K-W-L Charts for Clouds

We are looking at wrapping up our current topic (Weather) and beginning our next topic (Mycology) in Science Club, now that it is Spring. Our final weather instrument will be the rain gauge. So, in Science Club on Wednesday, I had students work in pairs to create K-W-L Charts for Clouds.

If you're not familiar with the K-W-L Chart, it's a simple graphic organizer where you fold a sheet of paper into thirds. The first third is K, where you write things you know about the topic. The second third is W, where you write things you want to find out about the topic. The final third (which you fill in afterwards) is L, where you write things you learned about the topic.

A K-W-L chart is used for teachers to assess prior knowledge about a subject. And it can lead to some surprises when you ask them their questions! This helps you make sure you address common misunderstandings and that you tailor the lesson to their interests as well.

Here is what my students (ages 7-13) put on their charts:

Group 1

K

rain clouds!

clouds are made of air and water

clouds can be on the ground and sky

clouds are different shapes


W

why are clouds fluffy?

why do clouds hold water?

why do clouds turn gray?

why are clouds pink, yellow, and purple?

Group 2

K

they make rain

they absorb water

they help plants live

they help break up nitrogen

cumulonimbus

if they get cold enough, they make snow

clouds move with wind


W

what types of clouds are there?

do clouds move?

why do people see shapes in clouds?

why do people think clouds are fluffy?

can it rain fire?

can clouds pop?

Group 3

K

there is a lot of types of clouds

clouds make rain

how clouds are made

clouds make static electricity


W

are there clouds on other planets?

why are clouds gray?

Group 4

K

there are three main types of clouds

clouds turn gray when they are full of water

clouds are made of tiny droplets of water; they are so light and small that they float on air

the three main types are cumulus, stratus, and cirrus

clouds are formed by condensation


W

why are clouds fluffy?

how high can clouds go in our atmosphere?

can clouds pop?

why do clouds change color at sunset?

how do clouds come to the ground and become fog?

Group 5

K

there are rain clouds, cumulus clouds, and thunder clouds

clouds hold water from evaporation and are made of it

you can't feel clouds

clouds can sink and settle on the ground, making fog

clouds hold an electrical charge, making lightning

with more hummidity, clouds sink


W

why in the evening do clouds change color?

what are the different shapes of clouds?

why are some clouds more visible than others?

are tornadoes clouds?

are there always clouds in the sky?

if clouds are made of water, and water evaporates wherever it is, why aren't there always clouds everywhere?

what determines a cloud's speed?

what amount of water do clouds need to rain?

As you all know, my learning style is extremely Verbal, and I process things by writing about them. Typing these up is much more useful to me, when it comes to noticing themes and working on lesson planning, than just reading over them or having the children all read them aloud (which we did).

If someone had you fill in a K-W-L Chart about clouds, what would be your Wonderings?