The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle part 1. Students will be able to do the following:
- Define the water cycle as the continual movement of water between earth and the air.
- Explain that the water cycle consists of three processes: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
- Identify transpiration as the process by which plants give off large amounts of water.
- Explain that water exists in three different forms - solid, liquid, and gas - and the process by which water changes from one form to another is referred to as a phase change.
- Define evaporation as the process by which liquid water becomes a gas, or water vapor.
- Explain that clouds are formed when warm, moisture-rich air cools, condensing into millions of tiny droplets.
- Understand that precipitation occurs when water droplets, ice, or snow become too numerous and heavy, causing them to fall from clouds to the earth.
- Define condensation as the process by which water vapor changes from a gas to a liquid.
- Understand the role that humans, plants, and animals play in the water cycle.
- Explain that while some regions of the world receive more precipitation than others, the total amount of evaporation and precipitation is balanced worldwide.
- Given a diagram of the water cycle, label the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
- Provide examples of the water cycle at work around their home, school, and community.`