River Basin Center: About Us

Watershed Connections

Introduction to Watersheds

Properties of Watersheds

Watershed Curriculum Group

Altamaha Initiative

Education

THE WATER CYCLE

Source of Activity:
Boulder Area Sustainability Information Network
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/learning/watercy.html

Objectives:

Students will learn the components of the water cycle.

QCC: S.8.16.1

Time Requirement:

1 period

By the end of this activity students should be able to:

Define precipitation, evaporation, and condensation
Describe the water cycle

Background Information:

The water cycle has three components: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Energy from the sun causes the water on the surface of the Earth to change to a vapor. This process is called evaporation. After water evaporates, it condenses. Condensation is the process by which vapor changes back into a liquid. This occurs when the water vapor is cooled. This water vapor condenses into droplets of water that form clouds. When the water droplets become too heavy to remain in the air, the water falls in the form of precipitation. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, and hail. This continuous process keeps the Earth supplied with fresh water and is called the hydrologic cycle, or water cycle.

Activity

Materials:

Clear plastic jar with lid (or small container that fits on top of jar)
Hot water
Ice
Food coloring

Procedure:

Pour hot water into plastic jar, filling it about 1/3 of the way. Add several drops of food coloring to simulate dissolved material. Place inverted lid (or smaller plastic container) on jar and fill with ice. Observe and discuss what is going on. Look for steam rising from warm water (clouds) and drops forming on bottom side of lid (rain).

Assessment:

Have a class discussion addressing the following questions:
- What happens to the water when it gets heated up?
- What effect does the ice have on the water?
  Discuss the water cycle as it occurs in nature.
  How is this demonstration similar?/different?
  What are the three states of water?
Have students draw the water cycle.

Extensions:

Create a terrarium to demonstrate the water cycle (See the Water Cycle Terrarium activity)

For More Information:

The Water Cycle at Work-
http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/kids/cycle.html
animated image of the water cycle

The Water Cycle-
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceTheWaterCycle46.htm
Lesson plan for teaching the water cycle

Water Cycle-
http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Biomes/waterweb.html
Links to sites with info, lesson plans, and activities on the water cycle

Physical Properties of Water- http://www.biologylessons.sdsu.edu/classes/lab1/lab1.html
Lab activities using simple materials to demonstrate polarity, solubility, cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and changes in density

Water Flow Through Local Soils- http://ucaswww.mcm.uc.edu/geology/crest/lesplans/NESEN_April96/waterflow.html

Home page: http://ucaswww.mcm.uc.edu/geology/crest/lesplans/NESEN_April96/active.html

Rain catchers-
http://www.track0.com/canteach/elementary/earthspace6.html
Students create a rain catcher and measure rainfall to determine amount of precipitation in their area

Visit Our Partners:

	Alliance for Quality Growth
	Center for Community Design & Preservation
	Georgia Museum of Natural History
	NARSAL

University of Georgia - Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology

UGA River Basin Center
110 Riverbend Road, Room 101
Athens, GA 30602-1510 USA
Phone: (706) 583-0463
Fax: (706) 583-0612

C. Ronald Carroll, Co-Director for Science - rcarroll@uga.edu
Laurie Fowler, Co-Director for Policy - lfowler@uga.edu

Map and Directions to the River Basin Center
For questions or comments about this web site email: bethgav@uga.edu