Weathering the water cycle: Conclusion

This lesson concludes the unit "Weathering the Water Cycle." As a result of this unit, students will understand that the water cycle is a continuous cycle made up of three stages. The other lessons in this series include lessons on evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

By Cathie Hill, Jackie Parker, and Karen Neilson

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Related pages

• Weathering the water cycle: Condensation: This lesson introduces students to condensation as one phase of the water cycle. Through the use of the four lessons in this series students will learn that the water cycle is a continuous cycle. The other lessons in this series include lessons on evaporation and precipitation as well as a conclusion.
• Weathering the water cycle: Precipitation: Students will learn that precipitation is one of the three stages of the water cycle and how it relates to the other stages. The other lessons in this series include lessons on evaporation and condensation as well as a conclusion.
• Round and Round It Goes; Water, Where It Stops Nobody Knows: This experimental lab lesson will show the process of the hydrological cycle as it relates to the earth's atmosphere by showing three different scenarios.

Related topics

• Learn more about environmental science, science, technology skills, water, and water cycle.

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Learning outcomes

Students will name, explain, and illustrate the three stages of the water cycle as they relate to each other.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

2 days

Materials/resources

• drawing paper
• crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc.
• Optional Resources (to read or display for student use):
  • The Water Hole by Graeme Base
  • The Water Cycle
  • A Drop Around the World by Barbara Shaw McKinney
  • What Makes It Rain? by Keith Brandt

Technology resources

• Inspiration or Kidspiration software (or other graphic organizer program)
• Computer

Pre-activities

Teachers will have previously taught lessons on the different stages of the water cycle.

Activities

1. Create a KWL chart by asking students what they already know about the water cycle.
2. Students will illustrate and label a diagram of the water cycle on a sheet of drawing paper.
3. Students will then create a diagram of the water cycle on the computer using Inspiration or other graphic organizer software.
4. Optional activity: Invite a meteorologist from a local television station to come talk to the students about weather.

Assessment

Students will accurately illustrate and label the three stages of the water cycle and explain their diagrams.

Students will be able to:

• Explain the three stages of the water cycle. (Evaporation is the process by which a liquid changes into a gas. Evaporation changes liquid water into water vapor. Condensation is the change of a gas into a liquid. When water vapor cools, it becomes liquid water. Precipitation is water that falls to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.)
• Explain that the water cycle is a continuous process. (Water cycle is the movement of water from Earth’s surface into the air and back to Earth again. It is powered by heat from the sun.)

Supplemental information

Teachers need to be familiar with the graphic organizer software that they will be using.