Introduction

Did you know that planet Earth is mostly made of water? Water is something that is very importnant for us to live. In this lesson, you will learn where rain, clouds, and the ocean come from.

Evaporation

The first step in the water cycle is Evaporation. The sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. When water gets hot, it turns into steam, or vapor and it floats into the air.

Transpiration

At the same time that evaporation happens, transpiration happens. Transpiration is when the heat of the sun makes water on leaves of plants turn into steam and float into the air.

Condensation

The second step in the Water Cycle is Condensation. Condensation is when the steam that floats into the air all sticks together and turns into clouds.

Precipitation

The third step is precipitation. Precipitation is when clouds get so heavy from all the steam or vapor that they're holding, that they start to drip. That is where rain comes from.

Review

The water cycle begins with the sun heating the water, making it float up into the air. The vapor that floats into the air forms clouds. When the clouds get too heavy with vapor, they make rain. The rain makes rivers, streams, and oceans.

For More Information

For more information on the water cycle, visit any of these 5 websites:
http://www.kidzone.ws/water/
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/watercycle/index.html
http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/pilot/water_cycle/grabber2.html
http://www.drinktap.org/kidsdnn/Portals/5/story_of_water/html/hydrocycle.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/water.htm