Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered how something as soft-looking as a cloud can weigh anything at all? It’s a great question – and actually, the answer might surprise you. Clouds may look light and fluffy, but they can weigh hundreds of tonnes. This Parent Q&A sheet is designed to help you feel confident answering these kinds of questions at home, using clear language and practical explanations that make sense – even if science wasn’t your strongest subject in school.

This topic helps children understand some big ideas in physics and weather, like mass, gravity, and how water moves through the air. You don’t need any special equipment or science knowledge. Just a bit of curiosity and some conversation. These question-and-answer pairs will walk you through the main facts in plain English, with helpful tips and real-world examples.

It also gets your child thinking beyond the facts – asking why clouds float, what keeps them in the sky, and how something that heavy doesn’t crash down on our heads. And if you’d like to take it further, we also offer a lesson plan to go with this topic. But if you’re just here to answer your child’s questions, you’re in exactly the right place.