Science: The Water Cycle
How water moves through Earth
Science: The Water Cycle
How water moves through Earth
Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
What is the water cycle?
Think about water moving in a circle.
The water cycle is the way water moves from Earth's surface into the air and back to the ground again. - 2
What is evaporation?
Evaporation is when liquid water warms up and changes into water vapor that rises into the air. - 3
What is condensation?
This happens when gas changes back into liquid.
Condensation is when water vapor cools and changes into tiny drops of liquid water that form clouds. - 4
What is precipitation?
Precipitation is water that falls from clouds to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. - 5
Name two kinds of precipitation.
Think about weather that falls from clouds.
Two kinds of precipitation are rain and snow. - 6
After rain falls into a lake, where can the water go next in the water cycle?
After rain falls into a lake, the water can evaporate into the air again. - 7
What helps cause evaporation: the Sun or the Moon?
Think about what gives Earth heat during the day.
The Sun helps cause evaporation because its heat warms the water. - 8
Clouds are made of tiny drops of water or ice. Which part of the water cycle does this show?
This shows condensation because water vapor has cooled and formed clouds. - 9
Put these parts of the water cycle in order: condensation, collection, evaporation, precipitation.
Water first goes up into the air, then forms clouds, then falls, then gathers.
A correct order is evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. - 10
True or false: Water in the water cycle is used once and then disappears forever.
This statement is false because water keeps moving through the water cycle again and again. - 11
What is collection in the water cycle?
Think about where water rests after it falls.
Collection is when water gathers in places like oceans, lakes, rivers, and puddles. - 12
If wet clothes dry outside on a sunny day, which part of the water cycle is happening?
Evaporation is happening because the liquid water in the clothes changes into water vapor. - 13
Why do clouds sometimes produce rain?
Think about what happens when drops in a cloud get too heavy.
Clouds sometimes produce rain when the water drops in them get heavy enough to fall to the ground. - 14
How does water get from the ground into the clouds?
Water gets from the ground into the clouds by evaporating into the air and then condensing into tiny drops. - 15
Explain why the water cycle is important for living things.
Think about why living things need water.
The water cycle is important because it helps move fresh water around Earth so plants, animals, and people can use it.