Earth Science

Find out how raindrops in the air bend sunlight to turn it into a colorful rainbow.

What Causes a Rainbow?

for grades K-3

Find out how the atmosphere makes the sky look blue during the day and orange and red at sunrise and sunset. 

blue sky with puffy white clouds

What Makes the Sky Blue?

for grades K-3

Explore More...

NASA Space Place is a great place to explore Earth and Space including why the sky is blue.

NASA, JPL, and CalTech collaborated on a great website related to the Spitzer Space Telescope. It includes a video series where astronomers answer questions like, “Why is the sky blue?”

The University of Boulder created a whole bunch of really cool interactive simulations, including this one where you can explore how our eyes see color.

The Science Learning Hub website comes from the University of Waikato, New Zealand. It is chock full of interesting info and activities. This page looks at how we see color. It includes some awesome links at the bottom including a look at how dogs see color.

If you want to find out more about clouds, check out this page on JetStream from the National Weather Service.

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.
~ Irish Blessing ~