LESSON 1 Activity 3

The Water Cycle

Grades:

4th - 7th

Objective:

Students will learn that all water on earth is part of a continuous process driven by natural forces such as the sun and gravity. This activity will explain how water moves and changes from one form to another, as well as how our water supplies are continuously replenished.

Method:

Students receive an incomplete diagram of the water cycle on which they label and color the different paths and processes of water movement. Either an overhead of the diagram is used, or it can be drawn on a blackboard, and filled in as students fill in the blanks.

Materials:

Handouts of the un-labeled Water Cycle diagram, a completed Water Cycle diagram (for your use), an overhead (optional), and crayons or markers for each student. When printing out the Water Cycle diagrams, choose the "landscape" option.

Time:

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Class Time: 30 minutes

Procedure:

  1. Explain that all water on earth is currently in one of the stages of the water cycle. Randomly pick a beginning point, stressing that there is no beginning or end to the water cycle. Be sure the students understand that the sun is the driving force behind this process.

  2. Hand out a copy of the unlabeled water cycle diagram, one per student.

  3. Let's say we started in the ocean. Have students label the ocean. Then, have them color the arrow above the ocean blue (for water). Ask them what process the arrow represents, and have students label EVAPORATION . Explain that when the sun heats water it turns to water vapor. Water also evaporates from land or even from plants (called transpiration). Students write water vapor in the empty space since it's invisible.

  4. Next is the atmosphere. Label the cloud, and have students color the arrow and label it CONDENSATION. As water vapor cools, it returns to it's liquid state, forming clouds.

  5. Have students label the arrow PRECIPITATION, and color it blue. PRECIPITATION occurs when clouds become saturated with water -- consequently, rain or snow is released.

  6. Briefly explain the concept of topography and how water can do one of two things once it falls on land: flow above ground until it reaches a water body (RUNOFF -- label and color) or percolate down through soil due to gravity (INFILTRATION -- label and color).

  7. Explain how RUNOFF eventually evaporates, beginning the cycle again. It may reach the ocean before it evaporates, or it may not.

  8. The water that soaked into the ground does not stay still. It moves as GROUNDWATER FLOW. The water eventually returns to the surface at a spring or water body, allowing the cycle to continue.

Assessment:

  1. Is there a specific point where the water cycle begins and ends?

  2. Is water in each stage of the cycle for the same amount of time, or does it vary? Why?

  3. What are some structures or events that might change certain parts of the water cycle?

NYS Learning Standards:

English
Standard 1 - Language for Information and Understanding: Listening and Reading

Math, Science, and Technology
Standard 4 - Physical Setting 2,3; The Living Environment 6


Source: This activity developed by Nathan Chronister and MJ Reiss.