Water Cycle - Water (K)
Post Lab 

   
OBJECTIVES:
  • Analyzing the water cycle. 
  • Exploring evaporation of liquids. 
VOCABULARY:
  • cloud
  • evaporation
  • liquid
  • water
MATERIALS:
  • alcohol, oil (or any other liquid that is not water)
  • cotton swap
  • Drippy the Hippie by C. Fries
  • worksheet

Students use a song and worksheet to learn about evaporation.

BACKGROUND:

Water is essential in animal and plant nutrition.  It is used in science and industry in making many products.  Waterways are used to transport materials and dispose of waste.  Water is also a cooling agent, a cleansing medium, and entertainment mechanism. 

Water most probably originated on this planet as gases emitted from volcanoes.  The Earth's atmosphere captured this water and has continuously recycled it throughout time, in what is called the water cycle.  Water evaporates and forms clouds. The clouds provide rain and snow, which is collected in rivers, lakes, underground reservoirs, and oceans that are the source for further evaporation.  

The water cycle is a major driving force on our planet.  Water is in constant motion, evaporating into the atmosphere to from oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams.  When the atmosphere can no longer support the moisture within the clouds, we experience rain, snow, hail, or sleet.  Water is returned to the system through drainage, which results from the melting of snow that has accumulated during the winter months.  This water flows on the surface of the Earth and percolates through the Earth as groundwater. Water is not actually consumed but is continuously recycled.  

PROCEDURE:
  1. Water is a liquid that is very important to all life.  Emphasize that every clear liquids may not be water. Demonstrate to students by using  other liquids that are not water.  Ask them is they can drink bleach or ammonia?  Can you cook with hydrogen peroxide?      Remind students to always make sure they are drinking water and not other clear liquids. 
       
  2. Use alcohol to stress that water is odorless and tasteless.  .Rub a little alcohol on the inside of the wrist of your students.  On the other arm use water.  Ask students what the difference is between the two clear liquids.  Alcohol seems cooler because it evaporates quickly.  Water does not evaporate as quickly. You may want to use a cotton swap to make the process more dramatic. 
      
  3. Water is important in the water cycle.  Use the song Drippy the Hippie to help students learn the words precipitation, evaporation, and condensation.  Using the worksheet, discuss with children how water becomes clouds by evaporation.  Water can then be recycled in the process. 

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