The Water Cycle

Today Kindergarten Explored the Water Cycle!  

The water cycle

Have them show you with hand motions showing how water continues to be reused and recycled.

We explored how water turns into an invisible gas in the sun by drawing with water.  This is called evaporation.

Then we looked at a cup full of ice and noticed that water from the air condensed into drops on the outside.  This is called condensation.

Then we watched the drops fall down on the cup and make a ring of water.  This is called precipitation.

To use the whole cycle, we created a cloud.

First we evaporated hot water.

Then we put dust in for water to stick to.

Then we cooled the water by putting ice on top.  This caused condensation onto the dust particles and the bottom of the cup.

Then we watched the cloud form in the jar.  The cup and jar began to precipitate!

Of course we had to let the cloud loose and enjoyed watching it rise out of the jar.

This is a great science song about the water cycle
Water Cycle by Mr. Davies on School Tube

You can create a virtual water cycle at Southeast Water.
Virtual Water Cycle


Here is a fun activity to try at home

WATER CYCLE HOME DEMONSTRATION 

Materials:

• dixie cup or other small container
• ziplock
• water

Procedure:
Put an inch of water in the dixie cup.
Put the dixie cup in a ziplock and close it tightly.
Set the ziplock with the cup of water in the sun on a hot day. Go play for awhile and come back to check on it.

Observations:

Did the water leave the cup?  If it was warm enough, the water evaporated (turned into a gas.)  Then when the air inside the bag couldn't hold any more water, it condensed and precipitated! 


Explanation: 
With the heat of the sun, the water evaporates from the cup and turns into water vapor (an invisible gas you can't see.)  It rises then condenses on the inside of the bag into little water droplets. These droplets eventually precipitate down to the bottom of the bag.  Now you have created your very own water cycle.


Make a cloud in a different way!

You can also make a cloud by changing the pressure!  When you change pressure you change the temperature.  For this cloud use rubbing alcohol fumes (only with a parent!) for the dust (blue food coloring is in the alcohol.)