Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Public Schools Supported by: National Science Foundation Weather: 4.H.3 Water Cycle Grade Level 4 Sessions Seasonality Instructional Mode(s) Team Size WPS Benchmarks MA Frameworks Key Words 40 min. N/A Whole class N/A 04.SC.ES.06 3-5.ES.10 3-5.ES.11 Precipitation, Water Cycle, Evaporation Summary This lesson will introduce the concept of the water cycle by using a simple demonstration. Learning Objectives 2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Grade 4 04.SC.ES.06 draw a diagram of the water cycle. Label evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Explain what happens during each process. Additional Learning Objectives 1. 3-5.ES.10 Describe how water on earth cycles in different forms and in different locations, including underground and in the atmosphere. 2. 3-5.ES.11 Give examples of how the cycling of water, both in and out of the atmosphere, has an effect on climate. Required Background Knowledge Essential Questions 1. What happens to the water after it rains? Introduction / Motivation Have a quick discussion with the class to gauge their current knowledge of the water 1 of 6
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Public Schools Supported by: National Science Foundation cycle. Ask them if they know or understand what happens to the water in puddles and where it goes. Procedure The instructor will: 1. Explain how the water cycle works (10-15 minutes) 2. Have students draw a diagram of the water cycle in their notebooks and label all parts. (5 minutes) 3. Pour hot water into a plastic jar, about 1/3 full (20 minutes) 4. Add several drops of food coloring 5. Place inverted lid on jar and fill with ice 6. Observe and discuss what is going on 7. Give students worksheet to fill out for homework or in class if time allows Materials List Materials per Class Amount Location Jar with Lid 1 Grocery Store Bag of Ice 1 Gas Station Food Coloring 1 Grocery Store Hot Water 1 cup Sink Vocabulary with Definitions (in alphabetical order) 1. Evaporation Evaporation: the sun evaporates water from ponds, lakes and the ocean and converts it to vapor or gas, which eventually cools and turns into clouds. 2. Precipitation Precipitation: water that falls in the form of rain or snow from saturated clouds. 3. Infiltration Infiltration: water that reaches the earth, either runs off the surface, falls into a water body, or infiltrates into the soil to collect underground. 4. Transpiration Transpiration: underground water may be soaked up by plant roots and carried into their leaves. Water vapor is a by-product of plant transpiration, which uses solar energy, water and nutrients to create nutrients. 2 of 6
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Public Schools Supported by: National Science Foundation 5. Respiration Respiration: when we breathe, small amounts of water vapor are released from our lungs. Assessment / Evaluation of Students The instructor may assess the students in any/all of the following manners: 1. Worksheet with questions Lesson Extensions Attachments 1. What happened to the water 2. Diagram of the water cycle (transparency) 3. Additional information Troubleshooting Tips Safety Issues Be careful with hot water Additional Resources Key Words Precipitation, Water Cycle, Evaporation 3 of 6
Additional Information Evaporation: Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers or lakes or the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor, or steam leaves the river, lake or ocean and goes into the air. Condensation: Water Vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into a liquid, forming clouds. This is called condensation. You can see this also by taking a cold cup of water on a hot day and notice that water forms on the outside of the glass. The water didn t leak through the glass; it came from the air. Water vapor in the warm air turns back into a liquid when it touches the cold glass. Precipitation: Precipitation occurs when so much water has condensed that the air cannot hold it anymore. The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow. Collection: When water falls back to the earth as precipitation, it may fall back into the oceans, lakes or rivers or it may end up on land. When it ends up on land (infiltration), it will either soak up into the earth or become part of the groundwater that plants and animals use to drink or it may run over the soil and collect in the oceans, lakes or rivers where the cycle starts.
Name: Date: 1. What happens to the water when it gets heated up? 2. What effect does the ice have on the water? 3. Discuss the water cycle as it occurs in nature. 4. How is this demonstration similar?/different? 5. What are the three states of water?