Objective
By the end of this lesson, Fletcher will be able to understand the basics of the water cycle and how clouds are formed.
Materials and Prep
- Clear plastic cup
- Water
- Blue food coloring (optional)
- Ice cubes
- Tablespoon
- Sunlight
No prior knowledge required, just curiosity and enthusiasm!
Activities
- Make a mini water cycle in a cup: Fill the cup with water, add a few drops of food coloring, place a tablespoon on top of the cup, and an ice cube on the spoon. Observe what happens.
- Observe clouds formation: Go outside on a sunny day and look up at the sky. Talk about how clouds are formed and why they look different.
- Draw and label the water cycle: Encourage Fletcher to draw and label the different stages of the water cycle to reinforce understanding.
Talking Points
- Quotation: "Water is all around us, in different forms like liquid, gas, and solid. Today, we will learn how it moves through the water cycle."
- Quotation: "When the sun heats up water in oceans, rivers, and lakes, it causes evaporation. Can you think of what happens next?"
- Quotation: "Condensation is like when your glasses fog up when you come inside from the cold. It's water vapor turning back into liquid water."
- Quotation: "Clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals. They look fluffy because of how light shines through them."
- Quotation: "Rain, snow, sleet, and hail all come from clouds. They are nature's way of returning water back to the ground."