Water goes up, water comes down — explore evaporation, condensation, and precipitation in nature's endless loop. A full 10-question lesson, exactly what your child would see.
Tip: This lesson works best as a read-aloud. Sit together, read each section out loud, and pause to discuss before answering questions.
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The water you drank this morning might once have been rain, part of a river, or sitting in the ocean. Water moves between the air, the land, and the oceans. Along the way, it can change between liquid water, ice, and invisible water vapor. These movements and changes are called the water cycle.
Imagine following a drop of water. It might leave the ocean as invisible water vapor, become part of a cloud, and fall as rain. Then it could soak into the ground or flow into a river. Water can change its form and location as it moves through the cycle.
Most of Earth’s water is salty ocean water. Much of its fresh water is frozen in ice or stored underground. Only a small part is in rivers and lakes. People, plants, and animals depend on fresh water, so keeping it clean matters.
The water cycle is the process that moves water between these locations. It has four main stages: evaporation (water becomes gas), condensation (gas becomes tiny droplets), precipitation (droplets fall as rain or snow), and collection (water gathers in rivers, lakes, and oceans).
Water can be solid ice, liquid water, or invisible water vapor. Evaporation changes liquid to gas. Condensation changes gas to liquid. Freezing changes liquid to ice. These changes happen in the water cycle, too.