Water Cycle

Science Focus Lesson

SC.5.E.7.1

I can create a model to

explain the parts of
the water cycle.

I can explain that

water can be a gas, a
liquid, or a solid and
can go back and forth
from one state to
another
Essential Question:
What causes water to change states
throughout the water cycle?
Vocabulary:
Evaporation The process by which a liquid
is converted to its vapor phase by heating
the liquid.
Condensation - The process o changing
ro! a gas to a liquid
Water Vapor - When water beco!es a gas it
beco!es water vapor.
Precipitation Water that alls to Earth"s
surace as in the or! o rain# hail# sleet or
snow.
$tates o Water

$olids have a %&ed volu!e and

shape. Their particles are
tightly pac'ed and vibrate but#
they stay in place. Examples
of Solid ater include ! ice"
sno" #ail" and sleet

(iquids have a %&ed volu!e but

their shape changes to %t the
shape o the container they are
in. Their particles are close
together# they vibrate and
change place. Li$uid ater !
examples% de" ocean
ater" la&e ater" mist" and
rain.

)ases have no %&ed volu!e or %&ed shape. Their particles are

well
separated without order# they vibrate and !ove reely and quic'ly
ro!
place to place. 'as!examples!steam" #umidity in air and
ater vapor

The W*TE+ ,-,(E describes the continuous

!ove!ent o water on and above the
surace o the Earth.

Water can change states a!ong liquid# gas#

and solid at various stages o the water
cycle.

The water that was here during the ti!e o

the dinosaurs is the sa!e water that is here
today.
What is the Water ,ycle?
Click on Diagram to access Interactive Water Cycle Web Site

.sing the inor!ation that you

have learned describe the
di/erent states o water and
give at least one e&a!ple o
each.

.sing the inor!ation you

learned about the water cycle
write as !any acts as you can
re!e!ber about the cycle and
the water in it.
$u!!ari0ing
What is Evaporation?

Evaporation occurs when

the sun heats up water in
rivers# la'es# puddles#
ponds or the ocean and
turns it into vapor or
stea!.The water vapor
or stea! leaves the river#
la'e# puddle# pond or
ocean and goes into the
air.

2lants lose water out o

their leaves and when
this water evaporates it
is called transpiration.
What is ,ondensation?

Water vapor in the air gets

cold and changes bac' into
liquid# or!ing clouds.This is
called condensation.

-ou see condensation

anyti!e you have a cold glass
o water and on a hot day#
water or!s on the outside o
the glass. The water doesn"t
lea' through the glass3 The
water on the outside o the
glass co!es ro! the air.
Water vapor in the war! air
turns bac' into liquid when it
touches the cold glass.
What is
2recipitation?

Precipitation occurs when

so much water has
condensed that the air
cannot hold it anymore. The
clouds get heavy and water
alls back to the earth in the
orm o rain! hail! sleet or
snow.

"ain is a li#uid orm o

precipitation

$ail! sleet! and snow are

solid orms o precipitation

What is water ,ollection?

When water alls to the

earth as precipitation# it
collects beore it
evaporates- this is
collection.

4t !ay create a puddle then

start the cycle over again
quic'ly

4t !ay soa' into the soil

and beco!e part o the
ground water and aquier
be used by plants then
evaporate to start the cycle
over again

5r it !ay run downhill and

collect in the oceans# la'es#
rivers or swa!ps where the
cycle start up again
What is the largest
water collection on
%arth&
The 5ceans are the largest
water collections on Earth
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*ecause o all o these reasons the ocean
is very important to the water cycle.
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ater
$u!!ari0ing
6. Turn to your shoulder partner.
7. 2artner * e&plain evaporation.
8. 2artner 9 e&plain condensation.
:. 2artner * give an e&a!ple o solid
and liquid precipitation.
;. 2artner 9 e&plain why the ocean is
so i!portant to the water cycle.
)uided 2ractice
Tal' to your shoulder partner about the
answer to each question. +ead the question
careully and read all answer choices.
When the Sun heats up the puddle o water
in your backyard and turns it into water
vapor! this process is known as ////////.
0. Condensation
*. %vaporation
C.Precipitation
D.Collection
The answer is
B
%vaporation is occurring
when the Sun heats up
the puddle o water in
your backyard and turns
it into water vapor.
)uided 2ractice
0s time goes by! and water goes through the
water cycle again and again! the amount o
water on %arth ///////.
0.Increases
*.Decreases
C.Stays the same
D.1oes up and down
The answer is
C
The amount o water that is on %arth
now is the same amount that has
always been here. It is also the same
water that has always been on %arth.
The water cycle 2ust cleans the water.
$u!!ari0ing
2ass a piece o paper around the table.
Each group !e!ber adds a detail
that answers the question. <eep the
paper !oving until ti!e is
called- see how !any ideas
your group can generate3
Essential Question:
What are the parts and unction o the
water cycle and how does water
change state?
,hec' -our
.nderstanding
=u!ber your paper ro! 6-8# select
the answers that you thin' are
correct
6. The water cycle begins with
>>>>>>>>.
a. ,ondensation
b. Evaporation
c. 2recipitation
d. Tric' question-the water cycle has
no beginning or end
,hec' -our
.nderstanding
7. When you loo' outside and it is
raining# the water alling down is in
what stage o the water cycle?
a. Evaporation
b. ,ollection
c. ,ondensation
d. 2recipitation
,hec' -our
.nderstanding
8. Why do water droplets or! on your
ice cold glass o water?
a. -our glass is lea'ing
(. Evaporation occurred
c. 2recipitation occurred
d. ,ondensation occurred
,hec' -our *nswers
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?

4n your science @ournal e&plain
what causes the water to change
states throughout the water
cycle.
$u!!ary Question