All types of precipitation are made of mainly water (H2O), but can contain other substances. An example of precipitation that is not pure water is acid rain, which can be caused when sulfur dioxide is released after burning coal. The sulfur dioxide can dissolve in clouds, turning the water acidic. This then causes the pH of the rainwater to decrease. The state (solid or liquid) in which the precipitation falls depends on atmospheric conditions such as temperature and pressure.
In this activity, students will identify and describe different types of precipitation. They should focus on the main four, but may also describe acid rain and diamond dust, which is another form of precipitation which occurs sometimes in locations that are very cold. Diamond dust is composed of very small ice crystals that reflect light as they fall through the air, appearing like specks of diamond.
To further your students’ understanding about how water moves on our planet, check out our resources on the Water Cycle.
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Student Instructions
Create a spider map that shows examples of the different types of precipitation.
Capture students' curiosity by using a simple classroom experiment to demonstrate how precipitation forms. Hands-on activities make abstract concepts more concrete and memorable for young learners.
Collect clear cups, hot water, ice cubes, zip-top bags, and shaving cream. Using common items ensures the activity is accessible and easy to set up in any classroom.
Fill a clear cup with hot water, cover the top with a zip-top bag of ice, and observe. The warm water creates vapor that condenses on the cold surface, mimicking cloud formation and precipitation droplets.
Ask students to draw or write what they see. Encourage them to use science vocabulary like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation to explain their findings.
Lead a class discussion linking the demo to types of precipitation outside. Help students relate their observations to rain, snow, sleet, and hail, reinforcing the lesson's relevance.
The main types of precipitation are rain, snow, sleet (including freezing rain), and hail. Each type forms under different atmospheric conditions and plays a role in Earth's water cycle.
You can use a spider map activity where students identify and illustrate the four main types of precipitation. Ask them to write descriptions and find images, making the lesson interactive and visual.
Sleet occurs when raindrops freeze into ice pellets before hitting the ground. Freezing rain stays liquid until it lands, then freezes on contact with cold surfaces, creating a glaze of ice.
Snow forms when the temperature in the clouds and near the ground is below freezing, causing water vapor to crystallize into snowflakes rather than forming liquid raindrops.
Acid rain forms when pollutants like sulfur dioxide dissolve in cloud water, making the rain more acidic. This can lower the pH of rainwater and harm the environment.