Science Focus Lesson SC.5.E.7.1Water Cycle

Polk County Public Schools

SC.5.E.7.1Benchmark: Create a model to explain the parts of

the water cycle. 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 water vaporcondensation precipitation

States of WaterSolids have a fixed volume and

shape. Their particles are tightly packed and vibrate but, they stay in place. Examples of Solid water include – ice, snow, hail, and sleet

Liquids have a fixed volume but their shape changes to fit the shape of the container they are in. Their particles are close together, they vibrate and change place. Liquid water – examples- dew, ocean water, lake water, mist, and rain.

•Gases have no fixed volume or fixed shape. Their particles are well separated without order, they vibrate and move freely and quickly from place to place. Gas–examples–steam, humidity in air and water vapor

The WATER CYCLE describes the continuous movement of water on and above the surface of the Earth.

Water can change states among liquid, gas, and solid at various stages of the water cycle.

The water that was here during the time of the dinosaurs is the same water that is here today.

What is the Water Cycle?

Click on Diagram to access Interactive Water Cycle Web Site

Using the information that you have learned describe the different states of water and give at least one example of each.

Using the information you learned about the water cycle write as many facts as you can remember about the cycle and the water in it.

Summarizing

What is Evaporation?Evaporation occurs when

the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, puddles, ponds or the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river, lake, puddle, pond or ocean and goes into the air.

Plants lose water out of their leaves and when this water evaporates it is called transpiration.

What is Condensation?Water vapor in the air gets

cold and changes back into liquid, forming clouds. This is called condensation.

You see condensation anytime you have a cold glass of water and on a hot day, water forms on the outside of the glass.  The water doesn’t leak through the glass!  The water on the outside of the glass comes from the air.  Water vapor in the warm air turns back into liquid when it touches the cold glass.

What is Precipitation?Precipitation occurs when so much water has condensed that the air cannot hold it anymore.  The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow.

Rain is a liquid form of precipitation

Hail, sleet, and snow are solid forms of precipitation

What is water Collection?When water falls to the

earth as precipitation, it collects before it evaporates- this is collection. It may create a puddle then

start the cycle over again quickly

It may soak into the soil and become part of the ground water and aquifer– be used by plants then evaporate to start the cycle over again

Or it may run downhill and collect in the oceans, lakes, rivers or swamps where the cycle start up again

What is the largest water collection on

Earth?

The Oceans are the largest water collections on Earth

97% of the water on Earth is in the ocean

Because of all of these reasons the ocean is very important to the water cycle.

More than ½ of all precipitation occurs over the ocean

The oceans are the source of more

than 85% of evaporation on Earth

75% of the Earth is covered with Water

Summarizing1. Turn to your shoulder partner.2. Partner A explain evaporation.3. Partner B explain condensation.4. Partner A give an example of solid

and liquid precipitation.5. Partner B explain why the ocean is

so important to the water cycle.

Guided PracticeTalk to your shoulder partner about the

answer to each question. Read the question carefully and read all answer choices.

When the Sun heats up the puddle of water in your backyard and turns it into water vapor, this process is known as ________.

A.CondensationB.EvaporationC.PrecipitationD.Collection

The answer is

Evaporation is occurring when the Sun heats up the puddle of water in your backyard and turns it into water vapor.

Guided PracticeAs time goes by, and water goes through the water cycle again and again, the amount of water on Earth _______.

A.IncreasesB.DecreasesC.Stays the sameD.Goes up and down

The answer is

The amount of water that is on Earth now is the same amount that has always been here. It is also the same water that has always been on Earth. The water cycle just cleans the water.

SummarizingPass a piece of paper around the table.

Each group member adds a detail that answers the question. Keep the paper moving until time is called- see how many ideas your group can generate!

Essential Question:What are the parts and function of the

water cycle and how does water change state?

Check Your UnderstandingNumber your paper from 1-3, select the

answers that you think are correct1. The water cycle begins with ________.

a. Condensationb. Evaporationc. Precipitationd. Trick question-the water cycle has no beginning or end

Check Your Understanding2. When you look outside and it is

raining, the water falling down is in what stage of the water cycle?a. Evaporationb. Collectionc. Condensationd. Precipitation

Check Your Understanding3. Why do water droplets form on your

ice cold glass of water?a. Your glass is leaking b. Evaporation occurredc. Precipitation occurredd. Condensation occurred

Check Your Answers1. D 2. D3. D

In your science journal explain what causes the water to change states throughout the water cycle.

Summary Question