water cycle experiment with ice cubes

• 1 large glass jar
• 1 ice cube tray
• Food coloring (optional)
• Cooktop and pot (or other way to heat water)

Short explanation

Long explanation.

• What happens if you have a larger jar?
• What happens if you have more or less water in the jar?
• What happens if you have cold water in the jar?
• What happens if you use fewer or more matches?
• How long can you make this "water cycle" last?

Salt water purifier

Water mass meeting

Cloud in a bottle 1

Screaming dry ice

Dry ice in a balloon

Special: Dry ice color change

Dry ice smoking soap bubble snake

Dry ice giant crystal ball bubble

Dry ice in water

Rainbow milk

Gummy bear osmosis

Floating ping pong ball

Rotating Earth

Special: Colored fire

Special: Fire bubbles

Water cycle in a jar

Egg drop challenge

Taking the pulse

Orange candle

Glass bottle xylophone

Warped spacetime

Homemade rainbow

Water implosion

Warm and cold plates

Plastic bag kite

Tamed lightning

Yeast and a balloon

Forever boiling bottle

Moon on a pen

Moon in a box

Inexhaustible bottle

Crystal egg geode

Magic ice cut

Leaf pigments chromatography

Heavy smoke

Popsicle stick bridge

Micrometeorites

Special: Fire tornado

Special: Whoosh bottle

Dancing water marbles

Brownian motion

Flying static ring

Water thermometer

String telephone

Special: Dust explosion

Disappearing styrofoam

Special: Burning money

Special: Burning towel

Fish dissection

Hovering soap bubble

Homemade sailboat

Plastic bag and pencils

Water sucking bottle

Water sucking glass

Mentos and coke

Aristotle's illusion

Spinning spiral snake

Imploding soda can

Carbon dioxide extuingisher

Plastic bag parachute

Dental impression

Impact craters

Rolling static soda can

Static paper ghost

Color changing flower

Upside down glass

Shrinking chip bag

Solar system model

Strawberry DNA

Electric motor

Flashy electric motor

Bouncing soap bubbles

Toilet paper roll maraca

Cloud in a bottle 2

Balloon rocket

Water whistle

Homemade yogurt

Special: Screaming gummy bear

Homemade compass

Trash airplane

Wind-up spinner toy

Tea bag rocket

Balancing soda can

Lung volume test

Fireproof balloon

Baking powder popper

Expanding space

Straw propeller

Wooden cutlery

Levitating match

Human reflexes

Electromagnet

Soil layers

Straw potato

Straw rocket launcher

Traveling flame

Water bowls

Straw duck call

Solar eclipse

Silo of salt

Balloon skewer

Newspaper tower

Microwave light bulb

Heavy paper

Rubber chicken bone

Homemade marble run

Drops on a coin

Cartesian diver

Content of website.

5 Water Cycle Experiments You Need to Try

Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. You can read my full affiliate disclosure  HERE .

Water cycle experiments have a unique way of adding hands-on fun to your lesson plans. Whether you’re homeschooling one or multiples, I highly recommend trying these in your homeschool!

How to Include Water Cycle Experiments in Your Lesson Plans

Unit studies are a great option for homeschooling families (and you can find a bunch of Online Unit Studies I created at Techie Homeschool Mom ). Why do I love them? Well, for starters, we have four kiddos ranging from 3 to 10 years old. There are many times we like to learn about a topic all together – so, to make it easier I go to unit studies!

When doing a unit study, you’re often left to piecing together your own curriculum and resources to use. Again, this can be another perk of using this method. Instead of feeling like you have to stick to a rigorous plan or schedule, you can create your own plans.

For example, if you’re studying the weather, there are so many books and free online printables you can use (like this free printable weather activity pack ) to build a great study! And, don’t forget the activities!

When you’re studying anything about the weather, these water cycle experiments are worth a try. Simply set aside 20-30 minutes to do them with your kids – they’ll love them. Try one or try them all!

5 Water Cycle Experiments to Try in Your Homeschool

Each of these can be modified for any age and grade. In fact, I recommend putting all hands on deck for lots of learning fun.

Indoor Water Cycle Experiments

Although we can witness parts of the water cycle by seeing clouds in the sky, rain on rainy days, and dew drops on a cool morning, each step of it is not always visible. This experiment will help you physically see each step up close and personal…not to mention, in real time.

• Large Glass Bowl
• Small Glass Bowl
• Boiling Water
• Salt (optional)

Directions:

• Add 2 tsp of salt into the large glass bowl. This is an optional step and will allow kids to taste the natural filtering of the water that takes place during the cycle process.
• Pour boiling water into the glass bowl and mix until all of the salt has dissolved.
• Place the small bowl in the center of the large bowl (make sure it doesn’t float).
• Cover the large bowl with cling wrap (not too tight or too loose).
• Place a handful of ice cubes in the center of the cling wrap.
• Let the natural process of the water cycle begin.

Learn About Evaporation with Salt

Evaporation is a type of vaporization that occurs on the surface of a liquid as it changes into the gas phase. This experiment will show how this process works using salt.

• Food coloring
• Pour water into your bowl and add a few drops of food coloring to it, stir it around.
• Add your salt to the the water. The more salt you add, the more dramatic the effect.
• Set aside for a few days and watch to see what happens!

How do clouds make rain?

We can see clouds in the sky and we can see rain when it falls. What isn’t as noticeable is the process right before it starts to rain.

Within a cloud, water droplets condense onto one another, causing the droplets to grow. When these water droplets get too heavy, it begins to rain. See if you can make this happen!

• clear cup (or mason jar)
• shaving cream
• food coloring (blue)
• Put water in the cup, leaving enough room for (shaving cream) clouds. The water represents “air.”
• Put a shaving cream cloud on the top. The cloud represents water droplets.
• Put blue food coloring on the cloud. This shows what happens when the water gets heavier.
• Wait to see what happens when the water gets heavy on the cloud.

Make a Rain Cloud in a Jar

When you look into the sky, you can visibly see clouds… but how did they get there?

A cloud is formed when water vapor condenses into water droplets that attach to particles (of dust, pollen, smoke, etc.) in the air. When billions of these water droplets join together, they form a cloud. Try to make your own cloud in a jar with this experiment!

• A jar with lid
• About 1/3 cup hot water
• Start by pouring the hot water into the jar. Swirl it around a bit to warm up the sides of the jar.
• Turn the lid upside down and place it on the top of the jar. Place several ice cubes onto the lid, and allow it to rest on the top of the jar for about 20 seconds.
• Remove the lid, quickly spray a bit of hairspray into the jar, and then replace the lid with the ice still on top. Watch the cloud form. Remove the lid to let the cloud escape

Water Cycle in a Bottle

This experiment will help you create your own biome in a bottle and watch the water turn into a gas, turn back into a liquid, and fall back into the bottom of the bottle. These are each valuable steps in the water cycle process.

• Plastic bottle
• Plastic cup
• Ice cubes (optional)
• Blue food coloring
• Permanent marker
• Remove the label from the bottle. Add a drop of blue food coloring to the bottle and fill about 1/3 of the way with water. Screw the cap on tightly.
• Turn the bottle upside down inside a cup.
• Place a couple of ice cubes on top of the bottle and set it in a sunny location.
• Check the bottle after about an hour.

Water Cycle Lapbook

In addition to these water cycle experiments, I have a Water Cycle Lapbook your kids might enjoy putting together during your water cycle unit study!

You can grab the printable Water Cycle Lapbook Project here .

And finally, no matter what science projects you do in your homeschool, I’ve got a free Scientific Method template you can use to easily help your kids learn the process of the scientific method. Click the banner below to grab yours!

I hope you love performing these water cycle experiments with your kids! Let me know in the comments: have you tried any of these? Which one was your favorite?

Related Posts

• Scientific Method for Kids: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide
• 5 Simple Nature Walk Resources for Your Homeschool
• Easy Water Cycle Project: Printable Lapbook Template
• Density Lesson Plan for Elementary {and a Freebie!}

Blessed Homeschool is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can read my full affiliate disclosure HERE.

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News and updates from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

Water Cycle in a Jar

Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation | Jan 8, 2020

When building a structure by or on water, it’s important the architect has a good understanding of the element, and how it functions in its different forms. In this activity, you’ll create and witness the water cycle by using four everyday supplies.

Water has three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Water begins its journey in a liquid state, which we see as bodies of water. As the sun heats water, it becomes a gas, or water vapor, and travels up into the atmosphere in a process called evaporation. As water vapor continues its journey higher in the atmosphere it begins to cool and gathers in small drops forming what we know as clouds. This is called condensation. Once water vapor condenses, it forms droplets of water that fall to earth in the process of precipitation. We experience precipitation as rain, sleet, snow or anything in between! By using four everyday supplies, you can create and witness the water cycle right in front of your eyes!

• Glass jar (mason jar or something similar will work)
• Dinner plate
• Five ice cubes
• One cup boiling water
• Permanent markers

Instructions:

• Design your jar! On the bottom part of your jar draw waves or the sea. On the top half draw clouds and the sky. You can even draw a building next to the water. Get creative!
• Have an adult help you pour a cup of boiling water into the jar
• Place a plate on top of the jar
• Put five ice cubes on top of the plate
• Observe your glass as the water goes through the water cycle

A. The hot water at the bottom of the jar represents bodies of water on earth. Just as water evaporates from lakes, oceans, and other bodies of waters, the boiling water becomes vapor.

B. As it cools in the top of the jar, where the clouds are drawn, you see the process of condensation and the jar begins to fog.

C. After a few minutes of condensing, the “rain” drips down the side of the jar back to our body of water on earth, showing precipitation.

We use Frank Lloyd Wright’s revolutionary design concepts and buildings at Taliesin West to educate and inspire people of all ages, challenging them to understand and embrace innovation in their own lives. We offer a wide variety of fun and educational field trips, summer art & architecture camps, and more.

Make Your Own Origami Cube: An Introduction to Architecture 101

The cube is an essential building block of architecture when it comes to understanding the built environment. In this hands-on activity we blend the geometric forms Frank Lloyd Wright was inspired by with the Japanese art of paper folding.

Search, Discover, Apply

Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs were made to be of their surroundings. Wright always considered the existing architecture in his design, while still maintaining his unique principles and aesthetic. In this activity, you’ll be working with three examples of architecture to examine how Wright sought underlying patterns to design a building that was uniquely his own, while still respecting the history of the site.

Easy Working Indoor Water Cycle Science Experiment for Kids

Categories Science , STEM

Can you make a working indoor water cycle experiment? Yes, and all you need are a few simple supplies. Kids will have a great time learning about earth science with this easy Water Cycle Science Experiment for Kids . 

Along with the Snowstorm in a Jar experiment and the Rain in a Jar Experiment , this is a fun way to teach your class a little bit about water conservation or even just the weather in general. You can also grab a free printable water cycle diagram to use with your class.

Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase.

Table of Contents

• What you’ll need
• Watch the video

Instructions

• Free printable water cycle diagrams
• What you’re learning

Materials Needed

• Salt (optional)
• Plastic Wrap
• Sticky tape

Watch the Water Cycle Video

Water Cycle Science Experiment for Kids – Instructions

1. add 2 tsp of salt into the large bowl.

This step is completely optional, and does not impact how the experiment works. I like to add salt to the water because it represents sea water. As the water goes through the water cycle process, it will turn into freshwater. 

This means that your kids can actually taste how the water changes before and after going through the whole cycle.

2. Pour boiling water into the large bowl and mix until all of the salt has dissolved.

Boil the kettle and add a cup of water into the large bowl. Some people choose to also add blue food coloring into the water. Since food coloring does not usually evaporate with water, this is another great way to show how the water changed states of matter.

Different parts of this experiment emulate a different part of the water cycle. The warm water mimics the sun, only you’re using a kettle to heat the water instead of mother nature. This demonstrates evaporation.

3. Place the small bowl in the center of the large bowl. 

Make sure that this small bowl is empty, as it will need to catch all of your water droplets. So it needs to be higher than the water level in the large bowl, but shorter than the edges of the large bowl itself.

4. Cover the large bowl with cling wrap.

Use cling wrap to cover the large bowl. You can use sticky tape or a rubber band to hold the cling wrap in place.

5. Place a handful of ice cubes in the center of the cling wrap.

Placing an ice cube in the center of the cling film has two purposes. 

• It cools the water vapour, helping it to condense and cling to the film.
• It weighs down the center of the film, so that when the droplets of water are large enough, they will roll to the center of the film and drop into the small bowl.

The cling film and ice cubes mimic condensation. Although condensation usually results in some form of clouds, in this water cycle project you’ll see the water vapor turning into droplets.

6. Wait and watch

Watch as tiny drops of water evaporate and condensate on the inside of the large bowl, eventually filling the empty bowl with (now fresh) water. Representing the stage of precipitation.

But be prepared, only a limited amount of water will actually go inside the small bowl. So don’t be disappointed that you can’t ask your whole class to taste the small glass of water.

Like many science experiments, this one can take a long time to work. You can either keep placing more hot water in the large bowl, or put the entire setup by a sunny window on a hot day, and let the sun do it for you.

Free Water Cycle Diagrams

To grab your copy of the free printable water cycle drawing just click the large blue button below. Inside you’ll get:

• Full color water cycle diagram (labeled)
• Black and white water cycle diagram (labeled)
• Black and white water cycle diagram (unlabeled)

You can choose which diagram suits your science lesson and the capabilities of your students. Younger kids will most likely enjoy just coloring in the black and white version. While older children can label the parts and the water cycle themselves in the third version.

What You’re Learning

What is the water cycle – kid definition.

The water cycle (also known as the hydrologic cycle) is the continuous movement of water between the surface of the earth (like ocean water) and the atmosphere and land. When explaining the water cycle to kids, explore the main parts of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection.

How does the water cycle work? Step by step for kids

Earth’s water is always going through the different stages of the water cycle. When creating lesson plans to teach kids about the parts of the water cycle, it’s easier to break it down into the individual steps, instead of explaining the entire water cycle as a whole. As well as how the water keeps going through these same steps over and over again.

Try and use language suitable for the age of the students you are teaching. Young children, like preschoolers, will find it easier to understand “rain” rather than “precipitation”.

Evaporation and transpiration

Evaporation occurs when the sun’s heat warms up bodies of water, such as the surface of the ocean, enough to turn liquid water into water vapor. (Preschoolers may find this easier to understand if you explain water vapor as steam, as they most likely already have experience with steam from a kettle)

Transpiration is the water molecules that are lost to the atmosphere through the leaves of plants. This water also becomes part of the water cycle.

Condensation

As the water vapor reaches higher levels of the atmosphere it gets colder. These cold temperatures eventually turn the water vapor back into a liquid form. We can see this liquid water as the different cloud types in the sky.

Precipitation

As the water droplets in the clouds get larger and heavier, the water comes down in a form of precipitation, like rain water, hail or snow.

As it rains the water gets collected through rivers and streams. This water is used for plants or the water moves downhill until it reaches the ocean, and the whole process starts from the beginning again.

Are you going to try this Water Cycle Science Experiment for Kids? Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.

Water Cycle Science Activity for Kids

Show kids how the water cycle works with this simple science activity. Not only will they see the different stages that the water goes through, but they'll be able to taste the difference between the starting saltwater, and the resulting freshwater.

• Boiling Water
• Add 2 tsp of salt into the large glass bowl.
• Pour boiling water into the glass bowl and mix until all of the salt has dissolved.
• Place the small bowl in the center of the large bowl. If the small bowl floods with water, then you’ve added to much water into your large glass bowl. The small bowl needs to stay empty so that it can catch the freshwater.
• Cover the large bowl with cling wrap.
• Place a handful of ice cubes in the center of the cling wrap.
• Watch and wait as the boiling water evaporates and condenses onto the cling wrap. The condensation will slowly run and drip into the small bowl in the centre.

You will only get a small amount of freshwater in this experiment. So if you want the kids to taste the difference be prepared that not all of the kids in your class will be able to try some.

More Play Based Learning for Kids

Weather Activities for Kids

STEM Activities for Kids

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20 Fun Water Cycle Activities for Middle School Students

June 24, 2022 //  by  Kimberly Lange

Water is a part of our everyday life, these 20 experiments and lessons can teach your Middle School students all about the water cycle!

Looking for fun ways to teach your Middle School students all about the water cycle and types of precipitation? Tired of reading long, boring passages out of a textbook? Look no further than these 20 hands-on water cycle activities for middle school to get them to join in the fun and learning.

From creating Winter snow to learning about Spring showers; From making your rain measuring device to creating your own water cycle. We have an activity to fit each step in the cycle.

1. Make Your Own Instant Ice

Hail is a big part of the water cycle. This is the perfect activity to teach you how to make an instant ice structure using a jar, ice cubes, a bottle of purified water, and a plate.

Learn More: Steam Sational

2. Make a Water Cycle Poster

This colorful water cycle diagram will help middle school students learn about types of water bodies, groundwater storage, groundwater depletion, mountain slope, water conservation, and cloud formation.

Learn More: Pinterest

3. Learn all About Evaporation

This experiment will teach your students how and why evaporation occurs. You'll need a cup of water, food coloring, a coffee filter, a metal mesh strainer, a pan, and a stove. The green water vapor will be seen on the coffee filter as the water shifts from liquid to gas .

Learn More: Capri Plus

4. Causes of Condensation

This hands-on activity will help your students learn all about condensation, a form of water vapor, and how water moves. All you need is glasses, ice, and warm water!

Learn More: Laura Candler

5. Make Your Own Rain Gauge

With this easy project, your students will learn about the relationship between weather and fresh water supply. This simple tool has helped many people determine amounts of water from rain and is a great tool if you are a farmer to measure agricultural water.

Learn More: A Reason For Homeschool

6. Pumpkin Jack Life Cycle Teaches You Concepts of the Water Cycle

This Pumpkin life cycle lesson is fun for all grade levels and will teach your students about evaporation from plant leaves. Watch as the water molecules move from the pumpkin and form liquid water droplets on the container.

Learn More:  Kelly's Classroom Online

7. National Geographic Teaches You the Water Cycle

This educational website teaches you about the different parts of the water cycle, water shifts, and the different phases of water.

Learn More:  Nat Geo Kids

8. Resources For Lessons About Weather

Every lesson plan will help teach your students about the weather , aspects of weather forecasting, accurate weather predictions, weather maps, air quality activities, and details of cloud formation.

Learn More:  Teach Engineering

9. Interactive Lessons to Help You Teach Different Concepts of Water

These pre-made digital activities will give your students information on concerns about water availability, water analysis, distribution of water, and water use. This is the perfect resource for differentiating teaching for your gifted students. It's also a great resource to teach your students about their water footprint and how to be responsible with water.

Learn More:  The Water Project

10. Cloud Types Sorting Games

This interactive resource will help students with cloud classification and additional resources about cloud types and how they form.

Learn More:  Teachers Pay Teachers

11. Teach Your Students the Cause and Effect of Water Pollution

This hands-on activity poses thought-provoking questions about the causes of water pollution and what effect it has on access to fresh water. This is the perfect opportunity to teach students to be responsible, take care of their resources, and how they can help reduce water pollution.

Learn More: More Time 2 Teach

12. Learn All About the Rate of Evaporation

This experiment allows students to explore how water evaporates using real-time student data and determine if water molecules evaporate faster when heated.

Learn More:  Middle School Chemistry

13. Blow Your Own Frozen Snow Globe

This simple yet fun activity only requires freezing temperatures and some soap bubbles. Blow a bubble onto the snow or ice and watch as beautiful ice crystals start to form all around. You'll feel like Elsa after this experiment!

Learn More: Lori Grimmett

14. Become a Cloud Spotter With This Experiment

Before cloud formation can occur, water needs to evaporate. In this hands-on activity, using a jar, hot water, and ice will make a visible cloud and teach your students about the cycle of precipitation.

Learn More: Research Parent

15. Watch These Short Videos About the Water Cycle

This educational blog post with fun short videos about the water cycle will give your students a good understanding of the water cycle.

Learn More:  Learning Online

16. Make a Cloud in a Jar

This miniature water cycle experiment will teach your students how clouds hold water up until they are full, and then they form drops of rain and it starts to drip. You'll need two jars, water, and blue food coloring.

Learn More: Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

17. Learn About the Earth's Atmosphere

This simple experiment will help your students understand the different layers that are found in the Earth's atmosphere, in which layers our weather and clouds can be found, and where surface water and other types of water bodies can be found.

Learn More:  Homeschool Rebecca Reid

18. Learn All About the Greenhouse Effect

Global Warming is an ongoing issue, especially in today's times. This experiment will help your middle school students understand the cause and effect of greenhouse gasses and the key processes of greenhouse gases.

Learn More:  Pinterest

19. Learn About the Water Cycle in a Bag

This interactive water cycle diagram will teach your student how the water cycle works while teaching them how water moves from clouds to different types of water reservoirs.

Learn More: Rookie Parenting

20. Make a Snowstorm in a jar

This experiment is not just fun, but beautiful too! All you need to make a Winter Wonderland is a mason jar, baby oil, glitter, white paint, and Alka Seltzer.

Learn More: One Little Project

These twenty experiments,  lessons, and activities with curated resources will make your middle school classroom fun, engaging, and informative. These different science topics and science games will teach your middle school students about the water cycle in no time.

Making It Rain {Learning About the Water Cycle}

• July 15, 2020

We are currently smack dab in the middle of the unrelenting afternoon thunderstorms that define summers in the South. What better time to learn about the Water Cycle, right?

Below, you’ll find three different experiments to help demonstrate and explain the Water Cycle!

Making It Rain, Part One

This is a great demonstration for little hands. There’s minimal mess and necessary assistance from grown-ups. I really like using this one with toddlers!

• A shallow dish (or any kind of pan, tray, bowl, or water-holding vessel)
• Cotton balls
• Fill your water-holding vessel with water. An inch or so should do it.
• Take a cotton ball “cloud” to explore. Note that the cotton ball is fluffy and doesn’t weigh much. It’s also very dry.
• Slowly, dip the cotton ball “cloud” into the water, allowing the water to slowly soak the cotton ball. Now your cloud is filled with rain-to-be. Note that it feels heavy and may have even changed shapes.
• Lift the cotton ball out of the water. The cotton ball is so saturated that water droplets will begin to fall back into the water-holding vessel. The more saturated, the faster the rain drops fall.
• Explain that this is [roughly] how the water cycle works. Not sure how the water cycle works exactly? No worries. Read on!

Making It Rain, Part Two

This has been a favorite of mine in the classroom for years. I’ve used it for demonstrations with second and third graders, who’ve equally loved it. The food coloring can stain, so make sure to take precautions for that!

• Clear cup or jar (plastic or glass is fine)
• Shaving cream
• Food coloring
• Fill your cup with water, leaving a small space at the top for your shaving cream.
• On top of the water, squirt shaving cream to create a nice, fluffy “cloud”.
• Carefully add drops of food coloring to the top of your shaving cream cloud.
• As the cloud gets heavier with the added food coloring, it will slowly begin to “rain” food coloring down into the cup. (Make sure you’re adding the food coloring slowly. Once it makes its way through the shaving cream, it will spread through the water quickly. If you’ve added too much, the water will rapidly change color and the experiment gets decidedly boring instantly!)

Making It Rain, Part Three

This is a more advanced demonstration that can be appropriate for most elementary school ages. My toddler enjoyed it too, but it’s more hands-off for that age group!

• Large glass jar (or bowl or measuring cup)
• Paper plate or bowl large enough to cover the opening of the glass container

• Heat water, either in the microwave or bring to a boil on the stovetop. (I recommend that a parent take care of this step and warn little hands that the glass jar will be hot hot hot!)
• Transfer the water to your glass jar.
• Quickly, top the jar with a paper plate. Cover the plate with a pile of ice cubes.
• Watch as a mini water cycle emerges inside your glass jar!

The Science of the Water Cycle:

Rain is just one small part of the  water cycle , the really awesome loop that Earth’s water has been traveling through from the ground to the sky and round and round again for billions of years. Water is never really “still”, even when it’s not actively going through the water cycle. Most of Earth’s water is stored in our oceans (roughly 96.5% of it, or 321,000,000 cubic miles) and we know the ocean is never still!

To explain the water cycle to kids, it’s easiest to break it down into four stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

Evaporation

Let’s start with  evaporation . That’s when the sun heats up collected water, which turns it into water vapor (a gas that we usually can’t see). This is how water begins its journey from the ground back up into the atmosphere.

There are a couple of other ways that water can leave the ground. One of those ways is  sublimation , which is when solid water (ice or snow) is heated and turns directly into water vapor. This is the process you see when dry ice turns into a big cloud of water vapor, or directly from a solid into a gas, without making a pitstop and becoming a liquid.

Another way that water evaporates is through  transpiration , which is basically plant sweat! Water travels from the soil, through the plant roots, and transpires (sweats) through the plants’ leaves to become water vapor and head up into the atmosphere. It’s estimated that about 10% of the water in Earth’s atmosphere is from plant transpiration.

Condensation

The next stop for all of that water vapor is  condensation . As water vapor moves higher and higher into the atmosphere, it finds colder air. That colder air turns the water vapor back into a liquid.

Those cooling water molecules find tiny particles in the air (like dust, smoke, or dirt) to cling to and form cloud droplets (very, very tiny drops of condensed water), which collect and grow to form clouds (this part of the process can be called  coalescence ).

You see condensation all the time. When you pour a cold drink into a glass, you may see condensation form on the outside. That’s warm water vapor from the air around your glass being cooled by your drink and turning into water droplets. Your glass is kind of your own personal cloud!

Precipitation

As the cloud grows and gets heavier, we prepare for  precipitation . The condensed water falls back to the ground in the form of rain, hail, snow, or sleet. This is no small task, as it takes millions of those little cloud droplets to collide and form a single rain drop.

Once a rain drop is formed, it then has to have enough velocity to make it out of the cloud and fall as precipitation! In a really heavy rainstorm, the drops are falling at a speed of 24 feet per second – that’s a little over 16 miles per hour.

There are some parts of the world where hardly any rain at all falls (less than 0.1 inches per year) and some where tons and tons of rain falls (900 inches per year). There’s a place in Chile where no rain (none!) fell for 14 years! 14! Rain is a pretty incredible thing when you stop and think about it all, right?

After the rain falls, the next stage is  collection . That’s where the water settles here on Earth. Like we talked about before, about 96.5% of Earth’s water is stored in the oceans. The rest of that water (3.5%) is what we have in the atmosphere, lakes, ice caps and glaciers, rivers, streams, puddles, and everywhere else in the world! That really gives you an idea of the huge volume of water in the ocean.

And that’s the [kid friendly] water cycle!

And just like that, we are looping our way back through the water cycle. There are tons of other fun experiments and projects to learn more about it… and we will definitely revisit all of this again soon! For now, it’s time to check our rain gauge one last time and call it a [rainy] night!

One Last Thing

I’ll leave you with one last thought, sure to delight most kids. The water that you’re taking a bath in tonight could be the very same water that a dinosaur bathed in too. Rawr!

Science Fun

Rain In A Jar Weather Science Experiment

In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate weather and the water cycle by making it rain in a jar.

Important: Adult supervision and assistance is required for this experiment. 

Instructions:

• Have an adult heat the water until it is steaming hot but not boiling. 
• Pour the heated water into a jar until the jar is about one third of the way full.
• Place the plate on top of the jar and wait several minutes before the next step.
• Now, put ice cubes on top of the plate and observe what begins to happen inside the jar.

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How it Works:

In this experiment, the jar will allow us to view the entire water cycle in one compact area. The hot water represents water on the surface of our planet that is heated by the sun. The heated water turns into water vapor and rises into the atmosphere where it cools, condenses, and returns to the Earth’s surface as precipitation. This cycling of water has a significant impact and influence on Earth’s weather patterns. 

Make This A Science Project:

Add salt to the water and record any observable differences. 

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