Water Cycle Science Experiments
From creating a miniature water cycle in a bag to experimenting with clouds in a jar, there are plenty of hands-on Water Cycle Science Experiments that can be done right at home.
If you enjoyed these activities, check out more Fun Weather Activities for Kids!
Learning about the water cycle can be a blast for kids, especially when they get to conduct science experiments to fully understand the process.
Not only will these experiments educate your children on how the water cycle works, but they’ll also get them excited about science! Plus, who doesn’t love a good excuse to get a little bit messy while learning? So, roll up your sleeves and get ready to dive into some awesome science experiments with your little ones.
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What are the Major Phases of the Water Cycle?
The water cycle is the process by which water moves from the Earth’s surface up into the atmosphere and back again. There are four major phases of the water cycle:
- Evaporation: When the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, and oceans, it turns the water into water vapor, which is a gas. This process is called evaporation. The water vapor then rises into the atmosphere.
- Condensation: As the water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools down and turns back into liquid water droplets. This process is called condensation. The droplets form clouds in the sky.
- Precipitation: When the water droplets in the clouds become too heavy, they fall to the ground as precipitation. This can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Collection: Once the precipitation falls to the ground, it can collect in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Some of the water is absorbed by plants or soaks into the ground and becomes groundwater.
From there, the cycle starts all over again. The water evaporates from the surface, condenses into clouds, and falls back to the ground as precipitation. This cycle is continuous and helps to maintain the balance of water on Earth.
Recommended Water Cycle Books for Kids
Find your favorite water cycle book, these fun picture books can give your kids more detail about what happens to a drop of water.
I highly recommend adding these books to your current lesson plans for this topic. Aside from the water cycle science experiments below, these books are a great way to dive a bit deeper into the topic with engaging stories.
The Water Cycle at Work (Water In Our World)Ethan The RaindropWater Is Water: A Book About the Water CycleDown Comes the Rain (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)All the Water in the WorldThe Little Raindrop
Recommended Weather Activity Kits
Dive deeper into the weather and learn the water cycle with these fun weather activity kits, your kids will love learning with any of these educational kits!
The Water Cycle MagnetsBe Amazing! Toys Weather Science Lab KitCarson Dellosa – Water Cycle Bulletin Board SetWater Cycle Wheel Science Kit (Makes 25 Projects)Brookstone Children’s Weather Station Kit – Meteorologist STEAM Toy for KidsPLAYSTEM Space Weather Station Water Cycle Simulation Learning Kit
Water Cycle Science Experiments
Learning about the water cycle is important because it helps us understand how water moves around the Earth and how it affects the environment. That is why I have compiled these Water Cycle Science Experiments to help your kids learn about the water cycle while still having tons of fun!
This Water Cycle Bag Experiment is a great way to introduce them to science and all the ideas of the water cycle.
This Clouds in a Jar Experiment is a great experiment to teach your kids about the role of clouds in the water cycle.
This rain cloud in a jar experiment is super simple and super easy. This can also be a start to teaching your kids about the water cycle.
Create a simple yet fascinating activity that teaches kids about the water cycle, especially the condensation phase.
This hands-on experiment offers a fun and interactive way to teach kids about the water cycle and the process of evaporation.
With this activity, kids will learn the different factors that affect evaporation, such as temperature and surface area.
Learn about the water cycle and the process of condensation in a hands-on way with this simple and fun activity.
This easy-to-follow activity is perfect for curious kids who want to learn about the journey of water from the sky to the earth and back again.
Explore the science behind condensation and how it plays a crucial role in the water cycle with just the use of simple materials at home.
With the use of simple materials, create a mini water cycle right in a bottle, giving kids a hands-on understanding of how water moves through the environment.
From the basics of what evaporation is to real-world applications, this post covers it all.
By conducting these fun and interactive Water Cycle Science Experiments, kids can gain a better understanding of the different phases of the water cycle and how they work together.
These experiments can also help spark an interest in science and inspire kids to learn more about the world around them. By understanding the water cycle, kids can appreciate the importance of water and how to conserve this precious resource.
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