Find a safe place to look
Choose somewhere away from traffic where you can watch the sky without looking directly at the sun. A bench or stable chair is enough. Check the forecast and do not remain outside when a storm approaches. Cloud watching is not a reason to ignore warnings or a substitute for official weather information.
Bring a notebook, a pencil and perhaps a watch. Draw a rectangle representing one part of the sky instead of trying to record everything. Find a fixed reference, such as a roof or tree top, to help you notice movement. Keep a comfortable position and take breaks rather than holding your neck at an awkward angle.
Draw broad shapes
Begin with light areas and darker areas. Clouds change too quickly to reproduce every edge, so a few lines are enough. Mark the apparent direction of movement relative to your fixed reference. Watch how one shape stretches, divides or disappears rather than continually searching for a new subject.
Return to the same rectangle after a few minutes. Compare the drawings without deciding which is more successful. The difference between them is the useful part. With children, imagined resemblances can begin a conversation, but leave room for plain descriptions too: long, thin, layered or almost transparent. Not every cloud needs to become an animal or character.
Find names afterwards
If you want to identify cloud types, consult an appropriate meteorological resource later. A dated photograph and a note of the time may help. Avoid confidently predicting tomorrow's weather from a single shape seen during a short observation.
Keep both drawings with one sentence about the change you noticed. Repeat from the same spot on another day if you enjoy it. The sky does not need to be dramatic: slowly moving grey layers are also worth observing. Put the notebook away when the weather becomes uncomfortable or the surroundings require your attention. An observation lasting only a few minutes is still complete in itself.
