shaving foam rain experiment

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Shaving Cream Rain Clouds Science Experiment

Shaving cream rain clouds are a funny and easy science project that illustrates key science concepts, such as density, mixing, and how clouds work. Once you master the basics, turn the project into a science experiment by tweaking the materials and methods.

All you need are a few basic materials from home:

Shaving cream
Food coloring
Glass or jar

Let’s Make Shaving Cream Clouds!

Fill the glass mostly full of cold water. Why use cold water? The reason is because warmer water more readily degrades the shaving cream and also disperses the food coloring.
Dispense a “cloud” of shaving cream on top of the water. Don’t make the layer too think or else the food coloring won’t make it all the way to the water.
Add drops of food coloring to the top of the clouds. Blue is the traditional color for rain, but you can explore color theory if you get creative.
Watch as the food coloring “rain” falls from the shaving cream “cloud”.

The Science Behind Shaving Cream Rain Clouds

Shaving cream floats on water because it has a lower density than water. Similarly, clouds float in the atmosphere, even though the average cumulus cloud weighs over one million pounds. It hardly seems possible that a cloud doesn’t just sink to the ground! Keep two facts in mind. First, clouds are huge, so they rest on top of a gigantic air column. Second, clouds kind of do fall, when you think about it.

When a nimbus cloud (the type of cloud that produces precipitation ) holds more water than the air can support, the excess falls as rain, snow, or sometimes hail. Similarly, when you drip food coloring onto shaving cream, it is heavier than the foam and falls through the fake cloud. Eventually it enters the water (the “atmosphere” in this project).

The food coloring consists of pigment and water. It readily mixes with the water. If two different colored drops come into contact or mix together in the water, you get new colors.

Turn the Science Project Into a Science Experiment

Performing the shaving cream rain clouds project fulfills the first step of the scientific method , which is making observations. From your observations, think of things you can change about the project and make a prediction about the effect of this change. In other words, form a hypothesis and conduct an experiment that tests this hypothesis. Finally, evaluate the results of your experiment and decide whether you accept or reject your hypothesis. Often, this process gives you ideas for new experiments.

Here are some ideas:

Examine the effect of water temperature on cloud stability and “rain” formation.
Can you replace the shaving cream with another material? Examples might include whipped cream or egg whites.
What happens if you introduce another layer between the water and shaving cream? For example, do you get “rain” if there is a thin layer of vegetable oil on top of the water? (Hint: This is the basis for the fireworks in a glass project.)
What happens if you use paint, colored sugar, or ink instead of food coloring?
Does changing the size or shape of the container affect the outcome?
Predict what happens if you replace water with another liquid, such as oil or milk.
Burroughs, William James; Crowder, Bob (2007). Weather . San Francisco: Fog City Press. ISBN 978-1-74089-579-8.
Freud, E.; Rosenfeld, D. (2012). “Linear relation between convective cloud drop number concentration and depth for rain initiation”. Journal of Geophysical Research . 117 (D2). doi: 10.1029/2011JD016457
Jaramillo, A.; Mesa, O. (June 19, 2017). “On the relative density of clouds.” Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meterological Society . Vol. 144; Iss. 707, pp. 2650-2653. doi: 10.1002/qj.3099
Young, Hugh D.; Freedman, Roger A. (2012). University Physics with Modern Physics . ISBN 978-0-321-69686-1.

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Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment

By Stephanie on March 24, 2020 | Updated December 30, 2020 | Rate Recipe

As an Amazon Associate and affiliate with other networks, I may earn a commission from purchases made through links within this post. For more information read my disclosure page here .

Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment . Using a glass, shaving cream, water, and food coloring you can explore how rain clouds work!

If you are working on learning about the water cycle and looking for an easy science experiment to show how clouds work this Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment is perfect. This rain cloud science project is perfect for kids in preschool thru elementary school. It is easy to do and the kids will have fun with it and be able to learn how rain clouds actually work.

Looking for more learning activities for kids? Check these out!

How Plants Drink Water Celery Science Experiment
Homemade Cloud dough
Homemade Playdoh
DIY Forky Craft
Homemade Air Dry Clay
Dish Soap Slime

How do Clouds work?

Clouds are formed when water vapor rises into the air and then when the water vapor hits cold air they turn back into water droplets. Those water droplets collect together along with other particles in the air like dust to form a cloud.

Once a cloud is formed it continues to attract water droplets. Over time clouds get so full of water that they can’t hold any more and the water falls back to the ground as rain.

How to make rain Clouds with Shaving Cream

With this easy science experiment we are going to demonstrate using water, shaving cream and food coloring how a rain cloud collects water and then rains when it gets too full.

Using shaving cream and food coloring you will be able to show how rain moves through the cloud and comes out as rain. You will want to make sure you use a dark colored food dye and white shaving cream when doing this so they can actually see the process happen. My favorite shaving cream to use for this experiment is the cheap dollar store stuff or if you are needing to order from Amazon, Barbasol is my go to.

Homeschool Clouds Lesson Plan Ideas

If you are working on a weather unit for homeschooling then this Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment is a great science experiment. If you are focusing on clouds and rain specifically then there are lots of other resources you can use that go along with this science experiment.

You can watch the Sid the Science kid episode on PBS kids here , or grab the Sid the Science Kid Weather DVD on Amazon .

Use the form below to snag this Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Printable that we have created for you to use along with this science experiment! This printable has a section for the kids to write their hypothesis, their observations and their conclusions while doing this experiment. Once you sign up, it will send you an email to download your free printable!

If you are doing this science experiment with preschoolers or elementary kids then you can also incorporate the Little Cloud Book by Eric Carle , and make the Rain Cloud Craft or the Cloud Shapes Preschool craft .

Paint Cloud photos using homemade puffy paint , or if you can go outside use homemade sidewalk paint to draw different cloud shapes in the driveway.

Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment Supplies

See through container or glass
Small cup or container
White shaving cream
7 drops blue Food coloring
1 cup Water

Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment Directions

Pour water into your small cup and add the drops of blue food coloring into the cup.

In your clear containers, add water so it fills up halfway.

Rain Cloud science experiment glass filled with water and shaving cream

Top that water off with shaving cream till it reaches the top of the container, set aside for about 5 minutes for the shaving cream to settle on top of the water.

With your droppers suck up the colored water and pour it over the shaving cream. Continue to fill the shaving cream cloud with the food coloring/water mixture until the shaving cream cloud can no longer hold the water.

Watch as the colored water travels through the cloud and creates rain in the water below in the glass.

You can add different colors of food coloring and water to see what happens as you keep adding more if you would like to. Just repeat the processes using the same set up you already have.

ABOUT LAUREN

Hey There! I am Lauren, a short mom (4 foot 10 to be exact!) who has a passion for helping others and always has a cup of coffee in hand. With amazing recipes to help the home cook become a home chef, along with fun family travel, fun crafts and More! Grab a cup of coffee and join me! Read more...

Created by Stephanie

With a degree from the Culinary Institute of America in baking and pastry arts, a love for tasty food and amazing photography skills Stephanie brings the amazing recipe ideas we come up with to life. Stephanie loves crafting, all things Disney and traveling whenever possible.

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Rain Cloud in a Jar

May 26, 2015 By Emma Vanstone 4 Comments

This simple visual activity is great for understanding why rain falls and how clouds form.

Children can experiment with different sizes and shapes of shaving foam clouds and watch how it affects how the food colouring rain falls.

glass full of water with a layer of shaving foam over the top. Food colouring is dripping through the shaving foam to the bottom of the jar.

What is a cloud?

Clouds are droplets of water and crystals of ice. The exact composition depends on the temperature. Clouds form when warm air rises, expands and cools. Water molecules then attach to dust, pollution and smoke particles. When these molecules come together, they form a cloud. Clouds float because the water droplets forming them are warmed up by the heat from the sun, and warm air rises.

The altitude at which clouds form depends on several factors, such as air temperature, wind and size of the cloud.

How to make a rain cloud in a jar

You’ll need

Shaving Cream

Food colouring

Dropper or pipette

Rain cloud in a jar instructions

Fill the jar about ¾ full with water

Cover with shaving cream to completely cover the surface of the water. The shaving foam represents a cloud.

Drip water over the shaving foam using a pipette

Drop food colouring over the shaving foam.

Watch the food colouring fall to the bottom of the jar.

How does a rain cloud in a jar work?

Clouds form when water vapour rises and cools back into water droplets to form clouds.

When a rain cloud reaches a certain mass, the water needs to escape and so breaks through the cloud to fall as rain. As you drip the water over the shaving cream cloud, the water starts to fall through the cloud.

Our rain cloud in a jar is a very simple model of how rain forms, but it is a lot of fun to set up and watch!

Why are rain clouds grey?

When clouds become full of water droplets, they are so thick that light cannot travel through them, making the cloud look grey! This is why grey clouds are a sign that rain is about to fall.

Printable instructions for a rain cloud in a jar science experiment

More rain and water science experiments

Make a model of the water cycle to learn how water is recycled over and over again!

Did you know most rain comes from the sea ?

Find out why raindrops form sphere shapes .

Try a very simple evaporation investigation .

Inspiration Laboratories has a great cloud in a bottle activity .

Rain cloud in a jar science experiment. Jar ⅔ full of water with shaving foam on the top. Food colouring is dripped through the shaving foam to represent rain.

Last Updated on February 7, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.