Water Cycle

Rain, Clouds, and Puddles

The water cycle is the way water moves around our world again and again. Young students can see it in places they know, like puddles after rain, clouds in the sky, and sunshine drying the ground. Learning this idea helps children connect weather to everyday life. It also builds early science skills by showing that water can change and move.

Sun warms water in puddles, lakes, and grass, and some of that water goes up into the air. High in the sky, the water gathers into clouds, and when the clouds get full, rain falls back down. The rain makes puddles, waters plants, and fills streams. Then the cycle starts again, so water keeps traveling in a big loop.

Key Facts

The water cycle is water moving from the ground to the sky and back again.
Sunshine warms water and helps it go up into the air.
Water in the air can gather together and make clouds.
When clouds get heavy with water, rain can fall.
Rain makes puddles, wets the soil, and gives water to plants.
The water cycle keeps happening over and over.

Vocabulary

Water cycle: The water cycle is the path water takes as it moves from the ground to the sky and back again.
Cloud: A cloud is a group of tiny drops of water high in the sky.
Rain: Rain is water that falls from clouds to the ground.
Puddle: A puddle is a small pool of water on the ground after rain.
Sunshine: Sunshine is light and warmth from the Sun that can help dry water.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Thinking clouds are made of smoke, which is wrong because clouds are made of tiny drops of water.
Thinking puddles disappear forever, which is wrong because the water goes into the air and stays part of the water cycle.
Thinking rain only comes from dark clouds, which is wrong because clouds can hold water before they look very dark.
Thinking the water cycle happens only once, which is wrong because water keeps moving in a repeating loop.

Practice Questions

1 After a rainstorm, Mia sees 4 puddles on the playground. Later, 2 puddles dry up in the sun. How many puddles are still there?
2 A class sees 3 rainy days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If each rainy day makes 2 big puddles by the school, how many big puddles were made in all?
3 Why does a puddle get smaller after a sunny day even if nobody splashes in it?