Activity

Precipitation and cloud formation

In this activity, students watch a short slide show presentation explaining what precipitation is and how clouds form.

Precipitation and clouds – slideshow

Use this slideshow to find out more about precipitation is and how clouds form. Use it as part of the activity Precipitation and cloud formation .

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
Size: 1.1 MB

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

  • explain what precipitation is and how water vapour is transported and concentrated in the atmosphere

  • describe how water appears as different phases in the air – vapour, droplets and ice particles

  • explain that clouds are mixtures of droplets and ice particles and that this mixture changes with temperature.

Download the slide show and Word file for:

  • introduction/background notes

  • what you need

  • what to do

  • extension idea.

Related content

Weather (wind, precipitation and temperature) is influenced by sea and air temperatures, evaporation and condensation of water, air pressure and ocean currents, in Water and weather explore find out more.

Explore how cloud formations help navigators predict weather while out at sea. Follow this with the activity Clouds and the weather and observe cloud types and discover how they help predict the weather.

Published: 3 June 2009,Updated: 1 October 2012