Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will understand how rain is formed through a simple and fun experiment.

Materials and Prep

You will need: a clear glass jar, hot water, ice cubes, and a plate. Make sure to have an adult help you with the hot water.

Activities

1. Fill the clear glass jar with hot water until it is about one-third full. 2. Place the plate on top of the jar and wait for a few minutes. 3. Place a few ice cubes on top of the plate and observe what happens inside the jar.

First Grade Talking Points

• Rain comes from the clouds in the sky. When the clouds get heavy, they release the water as rain. It's like when a sponge gets too full and drips water.
• Water can change from a liquid to a gas (steam) and back to a liquid. When water gets cold, it turns into tiny water droplets that form clouds.
• When the clouds get too full of water droplets, they release the water as rain. This is called precipitation.