Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will understand the basics of the water cycle and how clouds form.

Materials and Prep

Materials: Water, a pot, a clear glass, ice cubes, a lamp or flashlight.

Prep: Fill the pot with water and place it on the stove. Have the glass ready for an experiment.

Activities

1. Water Cycle Demonstration: Watch how water evaporates from the pot, condenses on the lid, and then falls back into the pot like rain.

2. Cloud in a Glass: Create a cloud in the glass by holding the glass over the pot's steam and then placing ice cubes on top.

3. Shadow Clouds: Use a lamp or flashlight to create shadows that resemble clouds on a wall or ceiling.

Talking Points

• "Water can change from a liquid to a gas when it gets hot. This is called evaporation."
• "When the water vapor cools down, it turns back into liquid. This is called condensation."
• "Clouds are formed when tiny water droplets in the air come together and create visible moisture in the sky."
• "Rain happens when the water droplets in clouds become too heavy and fall back to the ground."