Cloud Types · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Reading the clouds

Science · Weather & Climate · ages 7-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which cloud is made of thin, wispy streaks high up in the sky?

    • Cumulus
    • Cirrus
    • Stratus

  2. Which cloud looks like fluffy white cotton balls in a clear blue sky?

    • Cumulus
    • Stratus
    • Cirrus

  3. Clouds are made of countless tiny drops of water or bits of ice floating together in the sky.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Priya looks up and sees a flat gray blanket of clouds covering the whole sky, with no blue showing through. What type of cloud is this?

    • Stratus
    • Cumulus
    • Cirrus

  5. Warm, moist air rises high into the sky. What happens next to make a cloud?

    • The air heats up more and the water vapour disappears completely
    • The air freezes solid and turns straight into snowflakes
    • The air cools down and the water vapour condenses into tiny droplets

  6. Tom sees only a few thin, wispy clouds high above him. What weather should he expect?

    • A big rainstorm
    • Fair and dry weather
    • Thick fog rolling in

  7. A sky full of thick stratus clouds is more likely to bring rain than a sky with a few fluffy cumulus clouds.

    Circle one:   True   False

  8. Leah points at the sky and says, 'Those clouds are flat and gray, so they must be cumulus.' What is wrong with her thinking?

    • Nothing is wrong. Flat gray clouds are always cumulus
    • Cirrus clouds are always flat and gray, so she should have said cirrus
    • Flat gray clouds are stratus, not cumulus. Cumulus clouds are puffy, not flat
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_IhWzO4sQPg-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Reading the clouds W1-mt_IhWzO4sQPg-s1

  1. Cirrus · Cirrus clouds float so high that they are made of tiny ice crystals, giving them that thin, wispy look.
  2. Cumulus · Cumulus clouds are puffy and rounded, like cotton balls. They usually mean fair weather.
  3. True · Water vapour cools high in the sky and condenses, forming the tiny droplets that make up a cloud.
  4. Stratus · Stratus clouds spread out in flat, gray layers that can cover the entire sky.
  5. The air cools down and the water vapour condenses into tiny droplets · Rising air cools as it goes up. The cooled water vapour condenses into the tiny droplets that form a cloud.
  6. Fair and dry weather · Cirrus clouds usually show up in fair weather since they are thin, high, and hold very little water.
  7. True · Stratus clouds are thick, low layers that often bring drizzle or rain, while cumulus clouds usually mean fair weather.
  8. Flat gray clouds are stratus, not cumulus. Cumulus clouds are puffy, not flat · Cumulus clouds are puffy like cotton balls. A flat gray blanket covering the sky is a stratus cloud.
Worksheet · LightMySky