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Water Cycle

Water Cycle

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to describe the Sun as a star composed of gases that provides light and heat energy for the water cycle.


Essential Understanding

The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among objects in the sky.

Science Background

The Water Cycle: US Geological Survey (website) - Detailed graphic illustrates the water cycle and how it is driven by light and heat energy from the Sun.

The Water Cycle
Georgia Water Science for Schools, US Geological Survey, water.usgs.gov/edu

Waste Limitation Management and Recycling Design Challenge: NASA (website) - Earth’s hydrologic cycle is discussed in this detailed, downloadable educator guide about water recycling on space missions.

Waste Limitation Management and Recycling Design Challenge
NASA, www.nasa.gov

Signature Lesson

What is the Water Cycle? BioEd Online (website and video) – Students create and describe a water cycle model (constructed in a shoebox covered with clear plastic and powered by light and heat energy from the sun).

What is the Water Cycle? - Dowload the Lesson
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

What is the Water Cycle? - Watch the Related Video
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Supporting Lessons

The Water Cycle: NASA Aquarius Project (website) - Students investigate Sun-driven evaporation and condensation in this experiment on the water cycle.

The Water Cycle
NASA Aquarius Project, aquarius.nasa.gov

Rain Machine (Solar Still): Florida Solar Energy Center (website) - Students construct and test a solar water purifying still that mimics Earth’s sun-driven hydrologic cycle. The downloadable activity can be found under the “Sun and Heat” section on the web page.

Rain Machine (Solar Still)
Florida Solar Energy Center, www.fsec.ucf.edu

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Mini Water Cycle: ABC Science (PDF) - This activity demonstrates evaporation, condensation and precipitation in a plastic tub filled with dirt, cling wrap and a pebble.

Mini Water Cycle
ABC Science, www.abc.net.au

Assessment Ideas

Have students write a short story describing what happens to a drop of seawater when the Sun warms it. Their stories/essays should explain where the drop of water goes, and how it eventually gets back to the ocean.

Literature Connections

The Water Cycle. Trueit T. (ISBN: 978-0531162200)

The Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation & Erosion. Harman R. (ISBN: 978-1403470669)

Related Science TEKS

(3.8C) Sun, Earth and Moon
The student is expected to construct models that demonstrate the relationship of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, including orbits and positions.

(3.8D) Solar System
The student is expected to identify the planets in Earth's solar system and their position in relation to the Sun.

Related Math TEKS

3.11.A The student is expected to use linear measurement tools to estimate and measure lengths using standard units.

3.15.A The student is expected to describe activities that take approximately one second, one minute, and one hour.

Additional Resources

Water Science for Schools: US Geological Survey (website) - Lots of background information on water as a resource and its role global geology and climate.

Water Science for Schools
US Geological Survey, www.usgs.gov

Water Cycle: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio (website) - Beautiful downloadable animations of the water cycle.

Water Cycle
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio, svs.gsfc.nasa.gov

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