Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the concept of the water cycle and its importance in nature.

Materials and Prep

• Clear glass or plastic cup
• Water
• Marker
• Sunlight
• Knowledge of basic weather terms like evaporation and condensation

Activities

• Rain in a Cup: Fill a clear cup with water and mark the water level. Place the cup in direct sunlight and observe what happens over time.
• Cloud in a Jar: Fill a jar with hot water and cover it with a plate of ice. Observe the condensation forming inside the jar to create a cloud-like effect.
• Water Cycle Dance: Create a fun dance routine to represent the stages of the water cycle - evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

Talking Points

• Evaporation: "When the sun shines on water, it turns into invisible water vapor and goes up into the sky like magic!"
• Condensation: "When the water vapor gets cold, it changes back into tiny water droplets and forms clouds in the sky."
• Precipitation: "When the clouds get heavy with water droplets, they release rain, snow, or hail down to the ground."
• Collection: "The water that falls on the ground collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans, and the cycle starts all over again!"