Rain Cloud Experiment – Colorful Shaving Cream Science
This shaving cream rain experiment is a fun way to learn about clouds and rainfall! Make it vibrant by using all the colors of the rainbow!
Easy to Set Up Rain Cloud Experiment
This rain cloud experiment is a fun way to demonstrate how rain falls through clouds. Best part for grown ups? It is super easy to set up! Whether you are creating one rain cloud or 6 like us, it only takes a few minutes to get everything together.
I love that the supplies are simple and readily available so that you can conduct the experiment over and over again if you want to!
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Watch How to Create This Rain Cloud Experiment
Watch this video to see how kids as young as 3 can get involved in creating and observing this experiment.
My 3 year old enjoyed spraying the shaving cream (with my help!) and using large droppers to place the food coloring “rain” on top of the “rain cloud.”
How to explain the science in preschool terms? If a cloud gets heavy enough, rain will fall from it!
Watch How to Create This Rain Cloud Experiment
Watch this video to see how kids as young as 3 can get involved in creating and observing this experiment.
My 3 year old enjoyed spraying the shaving cream (with my help!) and using large droppers to place the food coloring “rain” on top of the “rain cloud.”
How to explain the science in preschool terms? If a cloud gets heavy enough, rain will fall from it!
Tips for Setting Up This Rain Cloud Experiment
Clear Container. We decided to explore what rain would look like in every color of the rainbow, so I set aside 6 small, clear containers. These are actually tiny flower vases! Of course, you could use one container big, small, or anything in between!
Colors. The most common color used in this experiment is blue! But my kiddo wanted to use all the colors of the rainbow! This created an added skill for him to reinforce, which was color matching! I placed a dot sticker next to each vase so he could match his dropper filled with food coloring. You can use either liquid watercolors or food coloring for this experiment!
Large Droppers. They are great for fine motor skills and this experiment is perfect for kids to practice using them! Our set worked well for it because each dropper has a different color.
Materials
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
To make the “rain,” dilute your food coloring or liquid watercolor in water. You can do one color or many like us!
Step 2
Fill your glass(es) with water.
Step 3
Squirt shaving cream on top to make the cloud.
Step 4
Now is the fun part for your little one! Using a dropper, squirt the color(s) on top of the shaving cream. When the “cloud” becomes too heavy, the “rain” will rain down, making the water change colors.
Step 1
To make the “rain,” dilute your food coloring or liquid watercolor in water. You can do one color or many like us!
Step 2
Fill your glass(es) with water.
Step 3
Squirt shaving cream on top to make the cloud.
Step 4
Now is the fun part for your little one! Using a dropper, squirt the color(s) on top of the shaving cream. When the “cloud” becomes too heavy, the “rain” will rain down, making the water change colors.
The Science Behind This Rain Cloud Experiment
This is a very simple demonstration of rainfall, which is perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners!
Explain to your kiddo that the shaving cream is the “cloud” and the food coloring is the “rain.” When water gets too heavy inside clouds, gravity will pull it down through the clouds as rain.
By making the rain colorful, they have a great visual for seeing it fall!
For more science fun, be sure to visit our comprehensive list of activities!
The Science Behind This Rain Cloud Experiment
This is a very simple demonstration of rainfall, which is perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners!
Explain to your kiddo that the shaving cream is the “cloud” and the food coloring is the “rain.” When water gets too heavy inside clouds, gravity will pull it down through the clouds as rain.
By making the rain colorful, they have a great visual for seeing it fall!
For more science fun, be sure to visit our comprehensive list of activities!
More Science Experiments to Explore!
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