Discovering the Water Cycle

Discovering the Water Cycle

Learning Objective

Understand and recall the stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

What do you already know about the water cycle?

What is the Water Cycle?

The water cycle is the continuous process by which water moves from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back again.

Stage 1: Evaporation

Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, or the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam.

Stage 2: Condensation

Condensation occurs when the water vapor in the air cools down and turns back into liquid water.

Stage 3: Precipitation

Precipitation happens when so much water has condensed that the air cannot hold it anymore. The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, snow, hail, or sleet.

Stage 4: Collection

Collection is the process by which water gathers in the oceans, rivers, and lakes, ready to begin the cycle again.

Recalling the Water Cycle

Recall the stages of the water cycle in the correct order: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

Independent Activity

Complete a worksheet that illustrates the water cycle and its stages.

Conclusion

Summarize the key points of the water cycle and its importance for the Earth's ecosystems.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.