The Water Cycle

General

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the water cycle. They learn about the main stages of the cycle and the names of these stages. Students will discuss why the water cycle is important and how it affects them. Next, they will label the water cycle with the new terms and then spin a wheel to take turns stating definitions in their own words. The lesson ends with a fun activity in which students will create a Water Cycle Wheel using the included printable.

Standards

MS-ESS2-4

Learning Objective

Students will be able to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.

Introduction

Take your students on a journey to follow Earth’s water cycle. Introduce the importance of water to our planet. Discuss the different stages of the water cycle.

Instruction

Explain each stage of the water cycle and give examples of how this is seen and experienced by an example of water boiling in a pot. Next, have students drag the terms to a diagram of the water cycle. Then students will take turns defining the new terms.

Quiz

Students respond to ten multiple-choice and true/false questions.

Closing

Students will create a water cycle wheel using the included printable and instructions. They will use their wheels to explain the water cycle to the class or learning partner

Teaching tips

Materials needed to create the Water Cycle Wheel are listed below.

Instruction materials

Students will need the following items for the closing activity:
- Copy of printable for The Water Cycle activity.
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils

About Gynzy

Gynzy is an online teaching platform for interactive whiteboards and displays in schools.

With a focus on elementary education, Gynzy’s Whiteboard, digital tools, and activities make it easy for teachers to save time building lessons, increase student engagement, and make classroom management more efficient.