Lesson

Title/Focus

Types of Clouds

Date

November 13, 2014

Subject/Gra
de Level

Science Grade 5

Time
Duratio
n

45 min. (12:45pm1:30pm)

Unit

Topic D: Weather Watch

Teacher

Kim Silcox

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

General
Learning
Outcomes:
Specific
Learning
Outcomes:

5.8 Observe, describe and interpret weather phenomena; and relate weather to the
heating and cooling of Earths surface.
5.8.8 Identify some common types of clouds and relate them to weather
patterns.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
1. Identify and be able to recognize different types of clouds.
2. Identify the weather associated with different types of clouds.
3. Describe characteristics of different clouds.

ASSESSMENTS
Observations:
Key Questions:

Products/Performan
ces:

Group discussions

What are the different types of clouds? What weather is associated

with the different types of clouds? What distinguishes one types of
cloud from another? Can you predict the weather from different
types of clouds? What do the names of clouds mean?
Presentation/poster that displays the group knowledge of one
particular cloud type; comparison chart

LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED

Science Technology Weather Addison Wesley
Teachers Guide and Student Book
http://www.bsu.edu/eft/brackish/p/cloudsdoc.pdf
Edmonton Public - Weather Watch - Grade 5
https://www.youtube.com

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Weather books
Cue cards
Cloud Chart (on powerpoint and printed
for each student)
11 x 17 paper
Markers
Cloud PowerPoint
YouYube Videos

PROCEDURE
Prior to lesson

Attention Grabber
Assessment of
Prior Knowledge
Expectations for
Learning and
Behaviour

Load YouTube videos and bring up PowerPoint slides on the SMART

board; create cue cards with different shapes/colors to form groups;
set out weather books on table.
Introduction
Time
Have numerous weather/cloud related books set out on the
horseshoe table to grab students attention and immediately
get them thinking about the topic of todays lesson.
12:45pm
Review previous lesson content about what a cloud is, why it
12:47pm
forms and how it forms. Review the composition of clouds.
(2 min.)
Students will follow the classroom expectations and know the
discipline procedures that exist should they fail to do so.
Students will be expected to work respectfully with a group and
will all participate and contribute to the group they are a part
of.

Advance
Organizer/Agenda

Transition to Body

Learning Activity
#1

Teacher Notes:
Assessments/
Differentiation

Learning Activity
#2

Teacher Notes:
Assessments/
Differentiation

Learning Activity
#3

Teacher Notes:
Assessments/
Differentiation

Consolidation of
Learning:

1. Review cloud composition

2. Group work/Cloud type research
3. Present research findings
4. Complete Cloud Chart
5. PowerPoint/video review
Introduce the idea that there are different types of clouds.
Watch the following video that introduces the main types of
clouds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pV4hcZgklE
Body
Group Work Become an expert on a type of cloud
Students will be divided into groups of 2-3 and each group will
be assigned one of three main types of clouds (cumulus, cirrus,
stratus). Each student will pick up a cue card that has a colored
shape on it. The groups are formed by grouping together the
students that have matching cards. Teacher will assign each
group their cloud type. The group will use books and technology
to become an expert on that cloud type. Students will be
required to research what the cloud looks like (by describing it
in words and drawing a picture), state the meaning of the name
and what type of weather is associated with this cloud type.
Once students have found their information they are required
to make an informal poster to show to the class. The poster will
include: a picture of the cloud, the meaning of the name, words
to describe the appearance of the cloud and the type of
weather associated with that cloud type. There will be 2 groups
researching each cloud type. Each group will then take about 2
min. to share and explain their poster to the class.
Observational Assessment of how well students work in a group
as well as how well they did identifying the important aspects
of their cloud types.
Cloud Chart
As a class complete the clouds and weather chart. Use the
posters that were just created to complete the chart to organize
all the information in one place. Have students from each group
share the important information they feel the rest of the class
should remember about their type of cloud. Pull up the chart on
the SMART board and complete the chart as a class. Encourage
students to contribute ideas to add to each section. Write the
meaning of each name in the name column of the chart.
For students who struggle with writing and note taking: they do
not have to copy the chart on their own, but provide a printed
copy for them after the chart has been completed.
PowerPoint Review
Have pictures of different clouds on the PowerPoint and have
students guess what type of cloud it is and state how they
know by identifying different characteristics of that type of
cloud that they see in the picture.
Informal assessment on students ability to identify different
types of clouds by their appearance characteristics and also
their ability to predict what type of weather may be coming
from that particular type of cloud.
Closure
Review the common types of clouds by watching select videos
on the subject.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pV4hcZgklE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32uFVssBs6E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ODJA1tIWOA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ6aeSv8xIU

12:47pm
12:50pm
(3 min.)
Time

12:50pm
1:15pm
(25 min.)

1:15pm
1:25pm
(10 min.)

1:25pm
1:30pm
(5 min.)

Time
Additional
Activity if
time allows

Feedback From
Students:
Feedback To
Students
Transition To Next
Lesson

Sponge
Activity/Activities

Feedback from their poster designs/included information as to

what they are picking up about different types of clouds; oral
feedback about what they have learned during the chart
completion as well as during the review activity.
Oral feedback during the chart completion activity making sure
students are internalizing correct information about each type
of cloud. This is a good opportunity to correct mistaken ideas
about cloud types.
Students will be instructed to put away their notes into their
science binders and then they will be dismissed for recess.
Start combining the names of the 4 main cloud types. Students should take
the names and combine the two meanings to determine what the new
meaning of that cloud might be. Have students list a description of the
appearance and predicted weather for the combined terms.

Reflections from the

lesson