Home-School Projects: GLOBE Clouds

Have you heard of GLOBE?  It's an international initiative sponsored by NASA in the United States.  West Virginia's GLOBE outreach and training programs are facilitated by Todd Ensign, who may be able to help you locate a NASA or GLOBE contact in your area.  There are GLOBE trainings session available.  The trick is finding a facilitator.  I finally attended a NSTA conference to find a training session in Virginia Before meeting Todd and taking several programs of his in West Virginia.

GLOBE offers environmental programs.  Typically, elementary schools use GLOBE.  You don't need a membership or training to use the program.  Where to start?  Try this introductory training module. Even their training sessions are available!  Now, try the cloud training module on the same page.  I use this to teach kids about identifying clouds.  I have them sit down and go through the module on a computer.  You can see where this is headed!  Yes, a cloud project.  Print a cloud chart and try the Cloud Protocol or Observing Cloud Types.  All of GLOBE's protocols have very detailed instructions, questions, and field guides.  Maybe too detailed.  Did your family like identifying clouds? Younger children enjoy making this cloud ID tool, making clouds in a jar, and the layers of the atmosphere foldable.  I'm kidding!  Kids groan when they hear the word, foldable.  Too bad!  It is perfect for the portfolio.  I'm all about inquiry projects.  Look up different methods to make clouds.  Which method produces the most clouds?  A glass, baby food jar or a plastic, 20 oz soda bottle?  Or a 2-L bottle?  Video the kids making clouds and save it for your electronic portfolio.

Do you have younger children? Sky Color is for young elementary students. This unit has a simplified daytime sky report, which is hilarious!  I imagine the nighttime sky report would be dark. The storybook NASA produces for this activity is Do Clouds Have Names?  The activity complements the activities above and will help younger children feel included.