When we flush the toilet
why should we say “see
you later”?
Aim: How does the earth
recycle water?
Topic: Water Cycle and Climates
Main Idea: Water Cycle
1a) What is the water cycle?
Using the picture and the reading
define the following words:
• Hydrologic cycle= process by which water
travels from the air to the earth and returns
back to the atmosphere
• Water table= top level of groundwater
• Aquifer= water-bearing layer of rock
• Runoff= water running along the surface
• Condensation= from gas to liquid
• E) Transpiration= moisture entering the
atmosphere from plants and trees
Terms continued…
• Saturated zone= point where all pore
spaces of rock are filled with water (below
the water table)
• Transpiration= moisture entering the
atmosphere from plants and trees
• Infiltration= water soaking downward
through the soil
• Evapotranspiration= all moisture entering
the atmosphere regardless of the source
What can happen to water
Conditions
•Temperature is high
•Relative humidity is low
Evaporation
Infiltration
• Ground is unsaturated
•Slope is low
Runoff
•Ground is saturated and
impermeable
•Slope is high
•Precipitation is heavy
Stored
•Ground is unsaturated and
flat
‘Round and ‘Round It Goes Activity Sheet
(use the Groundwater and Land Use in the Water Cycle picture)
1) Where do you see water in the picture? _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Where else is water found on Earth? __________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) The process by which water moves from the surface of plants to the atmosphere is called
_____________________________________________
4) The process by which water moves from the surface of soil, water, buildings, and parking lots, to the atmosphere is
called _______________________________________________.
5) Where does water go after it falls as precipitation? ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
6) Water forms clouds in the atmosphere and falls to Earth as ___________________________________________,
__________________________________________________, or sleet.
7) What effect does the sun have on the water cycle? Gravity? _______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
8) How is groundwater used by people? How do we get water out of the ground? _______________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
9) How many wells are shown in the picture? How is the water from the well(s) being used? _______________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
10) What activities shown in the picture can affect groundwater quality? ______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
11) If the factory and the barn switched places what effect would that have? Why?_______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________