Science Friday: Rainbow Rain Clouds

It’s Friday which means it’s time for another science experiment! In this experiment, kids will learn how rain builds up in the clouds and what happens when the clouds are full. Different colored “raindrops” are visually stimulating for young children and will keep them engaged. They can also see what happens when colors mix. Help your child use their science skills and have them predict what will happen.

Rainbow Cloud Experiment

Materials

1. Glass Jar
2. Cups or bowls (one for each color you plan to use)
3. Water
4. Shaving cream
5. Food Coloring
6. Spoon
7. Eye or medicine dropper
8. Paper towels

Instructions

1. Use your spoon to mix water and food coloring in different cups to create different colored raindrops.
2. Fill the glass jar 3/4 full with plain water.
3. Add shaving cream to the top of the water in the jar — roughly 1-2 inches. Be sure the shaving cream covers the entire top of the water.
4. Use the eye/medicine dropper to drop different color “raindrops” on top of the shaving cream. Do this part slowly and carefully!
5. See how long it takes for the raindrops to come through the “clouds.”

The Science Behind It

The rainbow rain cloud experiment helps to introduce and explain why it rains. In this experiment, the shaving cream slowly absorbs the colored water. Once the shaving cream becomes too full, the colored water drips its way out into the water. Rain clouds do the same thing! As the clouds absorb water and get full, they begin to swell and it starts to rain! Hope you all have fun with this!