STEMing for Kids: Rain Cloud in a Jar

By Christine Leavitt

A popular refrain states, “April showers bring May flowers.” This makes April a perfect month to make a rain cloud in a jar and learn about why it rains. For this STEM activity, you will need the following items:

1. Water

2. Large Clear Jar

3. Small Cup

4. Shaving cream

5. Blue Food Coloring

6. Eye Dropper/Pipette

Fill the large clear jar about ¾ full of water. In the small cup, mix some water with food coloring. Next, spray shaving cream into the jar until the shaving cream is a little above the jar’s rim. Fill the eye dropper/pipette with the food coloring and water mixture that is in the small cup and squirt the food coloring on top of the shaving cream. Watch as the food coloring mixture “rains” out from the shaving cream “cloud” at the top of your jar.

While watching the rain pour out of the cloud, it is the perfect time to discuss the science behind rain. The STEM Laboratory states the following:

Clouds are formed when water vapor rises into the air and condenses onto tiny particles of dust. When billions of these droplets come together, a visible cloud forms. Over time, the droplets and crystals that make up a cloud can attract more water to themselves. When water droplets grow heavy enough, gravity pulls them down as raindrops.

Enjoy watching the rain fall and swirl inside your jar without having to use an umbrella to avoid getting wet.