19 Jun How to Make Rain in a Jar

Along with our reading of the books“Storm in the Night“ and “Thunder Cake,” we are studying weather.  Weather is a fantastic subject to learn about in the younger grades for several reasons. First of all, it’s something that kids can observe and document every single day. Weather will spark their interest because it is ever-changing and sometimes dramatic. It’s also a great way to encourage curiosity and a fascination in the beauty of nature and science.

We’ve been working hard, learning how to read a thermometer, learning how to identify the different types of clouds, and beginning to learn about the water cycle.  In order to demonstrate the water cycle to my very visual son, I have several little experiments planned to get him involved and interested.

Rain in a Jar

Our first experiment was to make rain in a jar. This experiment shows how clouds become heavy with moisture and how the moisture begins to fall, resulting in rain. We filled a glass with water 3/4 the way full and topped it off with a huge dollop of shaving cream.  For those wishing to replicate the experiment, the massive dollop is fun, but not very functional. My advice would be to go easy on the shaving cream.  I would suggest just making it a thin layer so that the next step will be a little quicker for impatient and inquiring minds.

Clark then began adding “moisture” or droplets of food coloring.  Because of the thickness of our “cloud,” we had to REALLY soak that “cloud!” Once we realized our shaving cream dollop was a little too thick, we changed from droplets to big ol’ squirts of food coloring. Clark was very interested in this project and without prompting, knew that the food coloring was going to fall through the clouds. He kept looking for it with each squirt.

FINALLY!

After using the majority of the bottle of food coloring – it seeped through! Clark decided it wasn’t raining, but it was POURING!  After all of the food coloring we had added, I think he was right!

It was actually kind of fun to watch. Once Clark was done, little sister Luci, wanted a turn, so we used some red food coloring and went through the same steps with her… until I had to quickly jump in to avoid food coloring everywhere (amidst shouts of “I DO IT BY MYSELF!!!“).

The Timing Was Fabulous!

The timing was fabulous. We no sooner finished and began to clean up, than powerful gusts of wind sprung up and the clouds darkened. Within 10 minutes it went from being hot and sunny to pouring rain outside! I had Clark describe the clouds to me as it was happening. In the middle of it, he decided to he needed to try out his umbrella for the first time. So he stood out in the rain with his umbrella, as pleased as could be and enjoyed the rain.

As I put Clark to sleep tonight I asked him, as I always do, “What was the best part of your day?” “Standing in the rain with my umbrella,” he responded. It’s the simple things…