Rain Cloud in a Jar Preschool Science Experiment
Doing a Rain Cloud in a Jar Experiment is perfect for preschool and Kindergarten science. This weather science experiment gives your children a chance to explore clouds and rain with hands-on activities.
Rain Cloud Experiment
Rain Cloud in a Jar Experiment
Do you want to teach your preschooler about the weather and the water cycle in a fun and creative way? Look no further! The rain cloud in a jar science experiment is an easy, interactive activity that will have your little one learning all about how clouds work. With just a few basic materials, you can show them how clouds form and why it rains. Get ready for some educational fun!
Simple Science experiments are the best to do with preschool and Kindergarten age children, but the best thing about easy hands-on learning is it can be expanded to meet the age of your children.
Read a few weather books
As you explain about this activity let your child know:
1. Water is the Air
2. The Shaving Cream is the Cloud, and the Vapor
3. Food Coloring is the Water Droplets
4. Get ready for the rain
Preschool and Kindergarten Science Experiments
My kids love this rain cloud in a jar experiment.
Rain Cloud Science Activity
What you will need to make your rain cloud experiment is in the picture below. However, I have it displayed in a recipe list form to print out toward the bottom of the page. Have Fun!
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So now you see, for this science experiment, you only need a few items that you probably already have in your home or classroom. Shaving cream, food coloring, and a glass jar or clear cup will do.
The kids will love watching as the color slowly diffuses into the cloud. You can talk about how this is similar to when the sun evaporates water from oceans, lakes, and rivers into clouds. Finally, watch in amazement as the rain starts to form at the bottom of the jar!
This is a great way to explain the water cycle and how it all begins with clouds.
Have your kids fill their pipettes or droppers with the colored water and squeeze it onto their cloud.
Let’s talk about 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 water, the water falls back to the ground as raindrops.
As your cloud fills up, the food coloring will fall into the water creating a rain-like effect.
The Rain Cloud in a Jar experiment is a great way for children to visualize the water and cloud cycle. My kids love doing this activity, and I hope yours do too.
Preschool Science Experiment
The rain cloud in a jar experiment will surely be a hit with kids of all ages. It’s an easy, fun way to teach preschoolers about weather and science engagingly and interactively.
Have fun exploring the wonders of nature together!
Grab Your Free Printable Below
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR RAIN CLOUD SCIENCE PRINTABLE
Preschool Science Experiments
Studies have shown that you will also love the following ideas if you like them. I have pulled them together for you right here!
Magic Milk Science Experiment
Ocean Science Experiments
Flower Science Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten
Rain Cloud Experiment
Materials:
- Glass jar or clear container you can see through
- Food coloring or liquid watercolors
- Dropper
- Small cups
- Water
- Shaving cream
Instructions:
- Begin by filling your jar or
see through container almost all of the way to the top with water. - Layer shaving cream on top of the water to the top of the jar or container.
- Fill some small cups up with water. If you are using liquid watercolors, you can pour them directly into the small cups instead.
- Place a few drops of food coloring into each of the small cups of water and stir. Again, if you are using liquid watercolors, you can skip this step. Alternatively, you can drip the food coloring directly onto the top of the shaving cream without diluting it in water, but it will seep through much faster, and the colors will muddle together quickly, not allowing you to get the whole effect for long.
- Using an eye dropper, have your child add drops of food coloring/colored water to the top of the shaving cream cloud.
- Watch as the colors seep down through the “clouds” and begin to
rain into the jar.