Rain Cloud in a Glass – Experiment for Weather Explorers

🎂 4 + years ⏱️ 30 min 📍 At home ⭐ easy

Have you ever wondered how rain falls from a cloud? Here you can find out exactly that. With a glass, some shaving cream, and a bit of food coloring. Sounds exciting? Let's go! This experiment is more than just a little trial. You'll be amazed at how much you can learn about the weather. And on top of that: It's really fun to watch the rain in your glass. Maybe you'll even get a bit creative and come up with your own weather stories. But first, let's start exploring!

What you'll need

A clear glass or vase
Water
Shaving cream
Food coloring (e.g. blue)

How it works

Fill your glass or vase almost to the top with water. The water is like the air above us. Clouds float high up and sit on the air.
Spray a layer of shaving cream on top of the water. That's your cloud! It needs to be nice and thick to 'hold' the rain. Think about it: Why do real clouds sometimes look so fluffy? They are made up of countless tiny water droplets.
Drip the food coloring onto the shaving cream. How many drops do you need before it rains? Give it a try! Rain occurs when clouds collect so much water that they can no longer hold it.
Watch closely: The drops slowly fall through the cloud into the water. This is exactly how it happens in nature. The raindrops gather in the cloud until they are heavy enough to fall to the ground.
Can you make the rain with multiple colors at the same time? What does that look like? This experiment is not only fun but also a bit magical, right? Now you know how clouds work and can share your new knowledge with others the next time it rains. Have fun trying it out!