Young scientists get their feet wet as they learn about the water cycle in this series of activities. Whether they are observing how evaporation causes puddles to dry up, or how plants put water into the atmosphere through transpiration, this resource engages children in exploring the different processes driving the hyrologic cycle.

Concepts

the water cycle, the hydrosphere, precipitation, condensation, evaporation, transpiration, groundwater, surface water

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Supplement these activities into an upper-elementary science unit on the water cycle
• Allow children the choice of working with a partner when designing and building their water stills
• Create a set of worksheets that complement the different evaporation and transpiration demonstrations

Classroom Considerations

• Some of the activities will need to be performed over the course of two or more days, allowing time for water evaporate, condense, and/or transpire

Pros

• Includes a worksheet that asks students to correctly label a water cycle diagram
• Offers five different activities that teach about the different processes within the water cycle
• Children apply their learning by designing and building their own water purification devices

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.4.1.a SL.4.2 SL.5.1.a SL.5.2 L.4.6 L.5.6 SL.6.1.a SL.6.2 L.6.6 RST.6-8.4 RST.6-8.9