Cloud Types and Weather Prediction — Free Printable (Grade 5)

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Cloud Types and Weather Prediction

Grade 5 NGSS SEP4, SEP6, SEP7 4 steps

Name:

Date:

Period:

What to Do

Read the Investigation Question carefully.
Study the Background Information and Data Table.
Review the Key Vocabulary — use these words in your writing.
Complete each writing step. Use evidence from the data to support your answer.
Use the checklist at the end to review your work.

Investigation Question

Can the type of clouds in the sky help predict whether it will rain?

Background Information

Clouds form when water vapor in the air cools and condenses into tiny water droplets
or ice crystals. Different types of clouds form at different heights and under different
conditions.

Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds high in the sky. Cumulus clouds are white and puffy
like cotton balls. Stratus clouds are flat, gray layers that cover the sky like a blanket.
Cumulonimbus clouds are tall, dark thunderstorm clouds that can reach very high.

A class recorded the type of cloud they observed each morning for 20 school days. They
also recorded whether it rained at any point during that day.

Cloud Observations and Rainfall Over 20 Days

Cloud Type Observed	Number of Days Observed	Days It Rained	Rain Percentage
Cirrus (thin, wispy)	3	0	0%
Cumulus (white, puffy)	6	1	17%
Stratus (gray, flat layer)	5	3	60%
Cumulonimbus (tall, dark)	4	4	100%
Clear sky (no clouds)	2	0	0%

Observations were made at 9:00 AM each day. Rain was recorded if it fell at any time during the school day.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Definition
cirrus	Thin, wispy clouds found high in the sky — they usually mean fair weather
cumulus	White, puffy clouds that look like cotton balls — they can grow into storm clouds
stratus	Flat, gray clouds that cover the sky like a blanket — they often bring drizzle or light rain
cumulonimbus	Very tall, dark clouds that bring thunderstorms, heavy rain, and sometimes hail

Writing Steps

1 Examine the Data

Answer these questions to show you understand the data:

1. What is the investigation question asking you to find out?
2. What changed in the data as the conditions changed? (Look for a pattern.)
3. What is the most important thing the data shows?

You can use bullet points, short phrases, or sentences.

Before writing your CER, carefully read the investigation question and study the data.

A good scientist reads the data first — then writes their explanation.

Note: Your answers here help you prepare. This step is not part of your final score.

Scoring Guidance — Step 1

Look for:

Look at the data table. What changes from top to bottom?
Which condition gave the highest result? The lowest?
What is the investigation question asking you to explain?

Claim

Evidence

Reasoning

2 Write Your Claim

Write one sentence that answers: Can the type of clouds in the sky help predict whether it will rain?

Your claim should name:
- What was being tested (the variable)
- What the result was

Example format: "The [variable] that had [condition] showed the [highest/lowest/most/least] [result]."

A claim is one sentence that directly answers the investigation question.

Investigation Question: Can the type of clouds in the sky help predict whether it will rain?

A strong claim:
- Answers the question in ONE sentence
- Names the variable and what happened
- Does NOT just restate the question
- Is specific — not "it worked" or "the experiment showed something"

Scoring Guidance — Step 2

Role: claim

Target: ~15 words

Look for:

Start with: 'The [variable] that...'
Name what was measured and what the overall result was
Answer the question directly — don't just describe what you did

Start with: 'The [variable] that...

Name what was measured and what the overall result was

Answer the question directly — don't just describe what you did

Sentence Starters

My claim is that ___ affects ___.

Based on the data, ___.

The investigation shows that ___.

Target: about 15 words

3 Support with Evidence

Write 1-2 sentences of evidence from the data table.

Your evidence should:
- Include specific numbers or measurements
- Come directly from the data (not background knowledge)
- Show WHY your claim is supported

Look at the data table on the left for the exact numbers.

Evidence is specific data from the investigation that supports your claim.

Strong evidence at this grade:
- Uses specific numbers from the data table
- Comes from the investigation (not just something you already knew)
- Directly connects to your claim

Example: "The plants in full sunlight grew 22 cm, while plants with no light only grew 4 cm."

Scoring Guidance — Step 3

Role: evidence

Target: ~25 words

Look for:

Find the specific numbers in the data table that support your claim
Compare the highest and lowest values
Include the units (cm, °C, grams, etc.)
Don't just say 'it was more' — say HOW MUCH more

Data Reference (Number of Days Observed) Cirrus (thin, wispy): 3Cumulus (white, puffy): 6Stratus (gray, flat layer): 5Cumulonimbus (tall, dark): 4Clear sky (no clouds): 2

Find the specific numbers in the data table that support your claim

Compare the highest and lowest values

Include the units (cm, °C, grams, etc.)

Don't just say 'it was more' — say HOW MUCH more

Sentence Starters

The data table shows that when ___, ___.

Specifically, the measurement of ___ was ___.

Two data points that support my claim are ___ and ___.

Target: about 25 words

4 Explain Your Reasoning & Write Full CER

First, write your reasoning (2-3 sentences):
- Why does your evidence support your claim?
- What scientific concept explains this?
- Use the word "because" or "this shows that..."

Then, write your complete CER paragraph in the box below.
Your paragraph should:
- Start with your claim
- Include your evidence (with numbers)
- End with your reasoning (the scientific explanation)
- Be 4-6 sentences total

This is the most important step! You will do two things:

Part A — Write your reasoning.
Reasoning explains WHY your evidence supports your claim. It's not just what happened — it explains the scientific concept behind it.

- Reasoning ≠ Evidence. Don't repeat what you already wrote.
- Use a scientific concept: photosynthesis, gravity, friction, etc.
- Try: "This is because..." or "This shows that..."

Part B — Write your complete CER paragraph.
Combine your Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning into one well-written paragraph.

Scoring Guidance — Step 4

Role: complete CER paragraph

Target: ~60 words

Look for:

Ask yourself: WHY did this happen? What science explains it?
Try: 'This is because [scientific concept]...'
Look at the Key Vocabulary section for helpful science terms
Your paragraph should flow: Claim → Evidence → Reasoning

Data Reference (Number of Days Observed) Cirrus (thin, wispy): 3Cumulus (white, puffy): 6Stratus (gray, flat layer): 5Cumulonimbus (tall, dark): 4Clear sky (no clouds): 2

Ask yourself: WHY did this happen? What science explains it?

Try: 'This is because [scientific concept]...

Look at the Key Vocabulary section for helpful science terms

Your paragraph should flow: Claim → Evidence → Reasoning

Claim + Evidence + Reasoning = Complete Paragraph

Sentence Starters

My claim is ___. The evidence is ___. This supports my claim because ___.

Based on the data, ___, which shows ___. This makes sense because ___.

Target: about 60 words

Self-Check Rubric

Criteria	●●●●● 5 — Advanced	●●●●○ 4 — Proficient	●●●○○ 3 — Developing	●●○○○ 2 — Emerging	●○○○○ 1 — Beginning
Claim	Clear, specific claim that directly answers the question	Clear claim that answers the question	Claim present but vague or partially answers question	Claim unclear or off-topic	No claim or unrelated
Evidence	Multiple specific data points cited accurately	Specific data cited accurately	Some data referenced but vague	Little or no data cited	No evidence from data
Reasoning	Explains WHY data supports claim using science concepts	Explains connection between evidence and claim	Some explanation but gaps in logic	Weak or missing explanation	No reasoning

Before You Turn In

I completed the planning step

I wrote my claim

My claim is about 15 words

I wrote my evidence

My evidence is about 25 words

I wrote my complete CER paragraph

My complete CER paragraph is about 60 words

I re-read my writing and fixed any spelling or grammar mistakes

I am proud of this work

Reflection

What was the hardest part of this assignment? What would you do differently next time?

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