The Water Cycle
Below, you'll find some helpful information and links to experiments and resources about the water cycle for use in the classroom or at home. We hope these resources help you introduce the importance of clean, safe water to your students.
If you find the links helpful, please let us know.
The Water Project is dedicated to providing clean, safe water to people in the developing world who suffer needlessly without it. We hope you'll introduce our work to your students or classmates.
The Water Cycle - What is It?
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Interactive Water Cycle Presentation
A flash animated activity that lets you control the water cycle as you learn. (FLASH Required)
The USGS Water Cycle Presentation (No Flash Needed)
Water Cycle Downloadable Poster
Create a Mini Water Cycle
Create a mini water cycle using a bowl, a mug, some plastic wrap and a rubber band to show how evaporation, condensation and precipitation occur in a closed system.
The Water Cycle & The Water Crisis (PDF)
Learn what happens when the water cycle doesn't work for people. Discover how simple interventions can restore balance in the system and how you can help.
The Water Cycle
Evaporation
All Dried Up
A simple experiment showing how evaporation rates are different based on the amount of light a cup of water receives.
The Case of the
Disappearing Water (PDF)
This lesson includes a story about a missing person where one of the few clues is a cup of water that has partially evaporated. Students must conduct an experiment to see how long it takes for the given amount of water to evaporate in order to find out where the missing person is located. While meant for grades 4-6, the story could easily be rewritten for older grades as a "forensic science" case.
Water Purification by Evaporation and Condensation (PDF)
An activity to illustrate how the water cycle helps to purify water.
Condensation
Make a Cloud in a Bottle
Highlighting the concepts of air pressure and temperature in cloud making, this experiment uses a burnt match and some water to create a cloud inside of a plastic bottle. Due to the use of matches an adult is necessary.
Precipitation
The Rainmaker
This experiment uses a burner to heat water and a cookie tray of ice cubes above it to show how water vapor turns into precipitation like rain.
Collection (and Conservation)
Leaky Faucets Matter
This activity challenges students to be more aware of leaks in their house by showing just how much water can be lost through a single leaky faucet over time.
** PLEASE NOTE: All of the links in the "Resources" section of our website are provided for your convenience. The Water Project, Inc. does not endorse any of the linked content. The owners and creators of the content on these third-party sites are solely responsible for that content. If you have concerns about any of these links, please note its URL and contact us here.