Water Cycle
Types of Clouds
Climates Around the World
Natural Hazards
100

Where do clouds come from?

Clouds are made of tiny liquid water drops. When the water on the surface of the earth evaporates, it rises into the air and forms a cloud.


100

What are the four types of clouds?

Cumulus, cumulonimbus, stratus, and stratonimbus.

100

What are the five types of climates found around the world?

The five types of world climates are polar, temperate, mild, tropical, and desert.

100

What do hurricanes, tornadoes, and dust storms have in common?


Hurricanes, tornadoes, and dust storms are all natural hazards with strong winds. They can be dangerous for people living in places where they happen.


200
You notice that over two days a puddle on the playground is shrinking and on the third day disappears. What happened to the water?



The liquid water in the puddle slowly turns into gas, making the puddle shrink.

200

How can you tell the difference between a cumulus and cumulonimbus cloud?

The difference between the two are cumulus clouds are fluffy and white. They appear on bright, sunny days. A cumulonimbus cloud is a large, tall, and dark storm cloud that  moves fast. Cumulonimbus clouds can cause rainfall underneath them and the rain lasts for less than 1 hour. 
200

Describe a temperate climate zone.

A temperate climate zone has 4 seasons, trees lose leaves in autumn, animals hibernate in winter.

200

How are hurricanes, tornadoes, and dust storms different?


Hurricanes start over the ocean, whereas tornadoes and dust storms happen over the land?


300

What causes water to evaporate?

Water evaporates from Earth's surface to the atmosphere by the sun's rays. The sun's rays shine on the water, and the water transforms into small droplets that go up high into the atmosphere where clouds are made. 

300

What is the difference between stratus  cloud and a stratonimbus cloud?

A stratus cloud is a long thin cloud that covers the sky like a blanket. This cloud can be either white or gray. A stratonimbus cloud is like a stratus cloud, bit is darker in color ( like dark grey), and can cause storms underneath. The storms usually lost for hours. 

300

Which climate is being described below?

1. Animals that live here have blubber or thick fur?

2. Trees lose their leaves in the autumn?

3. Animals that live here don’t pant to cool off, otherwise they would lose water?

4. Winters here are nice and warm, but not hot?

5. It’s cold in December and in June?

6. It’s hot in December and in June?








1. Polar

2. Temperate

3. Desert

4. Mild

5. Polar

6. Tropical


300

Engineers are always working to improve their designs. How could you improve your best design as an engineer?

After testing your experiment the first time, I would record what worked and what did not work. Then, I would use other materials, stronger materials, that I did not use the first time to see if the new materials changed my experiment, for the better or worse.

400

If clouds are made out of water, and water is clear, why do clouds look white?

Clouds look white, not clear, because they are made out of  tiny liquid water drops. For example, when water comes out of a spray bottle, many tiny water drops come out and appears white.

400

Why do stratonimbus storms usually cause rain all day long?

The reason why stratonimbus storms usually cause rain all day is the clouds are very wide so they spread a long time over one area. 

400
Describe a mild climate zone.

A mild climate zone is a place that is not too hot and not too cold. The winters are nice and not hot.

400

What is the purpose of why engineers often work in teams? Why is it important to work with someone as a team when doing experiments.

The purpose of working with a partner is create, share, and test ideas with someone else that may think differently than you. Working with a partner teaches you team work, communication skills, and respecting someone else's thoughts and opinions.

500

What is the water cycle?

The water cycle is the process of how water from earth goes up into the atmosphere and forms a cloud. 


500

If you saw a storm coming your way, what type of cloud could you see? How long will the rain storm last.

Opinion answer.


If I saw a cumulonimbus cloud it would be a a large, tall, and dark storm cloud that travels from place to place. The storm for this type of cloud will last for less than hour.

If I saw a stratonimbus cloud it would be long, wide, and dark, covering the sky like a blanket. The storm for this type of cloud will last for hours.

500

Scientists have discovered a new species of dog. It has very large ears and a small mouth, and it doesn’t pant with its mouth open like other dogs. What climate do you think this dog could be from? Explain.


The dog is probably from a desert climate. Desert climates have very dry air and little rainfall. Normally, panting can help dogs cool off if they get too hot, but in a desert, panting would make dogs lose too much water due to evaporation. Instead, they let out heat through their very large ears!


500

What did you learn from this unit: Stormy Skies?

Answers may vary.