Transcript No Slide Title

The Water Cycle
Did you ever wonder why water in the lakes
and oceans never seems to dry up? That is
because water goes through what is called a
cycle. A cycle is something that goes around
and around - sort of like the wheel on your
bicycle.
. . .more on the
The Water Cycle
The wheel of your
bicycle goes around and
around. It doesn’t seem
to have a beginning or
an end.
The Water Cycle is like the wheel of
your bike. It goes round and round and
doesn’t seem to have a beginning or an
end. Water is taken from the soil, from
the air, and from the lakes and oceans.
It evaporates into the atmosphere and
forms clouds. The clouds then release
the water as rain, sleet, hail, or snow.
How Does The Water
Cycle Work?
The water from the land, lakes and
oceans go through a process called
evaporation. That’s a big word that
means the water turns into a gas and
goes into the air. Another word for air
is atmosphere
When your mom or dad boils
water for cooking, sometimes
you see a smoking cloud rising
over the pot. This is called
steam and is one way that
water evaporates into the
atmosphere
. . .say that again?!?!
The Water Cycle
Water evaporates into the atmosphere. This water comes
from plants and trees on the land, from oceans and lakes,
and from groundwater. Groundwater is the water that is in
the soil, and in cracks and crevices in hills and mountains.
water falls
oceans
mountains
lakes
trees
green plants
What causes the water to
Evaporate into the
Atmosphere?
The water that evaporates
into the atmosphere is not in
a liquid form like the water
that comes out of your
faucets at home. This water
is in the form of a gas and is
sometimes called water vapor.
Remember the boiling water?
water vapor
Heat from your parent’s stove or
microwave causes the water in the cup to
boil. The boiling water turns into water
vapor or gas and is released into the air.
What do you think causes the water on
land and in the oceans to heat up and
evaporate?
What causes the water to
Evaporate into the
Atmosphere?
If you guessed “the sun”
you’re right. Solar heat is
the heat that is produced
from the sun. This heat
causes the water to turn
into water vapor or a gas
and this gas is released
into the atmosphere.
What happens after the
water Evaporates into the
Atmosphere?
This water vapor rises in the
atmosphere. When this
happens the air is very moist.
The amount of water vapor in
the air is called humidity.
When there is enough water
vapor in the air, the water
vapor forms a cloud.
How does the water get from the
clouds back into the ocean, lakes,
mountains, and soil?
Now that the water vapor has formed clouds,
we are half way through our water cycle.
The clouds stay in the sky
until the weather condition
is just right. Then the
clouds release their lifegiving water back onto the
land and mountains and into
the lakes, oceans, and
streams. When this
happens, we call the water
. . .and the Water Cycle starts
rain, snow, or hail.
over again. . . And again, and
again, and again.
Let’s Review
The Water Cycle
The warmth of the sun causes
the water from the lakes,
oceans, green plants, soil, and
mountains to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
The water vapor rises in the
atmosphere and forms clouds.
Taken from the Environmental Protection
Agencies Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water Kid’s Pages:
http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/kids/cycle.html
Visit their site for lots of fun environmental
activities! (Remember to use your browsers
back button to return to the lesson.)
When the weather conditions
are just right, the clouds
release their life-giving water
droplets back onto the earth.
The water returns to the earth
in the form of rain, snow, or
hail.
RugRat Ranger
Challenge
Click on the correct image or answer to
fill the blanks.
1. Water from the ________
evaporates into the atmosphere.
2. The evaporated water is called
___________.
a. green plants
b. bicycle
c. vapor or gas
3. This evaporated water rises in the
atmosphere and forms ________.
4. When the weather conditions are
just right it will _____.
5. After the water returns to earth,
the water cycle _________.
a. starts again
b. ends
RugRat Glossary
atmosphere
the mass of gases that surrounds the earth; the air.
Back to lesson
cycle
events or actions that happen in a particular order and usually
continue to happen over and over again.
Back to lesson
evaporation
gas.
the process which changes water in water vapor, steam, or
Back to lesson
gas
an invisible element that does not have shape or size but takes up
Back to lesson
space; (example: air).
ground water
surface.
humidity
The supply of fresh water found beneath the Earth's
Back to lesson
the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.
solar heat
heat the comes from the sun.
water cycle
and earth.
water vapor
Back to lesson
Back to lesson
Movement or exchange of water between the atmosphere
Back to lesson
water after it has changed into a gas which is floating free
Back to lesson
in the atmosphere.
RugRat Challenge
Answers
You’re
Right!!!
Keep Up
The Great
Work!
Return to
Lesson
RugRat Challenge
Answers
Sorry,
Try
Again
Return to
Lesson