My Weather Predictions – Clouds and Weather Patterns

For this outdoor science investigation your students will become weather forecasters using only the clouds! Different kinds of clouds can give us a very good indication as to what weather is likely to follow. Your students will keep a record of the cloud types as well as the weather which follows for a few days / week before analysing their data to see if they can spot any patterns between the cloud types and the type of weather which follows.

This investigation is great if you’re looking at weather, forecasting, pattern spotting, and investigation skills. Before you start the investigation, explain that before modern weather forecasts many people would depend on their knowledge of the clouds to predict the weather and help to keep them safe.

Get the students to complete the table, recording the cloud types and the weather in the following days.

Once they’ve done this for a good amount of time (9 or 10 days) they can then look at their data and see if they can spot any relationships between the cloud types and the weather which followed.

Once they’ve analysed their data they can complete the investigation evaluation questions.

Extension - Get them to complete the research sheet to see if their results were correct.

Before you get the students to do their diary, it’s worth looking at the weather forecast to try and choose a period with varied weather.

Please don’t forget to rate this resource to let us know what you think.

Also be sure to visit my store and FOLLOW ME to see my new products and hear about upcoming sales!