LEVERAGE PRINCIPLES

1. Water Cycle

2. Sun warms ocean water causing it to
EVAPORATE. Water vapor CONDENSES to
form clouds. Clouds become very heavy before
beginning to PRECIPITATE. Precipitation
collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans. The sun
warms ocean water…

5. The sun’s energy is
necessary to power
the water cycle.

7. The sun warms the water
in the ocean, causing it to
change from water
(liquid) to water vapor
(gas).

9. Once the warm gas
hits the cooler air it
changes back into a
liquid and forms a
cloud.

11. Tiny water droplets
bounce around in
the cloud. As they
hit each other, they
stick together and
become larger.

12. Once they become so
heavy, the cloud can
no longer hold them.
It begins to
precipitate.

13.  Rain
 Snow
 Sleet
 Hail

14.  Rivers
 Lakes
 Oceans

19. The process by which
water absorbed by plants
(usually through the
roots) is evaporated into
the atmosphere from the
plant surface (principally
from the leaves).

20. Then what?
Right! It starts
all over again!
That is why it
is called a
cycle.

21. Sun warms ocean water causing it to
EVAPORATE. Water vapor CONDENSES to
form clouds. Clouds become very heavy before
beginning to PRECIPITATE. Precipitation
collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans. The sun
warms ocean water…

23. Materials Directions
1. 2 clear plastic cups Partly fill the plastic cups with water so that they
2. Felt marker both have the same level of water. Mark the levels
3. Clear plastic wrap with the marker. Seal one of the cups with plastic
4. Water wrap. Leave it for a day. Look at both cups and
mark where the water levels are. Do this for a few
more days, marking the levels each day and
noting any change. Your child will notice that the
water level goes down in the cup that has no
cover. Where does the water go? Talk about the
water disappearing and explain what evaporation
is.