The water cycle is the continuous recycling of water, comprising four main parts: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and run-off/collection. Evaporation occurs when heat converts water into vapor, which then condenses into clouds and eventually precipitates back to Earth as various forms of moisture. Run-off refers to the collection of this precipitation in bodies of water like oceans, lakes, or rivers.

1. THE WATER CYCLE

2. What is the Water Cycle?
The recycling of water over and over again is
called the water cycle.
There are four main parts of the water cycle.
Think about weather. Can you name some
forms of water/precipitation that we get with
weather?

3. Rain
Sleet
Hail
Snow

4. Based on the picture, what
do you think Evaporation
is?
How do you think it
happens?

5. What is Evaporation?
When a heat source heats up water and turns it into water vapor.
The water vapor eventually rises into the air.

6. What is Condensation?
Water vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into liquid,
forming clouds.

7. What is Precipitation?
Occurs when so much water has condensed that the air cannot
hold it anymore. The clouds get heavy and it precipitates as rain,
sleet, snow, or hail.

8. What is Run-Off/Collection?
When water falls back to earth as precipitation, it collects back
in oceans, lakes, or rivers, or it may end up on land.