Science: The Water Cycle

The rainy season is a great time to study the water cycle. Study brings up some questions like how much water is on the earth? In the earth? Is water old? Is some of the water you drink today water that was on the earth centuries ago? Can water be wasted or is it always recycled in one way or another?


What is the Hydrologic Cycle?

First look at what water cycle being referred to. What is the water cycle? The water or hydrologic cycle is the continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, clouds, land, plants, and oceans.

Since no new water is entering the earth’s atmosphere, the water on and inside the earth must be very old water. It is water that has been flowing and evaporating and raining since the beginning of the earth.

Water and Soil Experiment

Place some dirt and seeds in a shallow pan. Set the pan on a rock or something to hold up one end. Spray or sprinkle water unto the dirt. Watch what happens. Did any of the water seep into the dirt? Did any create rivulets to run through down to the lower end of the pan? Has a pool formed there? Set the pan in a sunny place to see what will happen. Did the topsoil dry out and evaporate because of the heat? After a few days dig up the seeds to see if they absorbed moisture.

Rainfall Observation

Test the effects of rain on soil and plants by observing an area before, during, and after a rainfall. In a notebook record what you notice before, during and after. When you see that rain is expected, walk outside and check the foliage. Is it wilted and dry? Check the ground. Is it dry? Is there much dust? How does the dirt feel?

During the storm watch to see how the water moves when it falls. Does it run off roofs and cars and drip from tree leaves into the grass? Where does it go then? Into the grass where it seems to disappear, moving down a ditch, hitting the surface of a fountain or pool, lake or pond? Does the water run downhill with the slope of the street or land? After the rain, check out the same area again. What can you observe about the water? Has it puddled up in holes or depressions in the ground? Has any of the moisture evaporated? Is rain still moving in the ditches? Is the ground very wet? What happened to the water?

Water Cycle Experiment

This experiment takes a longer period of time. Fill a fish bowl with some soil, a small plant, a few rocks and some water. Top the jar with plastic wrap held in place with a rubber band. Set the jar in a sunny place. After the air inside the jar becomes warm, water will condense on the plastic and /or sides of the glass. It will eventually begin to rain (drip) off the lid into the soil. Plants catch, use, and hold water. The terrarium establishes a mini-water cycle.

The water cycle is the movement of the resource living things need everyday on the planet earth. Water evaporates from oceans and forms clouds. Clouds redeposit the water over land as snow or rain. The water eventually gets back to the ocean and the cycle continues.

Read more at Suite101: Teach Kids about the Water Cycle: Rainfall Experiments to do at Home with Your Children http://www.suite101.com/content/the-water-cycle-a118553#ixzz155rBlgva


Check out this cool video the kids loved!
The Water Cycle Song