Unit 6: Water Flowing Around Us
The water cycle activity guide and worksheet
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This project was funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence. A copy of this licence is available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by‐nc/2.5/au/ or by writing to info@creativecommons.org.au. However logos are protected by copyright. Page 1 of 7
Unit 6: Water Flowing Around Us
The water cycle activity guide
Estimated duration: 20 minutes Aim •
To develop an understanding of the stages in the water cycle
Outcome By the end of this session, students will be able to: • Name and describe the stages of the water cycle
Resources • • •
The first slide in the water catchments slideshow (the rest of the slideshow is shown later in the class) The water cycle student worksheet (included below) Answers to the water cycle worksheet (included below)
Activity Description This activity is a teacher‐centred discussion about the water cycle and water catchments, using the first slide of the water catchments slideshow. Students will need time to absorb the details of the diagram on the water cycle, as there are numerous scientific terms they may be unfamiliar with. It may be useful to use the water cycle worksheet and have students copy the terms involved in the water cycle straight onto the sheet from the presentation. The diagram provides a useful overview of the cyclic nature of water movement through land, rivers and the sea and forms the basis of the principles underlying the model terrarium in the following activity.
Student Roles and Responsibilities Participate in agreed tasks Contribute to class discussions Complete activities and worksheets Work cooperatively with others Seek teacher assistance and support when needed
Level of Teacher Support Facilitate discussion Organise materials and equipment Present slideshow Provide encouragement Introduce tasks and activities Provide assistance when requested
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Assessment To use this learning activity as an assessment task, collect evidence such as: Teacher checklist and observation Student research notes and report Copies of student materials and worksheets Student notes
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Unit 6: Water Flowing Around Us Student Worksheet
The Water Cycle 1. Label the diagram of the water cycle.
clouds
____________
mountains
_________
_________
___________ _______________
___________
lake
ocean
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2. Write your own definitions for these terms: Precipitation
_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Absorption
_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Evaporation
_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Transpiration
_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Condensation
_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ 3. The Earth’s natural ecosystem services provide fresh air, water and food for its human inhabitants. Imagine you are an alien taking a sample human back to your planet. What vital ingredients would you need to add to keep your sample alive in the bottle for an extended journey through space?
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Unit 6: Water Flowing Around Us Answers to student worksheet
The Water Cycle 1. Label the diagram of the water cycle.
clouds
precipitation
mountains
absorption
transpiration
run off
evaporation ground water movement
lake
ocean
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2. Write your own definitions for these terms: (definitions from Encarta Dictionary (UK)) Precipitation: Rain, snow, or hail, all of which are formed by condensation of moisture in the atmosphere and all of which fall to the ground. Absorption: The uptake of liquid into the fibres of a substance. Evaporation: A process in which something is changed from a liquid to a vapour. Transpiration: To lose water vapour from a plant's surface, especially through minute surface pores. (The loss of water from plants due to the heat from the sun.) Condensation: The process by which a vapour loses heat and changes into a liquid. (This is the opposite of evaporation, when a vapour cools and turns into the water droplets in a cloud.)
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