Storm in a Glass Experiment

Materials

• Clear glass or jar
• Shaving cream
• Water
• Food coloring (blue or any color you like)
• Dropper or spoon

Procedure

1. Fill the glass about three-quarters full with water.
2. Spray a thick layer of shaving cream on top of the water to act as a cloud.
3. Use a dropper or spoon to drop food coloring slowly onto the shaving cream.
4. Watch as the colored droplets pass through the shaving cream and "rain" into the water below.

Elementary

This experiment shows how clouds hold water and how rain falls when the clouds get full. The shaving cream acts like a cloud, and the food coloring is like the rain that falls from it.

Discussion Questions

• What happens when you put the food coloring on the shaving cream?
• Why does the colored water start to fall like rain?
• Can you think of other things that happen in a storm?