Water Cycle Basics

Water Cycle Basics

What students learn

Students learn that the water cycle moves water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Start with Water Cycle: See the Whole Loop to see the repeating path first.

Why it matters

The water cycle explains where puddles go, how clouds form, and why rain returns water to Earth. Watch Water Cycle: Watch Evaporation Move Water Upward to connect sunlight and water movement.

Learn the idea

Water does not disappear when it changes state. It moves through the air, forms clouds, and falls back to the ground. Use Water Cycle: See Condensation Lead to Rain to name the last two major steps and say the full cycle in order.

Try it

Draw a simple sun-cloud-rain diagram and label each step with arrows. Ask the student to explain what happens to a puddle after the sun warms it.

Parent guide

Keep the talk concrete. Point to a puddle, a kettle lid, or a cloudy sky and ask where the water came from or where it will go next. If the child mixes up the steps, replay the first moment and say the cycle aloud together.