How are Clouds Made? Critical Listening

50-minute English Lesson

In this critical listening lesson, ELL students learn how to describe cloud formation.

Critical listening lesson plan
Clouds add drama to an image

Read the story

critical listening lesson: Clouds

Look up at the sky and you might see clouds. Some look like strange animals or pieces of unusual art. Others are long lines that stretch across the sky. Some are black and move fast. With all that action taking place up there, we might ask, what is a cloud?

A cloud is a group of water drops. Sometimes, there are tiny bits of ice, too. A drop is a small amount of water mixed with a bit of pollution in the air. When billions of drops stick together, they form a cloud.

There are four main categories of clouds. The highest ones are called cirrus. They look like white feathers.

Alto clouds are in the middle of the sky. They look like a white or gray blanket. Alto clouds usually block a lot of sunshine.

There are two major types of low clouds. The large gray ones that fill the sky are stratus clouds. Occasionally, they bring rain or snow. Cumulus clouds generate unique shapes.

The fourth kind of cloud is nimbostratus. They are gray or black and bring powerful showers.

Why do clouds look white or gray?

Cloud color depends on a couple of factors: light and water drops. Light from the sun has seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

When light comes in contact with water drops, all seven colors are mixed. The mixed colors look white to the human eye. White light leaves the bottom of the cloud. That is why clouds look white. Our eyes see the white light.

Some clouds are gray or black. When many drops form a cloud, it becomes thick. Thick clouds block light, which means less light travels to the bottom. That means the bottom of the cloud looks dark. Thick clouds also mean rain is coming soon.

Next time you go outside, look up and try to understand what’s happening in the sky.

Listen to the story

Critical listening lesson: Clouds

Audio

Here is the listening file for this lesson.

Listening level: 4
Audio file: 2:23 min
Story length: 306 words
Critical listening lesson plan about clouds
Clouds, dragons, and mountains
[quiz-cat id=”7529″]

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

listen critically tO THE STORY AGAIN AND FILL IN THE BLANKS.

Look _____ ______ the sky and you might see clouds. Some look like __________ animals or pieces of __________ art. Others are long lines that __________ across the sky. Some are black and move fast. With all that __________ taking place up there, we might ask, what is a cloud?

A cloud is a group of __________ drops. Sometimes, there are tiny __________ of ice, too. A drop is a small amount of water mixed with a bit of __________ in the air. When __________ of drops stick together, they __________ a cloud.

There are four main __________ of clouds. The __________ ones are called cirrus. They look like white feathers.

Alto clouds are in the __________ of the sky. They look like a white or gray __________ . Alto clouds usually block a lot of sunshine.

There are two major types of low clouds. The large gray ones that fill the sky are stratus clouds. Occasionally, they bring rain or snow. Cumulus clouds generate unique shapes.

The __________ kind of cloud is nimbostratus. They are gray or black and bring __________ showers.

Why do clouds look white or gray?

Cloud color __________ on a couple of factors: __________ and water drops. Light from the sun has seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and __________ .

When light comes in __________ with water drops, all seven colors are __________ . The mixed colors look white to the human eye. White light leaves the __________ of the cloud. That is why clouds look white. Our __________ see the white light.

Some clouds are gray or black. When many drops form a cloud, it becomes __________ . Thick clouds block light, which means __________ __________ travels to the bottom. That means the bottom of the cloud looks dark. Thick clouds also mean __________ is coming soon.

Next time you go outside, look up and try to __________ what’s happening in the __________ .

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the esl article.

  1. What is a cloud?
  2. Describe four types of clouds.
  3. Why do some clouds appear white or gray?
  4. What makes a cloud appear black?
  5. Describe the connections between cloud type and weather.

Synonym match

MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.

1. block 
2. factor
3. form 
4. stretch 
5. stick
a. extend
b. create
c. element
d. cling
e. obstruct

English listening lesson: anagrams

MOVE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM the critical listening story about clouds.

  1. RTEHGEOT
  2. EAFRETHS
  3. SEISNHNU
  4. RAEETNGE
  5. NDSPDEE
  6. NODIGI

Writing practice

Write the sentences. Put the words in the correct order.

  1. are / main / of / four / There / categories / clouds
  2. in / amount / mixed / a / drop / of / bit / A / water / air / of / a / the / pollution / small / with / is
  3. a / Alto / lot / sunshine / block / clouds / of / usually
  4. on / of / water / color / Cloud / light / couple / depends / drops / and / factors / a
  5. a / they / form / drops / of / billions / together / stick / When / cloud

More listening and reading

ESL critical listening lessons

Learn more English online about inventions, people, and science? Try this English listening comprehension lesson about ballpoint pens.

Watch a video and take notes

extending critical listening

Learn more? Watch a short video about clouds and weather. It’s about three minutes.

  1. Watch the video.
  2. Take notes.
  3. Make a list with at least eight facts.

Get the worksheet

Print out the worksheet for this ESL article about the printing press? Click to download the PDF worksheet.

Click to see the answers for this ESL article about clouds.

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