Why Does Rain Fall?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does rain fall?

The Big Idea

Cloud drops start out tiny! When they bump into each other and grow heavy enough, the air can't hold them up anymore. Gravity wins, and the rain falls.

Tiny Drops Bump

Step one: tiny drops bump together. Cloud drops are so tiny that they float. But they keep bumping into neighbors, and when they collide they join together into a bigger drop. Some even freeze onto bits of ice, and grow that way too.

The Drop Grows

Step two: the drop grows, and gravity pulls. The bigger the drop, the heavier it gets. Soon it is too heavy to hover, and gravity pulls it down toward the ground. When it is heavy enough, the drop leaves the cloud and starts to fall.

The Splash

Step three: the splash! Falling rain hits a leaf, a roof, or a puddle. And here's a surprise. A falling raindrop isn't shaped like a teardrop. It looks more like a little hamburger bun! Then the water starts its journey all over again, down a stream and back to the sky.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at a raindrop! First, a small drop floats in a cloud. Then it grows bigger as it bumps into its neighbors, again and again. And finally the falling drop lands in a puddle.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Drizzle drops are smaller and slower than shower drops. Rain is recycled river, ocean, and plant water. If thunder starts, get inside. Rain itself is not the danger, but the storm can be. Enjoy the puddles, and come in if thunder starts.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, watch rain run down a window. Do all the drops fall at the same speed? What made some drops big enough to leave the cloud? Draw the journey of one drop.

Outro

Tiny drops join together, and then the sky lets go! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!