Interested lower primary students from our school participated in the international competition Look Up – Cloud Hunters 2025, which took place from April 15 to April 30, 2025. The aim of the competition was to encourage students to observe clouds, raise awareness of weather phenomena, and use digital tools for scientific research.

Through an interactive workshop, students were introduced to the basic types of clouds such as cumulus, cirrus, stratus, and nimbostratus. Using visual materials, educational games, and simple experiments, they learned about how clouds form, their characteristics, and what they tell us about weather conditions. They were supported by older and more experienced students – members of the extracurricular GLOBE Program, which has been successfully implemented in our school for several years.

These older students not only shared their knowledge but also guided their younger peers in the practical use of the GLOBE Observer application. This tool enabled the students to record their observations, photograph clouds, and submit data to scientists studying the atmosphere. Before their first observations, the younger students learned, with help from their mentors, how to properly use the app, take a photo of a cloud, and enter basic weather data.

During the competition, students observed the sky daily – in the schoolyard, at home, and even on their way to school. With great curiosity and enthusiasm, they followed the shapes, heights, and colors of clouds, compared them with what they had learned, and recorded their observations. Every photo they submitted was a valuable contribution to global atmospheric research. The students demonstrated exceptional motivation, responsibility, and curiosity. The activities encouraged their observational skills, collaboration, and understanding of natural phenomena. Using the GLOBE Observer app also strengthened their digital literacy and connected them to the real world of science.

Participation in Look Up – Cloud Hunters 2025 was not only educational but also a very enjoyable experience for our youngest explorers. The project was successfully integrated into science, visual arts, and ICT classes, and its outcomes extended beyond the classroom – leaving students with lasting memories of the clouds they discovered, recorded, and understood on their own.

Article written by: Ana Volarić & Nataša Maček