Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the water cycle and how water moves through different stages.
Materials and Prep
- A clear glass or jar
- Water
- A small plate or saucer
- Some ice cubes
- A sunny window or a lamp
No prior knowledge is required for this lesson. Just come with a curious mind!
Activities
- Observe Condensation: Fill the glass or jar with cold water and place it on the plate. Leave it undisturbed in a warm area for a few hours. Observe the water droplets forming on the outside of the glass. This is condensation.
- Create Evaporation: Place the glass or jar in a sunny window or under a lamp. Watch as the water inside slowly disappears. This is evaporation.
- Simulate Precipitation: Take some ice cubes and hold them above the glass or jar. Watch as water droplets form on the ice cubes and fall into the glass. This is precipitation.
- Repeat the Cycle: Observe how the water in the glass or jar goes through the process of condensation, evaporation, and precipitation again and again.
Talking Points
- "Water is all around us, in the form of lakes, rivers, and even in the air we breathe."
- "When water gets warm, it turns into a gas called water vapor. This is called evaporation."
- "When water vapor cools down, it turns back into tiny water droplets. These droplets stick together to form clouds. This is called condensation."
- "When the droplets in the clouds get too heavy, they fall from the sky as rain, snow, or hail. This is called precipitation."
- "The water cycle is a continuous process, where water evaporates, forms clouds, and then falls back to the ground as precipitation, starting the cycle all over again."