Water Cycle Molecular Movement and Energy Flow Activity
1. Print the water cycle location labels and water cycle location cards.
2. Post water cycle location labels around the room with enough space for students to
group at each location as they move from location to location. (consider student
performance of total physical response gestures when moving from one location to
another)
3. Ensure that there are clear pathways between each location.
4. Cut out water cycle location cards for one location. Then place one location’s cards in an
envelope labeled as that location. Repeat this process for each of the water cycle
location cards.
5. Place the envelope of each water cycle location at the corresponding location label.
*It is recommended that the water cycle location labels are printed in color. It is also
recommended that all water cycle location labels and water cycle location cards are
laminated for reuse.
Assignment of Initial Location of Students
Cloud
Atmosphere
Condensation
Groundwater
Groundwater Storage
Lake
Evaporation*
Freshwater Storage
Precipitation*
Soil
Surface Runoff
Infiltration
Ocean
Evaporation*
Precipitation*
Oceans
Plant
Evapotranspiration
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River
Evaporation*
Precipitation*
Springs
Streamflow
Glacier
Ice & Snow
Snowmelt
Sublimation
Cave
Groundwater flow
Animal
N/A
*Refers to answers that will need to be dispersed between the river, lake, and ocean location
evenly.
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Soil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil#mediaviewer/File:Stagnogley.JPG
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Plants
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_evolutionary_developmental_biology#mediaviewer/File:Plants_diversity.jpg
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Rivers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon%E2%80%93Charley_Rivers_National_Preserve#mediaviewer/File:CharleyRiverAtYukon1.jpg
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Lakes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_of_Slovenia#mediaviewer/File:Bled_Overview.JPG
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_Brueghel_the_Elder_-_The_Entry_of_the_Animals_into_Noah%27s_Ark_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Animals
Groundwater
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Water_well_in_garden_of_Cambremer_%28France%29.JPG
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Cave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave#mediaviewer/File:Lechuguilla_Cave_Pearlsian_Gulf.jpg
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Clouds
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cumulus_Clouds_Over_Jamaica.jpg
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Ocean
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colorful_ocean_wallpaper_%283626771198%29.jpg
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Glacier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier#mediaviewer/File:Perito_Moreno_Glacier_Patagonia_Argentina_Luca_Galuzzi_2005.JPG
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Soil Location Cards
Water is
absorbed by
plant roots.
Gain .5 Units of
energy!
Water is pulled
by gravity, it
filters into the
cave.
Lose .5 Units of
energy!
Water is
absorbed by
plant roots.
Gain .5 Units of
energy!
The soil is
Water is pulled
saturated, so
by gravity, it
water runs off
filters into the
into a river.
groundwater.
Gain .5 Units of
Lose.5 Units of
energy!
energy!
Radiant energy is Water stays on
added to the
the surface (in a
water, so the
puddle or
water evaporates adhering to a soil
into the clouds.
particle).
Gain 8 Units of
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
energy!
Water is pulled
The soil is
by gravity, it
saturated, so
filters into the
water runs off
groundwater.
into a river.
Lose.5 Units of
Gain .5 Units of
energy!
energy!
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Plant Location Cards
Water leaves the
plant through the
process of
transpiration
going into the
clouds.
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
Water is used in
the plant and
stays in the
plant’s cells.
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
Water leaves the
plant through the
process of
transpiration
going into the
clouds.
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
Water leaves the
plant through the
process of
transpiration
going into the
clouds.
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
Water leaves the Water is used in
plant through the the plant and
process of
stays in the
transpiration
plant’s cells.
going into the
Gain 2 Units of
clouds.
energy!
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
Water leaves the
plant through the
process of
transpiration
going into the
clouds.
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
Water is used in
the plant and
stays in the
plant’s cells.
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
Water leaves the
plant through the
process of
transpiration
going into the
clouds.
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
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River Location Cards
Water flows into
a Lake.
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
Water is pulled Water flows into
by gravity and is
the Ocean.
filtered into the
Gain 2 Units of
soil.
energy!
Lose .5 Units of
energy!
An animal drinks Radiant energy is Water stays in
water from the added, so water the current of the
river.
evaporates and
river.
No energy is
goes to the
Gain 1 Unit of
gained or lost.
clouds.
energy.
Gain 8 Units of
energy!
Water flows into Water flows into Water is pulled
a Lake.
the Ocean.
by gravity and is
Gain 2 Units of
Gain 2 Units of
filtered into the
energy!
energy!
soil.
Lose .5 Units of
energy!
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Lake Location Cards
Water is pulled
Water is pulled An animal drinks
by gravity and is by gravity and is water from the
filtered into the filtered into the
lake.
groundwater.
soil.
No energy is
Lose .5 Units of
Lose .5 Units of
gained or lost.
energy!
energy!
Water flows into Radiant energy is Water stays in
a river.
added to the
the lake.
Gain 2 Units of
water, so the
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
water evaporates
energy!
into the clouds.
Gain 8 Units of
energy!
Water flows into Radiant energy is Water is pulled
a river.
added to the
by gravity and is
Gain 2 Units of
water, so the
filtered into the
energy!
water evaporates groundwater.
into the clouds.
Lose .5 Units of
Gain 8 Units of
energy!
energy!
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Animal Location Cards
Water is excreted Water is respired Water is recycled
onto the soil
or evaporated
in the body.
through feces
from the body
Gain 1 Unit of
and urine.
and goes into the
energy!
Gain 4 Units of
clouds.
energy!
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
Water is excreted Water is respired Water is excreted
onto the soil
or evaporated
onto the soil
through feces
from the body
through feces
and urine.
and goes into the
and urine.
Gain 4 Units of
clouds.
Gain 4 Units of
energy!
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
energy!
Water is excreted Water is respired Water is recycled
onto the soil
or evaporated
in the body.
through feces
from the body
Gain 1 Unit of
and urine.
and goes into the
energy!
Gain 4 Units of
clouds.
energy!
Gain 6 Units of
energy!
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Groundwater Location Cards
Water filters into Water filters into Water filters into
a river.
a lake.
a cave.
Gain 2 Units of
Gain 2 Units of
Lose .5 Units of
energy!
energy!
energy!
Water stays
Water filters into Water filters into
underground.
a river.
a lake.
Lose 1 Unit of
Gain 2 Units of
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
energy!
energy!
Water filters into Water filters into Water filters into
a river.
a lake.
a cave.
Gain 2 Units of
Gain 2 Units of
Lose .5 Units of
energy!
energy!
energy!
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Cave Location Cards
Water filters
Water stays
Water stays
through the cave
hanging on
contained in
to groundwater.
stalactites.
pockets in the
Gain 1 Unit of
Lose .5 Units of
cave.
energy!
energy!
Lose 1 Unit of
energy!
A cave adapted
Water stays
Water filters
animal drinks the
hanging on
through the cave
water.
stalactites.
to groundwater.
No energy is
Lose .5 Units of
Gain 1 Unit of
gained or lost.
energy!
energy!
A cave adapted
Water filters
Water filters
animal drinks the through the cave through the cave
water.
to groundwater.
to groundwater.
No energy is
Gain 1 Unit of
Gain 1 Unit of
gained or lost.
energy!
energy!
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Cloud Location Cards
Water condenses Water condenses Water condenses
and falls on soil.
and falls into a
and falls into a
Lose 80% of your
lake.
river.
total energy!
Lose 75% of your Lose 75% of your
total energy!
total energy!
Water condenses Water stays as a Water condenses
and falls as snow
water droplet
and falls into the
onto a glacier.
clinging to a dust
ocean.
Lose 100% of
particle.
Lose 75% of your
your total
No energy is
total energy!
energy!
gained or lost!
Water condenses Water condenses Water condenses
and falls on soil.
Lose 80% of your
total energy!
and falls into the and falls into the
ocean.
ocean.
Lose 75% of your Lose 75% of your
total energy!
total energy!
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Ocean Location Cards
Radiant energy is
added to the
water, so the
water evaporates
and goes into the
clouds.
Gain 8 Units of
energy!
Radiant energy is
added to the
water, so the
water evaporates
and goes into the
clouds.
Gain 8 Units of
energy!
Water is
circulated in wind
driven currents.
Gain .5 Units of
energy.
Water is
Water is
circulated in
circulated in wind
deep water
driven currents.
oceanic currents. Gain .5 Units of
Lose .5 Units of
energy.
energy.
Water is
Water is
circulated in
circulated in
deep water
deep water
oceanic currents. oceanic currents.
Lose .5 Units of
Lose .5 Units of
energy
energy
Water is
Water is
circulated in wind circulated in wind
driven currents. driven currents.
Gain .5 Units of
Gain .5 Units of
energy.
energy.
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Glacier Location Cards
Ice melts and
Ice melts,
Ice melts and
water filters into
evaporates, and
water flows into
the groundwater.
goes into the
a river.
Gain 1 Unit of
clouds.
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
Gain 8 Units of
energy!
energy!
Ice stays frozen
Ice melts and
Ice melts and
in the glacier.
water filters into
water flows into
No energy is
the groundwater.
a river.
gained or lost.
Gain 1 Unit of
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
energy!
Ice melts and
Ice melts and
Ice melts and
water flows into
water flows into
water flows into
a river.
a lake.
a lake.
Gain 2 Units of
Gain 2 Units of
Gain 2 Units of
energy!
energy!
energy!
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