The Sun and The Water Cycle

Grades 3-5

Water Cycle

Changes to water when it evaporates into the air, condenses into clouds, and then precipitates back down to Earth.

Condensation

Physical change in matter from gas to a liquid

Moisture in the air cools and condenses and forms clouds

Evaporation

Physical change in matter from liquid to a gas

Transpiration

Water evaporates from leaves of plants

Precipitation

Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail that falls from clouds in the sky

Run-Off

When precipitation falls water runs off mountains, hills, and down valleys

Groundwater

Precipitation that falls back onto the land

Accumulation

Precipitation that accumulates back into the ocean, rivers, lakes, and streams.

Cycle

A set of events that repeat itself over time.

Continuous

Never Stopping