Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the water cycle and be able to explain each stage with confidence.
Materials and Prep
- Clear glass
- Water
- Blue food coloring
- Heat source (stove or microwave)
- Pen and paper for notes
No prior knowledge required, just a curious mind ready to learn!
Activities
- Observing Evaporation: Fill a clear glass with water, add a few drops of blue food coloring, place it under a heat source, and observe what happens.
- Condensation Experiment: After observing evaporation, leave the glass to cool and watch as water droplets form on the sides of the glass.
- Precipitation Simulation: Pour the water from the glass back into a pan, heat it again, and watch as the colored water evaporates, condenses, and then precipitates back into the pan.
Talking Points
- Evaporation: "Evaporation is when water changes from a liquid to a gas due to heat energy from the sun."
- Condensation: "Condensation occurs when water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds or droplets on surfaces."
- Precipitation: "Precipitation is the release of water from clouds in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, completing the water cycle."