Unit 6: Water
Flowing Around Us
The water cycle
activity guide
and worksheet
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Unit 6: Water Flowing Around Us
The water cycle activity guide
Estimated duration: 20 minutes
Aim

To develop an understanding of the stages in the water cycle
Outcome
By the end of this session, students will be able to:
 Name and describe the stages of the water cycle
Resources



The first slide in the water catchments slideshow (the rest of the slideshow is
shown later in the class)
The water cycle student worksheet (included below)
Answers to the water cycle worksheet (included below)
Activity Description
This activity is a teacher-centred discussion about the water cycle and water
catchments, using the first slide of the water catchments slideshow. Students will
need time to absorb the details of the diagram on the water cycle, as there are
numerous scientific terms they may be unfamiliar with.
It may be useful to use the water cycle worksheet and have students copy the terms
involved in the water cycle straight onto the sheet from the presentation. The
diagram provides a useful overview of the cyclic nature of water movement through
land, rivers and the sea and forms the basis of the principles underlying the model
terrarium in the following activity.
Student Roles and Responsibilities
Participate in agreed tasks
Contribute to class discussions
Complete activities and worksheets
Work cooperatively with others
Seek teacher assistance and support when needed
Level of Teacher Support
Facilitate discussion
Organise materials and equipment
Present slideshow
Provide encouragement
Introduce tasks and activities
Provide assistance when requested
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Assessment
To use this learning activity as an assessment task, collect evidence such as:
Teacher checklist and observation
Student research notes and report
Copies of student materials and worksheets
Student notes
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Unit 6: Water Flowing Around Us
Student Worksheet
The Water Cycle
1. Label the diagram of the water cycle.
clouds
____________
mountains
_________
__
_________
__
___________
_______________
___________
lake
ocean
ne
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2. Write your own definitions for these terms:
Precipitation
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Absorption
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Evaporation
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Transpiration
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Condensation
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. The Earth’s natural ecosystem services provide fresh air, water and food for its human
inhabitants. Imagine you are an alien taking a sample human back to your planet. What
vital ingredients would you need to add to keep your sample alive in the bottle for an
extended journey through space?
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Unit 6: Water Flowing Around Us
Answers to student worksheet
The Water Cycle
1. Label the diagram of the water cycle.
clouds
precipitation
mountains
absorption
transpiration
run off
evaporation
ground water
movement
lake
ocean
ne
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2. Write your own definitions for these terms: (definitions from Encarta Dictionary (UK))
Precipitation: Rain, snow, or hail, all of which are formed by condensation of moisture in the atmosphere
and all of which fall to the ground.
Absorption: The uptake of liquid into the fibres of a substance.
Evaporation: A process in which something is changed from a liquid to a vapour.
Transpiration: To lose water vapour from a plant's surface, especially through minute surface pores. (The
loss of water from plants due to the heat from the sun.)
Condensation: The process by which a vapour loses heat and changes into a liquid. (This is the opposite of
evaporation, when a vapour cools and turns into the water droplets in a cloud.)
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