ask students:

Background information for the teacher:.

You may also like the other foldable graphic organizers I have in my Super Pack   Click Here for Super Pack of Foldable Graphic Organizers

Please follow this blog by clicking the g+follow button or the follow by email button. I appreciate all of your reposts on social media: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.  

You may also like: pop-out and pop-up templates  .

You might also like...

Get to Know You Activity

STEM Movies in the Classroom

Essential Tips for Masterfully Organizing Your Classroom at Year-End

Fast Finisher Activities

Browse the blog.

feeling Social?

Get teaching tips, resources, and freebies delivered right to your inbox.

Try this free 5 E Lesson on Flower Dissection when you join my newsletter.

Make a Rain Cloud Science Experiment Worksheet | Fun Activity for Spring!

Description

Do you need a fun science activity for spring?

This Let's Make Rain Clouds Science Experiment Worksheet is a great science activity for kids!

Low-prep and minimal supplies! You will only need a clear glass, white shaving cream, water, and blue food coloring.

• Step-By-Step Instructions
• Supply List
• Some of the Science Behind It
• 4 Different Worksheet Options

Want More Activity Ideas?

✨ Save Money with this 17-Day Spring School Activity Bundle!

Thank you for stopping by! Make sure to click the STAR on my shop page to get notified when I upload new products. All new printables (except bundles, activity packs, and activity pack items) are 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!

Please feel free to reach out with any questions. If you feel like leaving behind a rating and/or review, I'd be so appreciative!

PS: You'll be rewarded with credits from TPT when you review products you paid for - and those credits can be used on future purchases!

Let's get social! You can follow me here ---> Instagram - Facebook - Pinterest

Questions & Answers

The seasonal homeschool.

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think

• Science Notes Posts
• Contact Science Notes
• Todd Helmenstine Biography
• Anne Helmenstine Biography
• Free Printable Periodic Tables (PDF and PNG)
• Periodic Table Wallpapers
• Interactive Periodic Table
• Periodic Table Posters
• Science Experiments for Kids
• How to Grow Crystals
• Chemistry Projects
• Fire and Flames Projects
• Holiday Science
• Chemistry Problems With Answers
• Physics Problems
• Unit Conversion Example Problems
• Chemistry Worksheets
• Biology Worksheets
• Periodic Table Worksheets
• Physical Science Worksheets
• Science Lab Worksheets
• My Amazon Books

Shaving Cream Rain Clouds Science Experiment

Shaving cream rain clouds are a funny and easy science project that illustrates key science concepts, such as density, mixing, and how clouds work. Once you master the basics, turn the project into a science experiment by tweaking the materials and methods.

All you need are a few basic materials from home:

• Shaving cream
• Food coloring
• Glass or jar

Let’s Make Shaving Cream Clouds!

• Fill the glass mostly full of cold water. Why use cold water? The reason is because warmer water more readily degrades the shaving cream and also disperses the food coloring.
• Dispense a “cloud” of shaving cream on top of the water. Don’t make the layer too think or else the food coloring won’t make it all the way to the water.
• Add drops of food coloring to the top of the clouds. Blue is the traditional color for rain, but you can explore color theory if you get creative.
• Watch as the food coloring “rain” falls from the shaving cream “cloud”.

The Science Behind Shaving Cream Rain Clouds

Shaving cream floats on water because it has a lower density than water. Similarly, clouds float in the atmosphere, even though the average cumulus cloud weighs over one million pounds. It hardly seems possible that a cloud doesn’t just sink to the ground! Keep two facts in mind. First, clouds are huge, so they rest on top of a gigantic air column. Second, clouds kind of do fall, when you think about it.

When a nimbus cloud (the type of cloud that produces precipitation ) holds more water than the air can support, the excess falls as rain, snow, or sometimes hail. Similarly, when you drip food coloring onto shaving cream, it is heavier than the foam and falls through the fake cloud. Eventually it enters the water (the “atmosphere” in this project).

The food coloring consists of pigment and water. It readily mixes with the water. If two different colored drops come into contact or mix together in the water, you get new colors.

Turn the Science Project Into a Science Experiment

Performing the shaving cream rain clouds project fulfills the first step of the scientific method , which is making observations. From your observations, think of things you can change about the project and make a prediction about the effect of this change. In other words, form a hypothesis and conduct an experiment that tests this hypothesis. Finally, evaluate the results of your experiment and decide whether you accept or reject your hypothesis. Often, this process gives you ideas for new experiments.

Here are some ideas:

• Examine the effect of water temperature on cloud stability and “rain” formation.
• Can you replace the shaving cream with another material? Examples might include whipped cream or egg whites.
• What happens if you introduce another layer between the water and shaving cream? For example, do you get “rain” if there is a thin layer of vegetable oil on top of the water? (Hint: This is the basis for the fireworks in a glass project.)
• What happens if you use paint, colored sugar, or ink instead of food coloring?
• Does changing the size or shape of the container affect the outcome?
• Predict what happens if you replace water with another liquid, such as oil or milk.
• Burroughs, William James; Crowder, Bob (2007).  Weather . San Francisco: Fog City Press. ISBN 978-1-74089-579-8.
• Freud, E.; Rosenfeld, D. (2012). “Linear relation between convective cloud drop number concentration and depth for rain initiation”.  Journal of Geophysical Research . 117 (D2). doi: 10.1029/2011JD016457
• Jaramillo, A.; Mesa, O. (June 19, 2017). “On the relative density of clouds.”  Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meterological Society . Vol. 144; Iss. 707, pp. 2650-2653. doi: 10.1002/qj.3099
• Young, Hugh D.; Freedman, Roger A. (2012).  University Physics with Modern Physics . ISBN 978-0-321-69686-1.

Related Posts