2013 Poster Contest Theme: Water…the Cycle of Life ( Deadline: February 15, 2013) Sponsored by Pitt Soil & Water Conservation District

Water Cycle Water…the Cycle of Life!

The Water Cycle Water on Earth is always changing. Its repeating changes make a cycle. As water goes through its cycle, it can be a solid (ice), a liquid (water), or a gas (water vapor). Ice can change to become water or water vapor. Water can change to become ice or water vapor. Water vapor can change to become ice or water.

The Water Cycle Run and get a glass of water and put it on the table next to you. Take a good long look at the water. Now -- can you guess how old it is? The water in your glass may have fallen from the sky as rain just last week, but the water itself has been around pretty much as long as the earth has! The water in your glass may have fallen from the sky as rain just last week, but the water itself has been around pretty much as long as the earth has! When the first fish crawled out of the ocean onto the land, your glass of water was part of that ocean. When the Brontosaurus walked through lakes feeding on plants, your glass of water was part of those lakes. When kings and princesses, knights and squires took a drink from their wells, your glass of water was part of those wells.

The earth has a limited amount of water. That water keeps going around and around and around and around and ( well, you get the idea ) in what we call the "Water Cycle". This cycle is made up of a few main parts: evaporation (and transpiration) evaporation (and transpiration) condensation condensation precipitation precipitation Collection. Collection.

Evaporation Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers or lakes or the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river, lake or ocean and goes into the air. Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers or lakes or the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river, lake or ocean and goes into the air.

Transpiration Do plants sweat? Do plants sweat? Well, sort of.... people perspire (sweat) and plants transpire. Transpiration is the process by which plants lose water out of their leaves. Transpiration gives evaporation a bit of a hand in getting the water vapor back up into the air. Well, sort of.... people perspire (sweat) and plants transpire. Transpiration is the process by which plants lose water out of their leaves. Transpiration gives evaporation a bit of a hand in getting the water vapor back up into the air.

Condensation Water vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into liquid, forming clouds. This is called condensation. Water vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into liquid, forming clouds. This is called condensation. You can see the same sort of thing at home... pour a glass of cold water on a hot day and watch what happens. Water forms on the outside of the glass. That water didn't somehow leak through the glass! It actually came from the air. Water vapor in the warm air, turns back into liquid when it touches the cold glass. You can see the same sort of thing at home... pour a glass of cold water on a hot day and watch what happens. Water forms on the outside of the glass. That water didn't somehow leak through the glass! It actually came from the air. Water vapor in the warm air, turns back into liquid when it touches the cold glass.

Precipitation Precipitation occurs when so much water has condensed that the air cannot hold it anymore. The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow. Precipitation occurs when so much water has condensed that the air cannot hold it anymore. The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow.

Collection When water falls back to earth as precipitation, it may fall back in the oceans, lakes or rivers or it may end up on land. When it ends up on land, it will either soak into the earth and become part of the ground water that plants and animals use to drink or it may run over the soil and collect in the oceans, lakes or rivers where the cycle starts all over again.

Water Cycle Find It Quiz Name______________________________ The Word Starts With this Letter HintAnswer W A substance that is very important to us. We need it to live, and it covers over two thirds of the surface of the Earth. O A large body of water on the surface of the earth. E A process in which liquid water turns into water vapor (a gas). P In transpiration, water from these objects evaporates into the atmosphere. C A fluffy-looking object in the sky that contains tiny water droplets or ice particles. It is formed when water vapor condenses. R This type of precipitation is water that falls from clouds in a liquid state. S This type of precipitation is water that falls from clouds in a fluffy, frozen state. G A large, slowly-moving river of ice. R A large, flowing body of water that usually empties into a sea or ocean.

Water…the Cycle of Life Poster Deadline: February 15, 2013 Poster Deadline: February 15, 2013 Grades 4 and 5 Grades 4 and 5 (Separate contest for each grade level.) (Separate contest for each grade level.) 1st Place $50 (Educators who have a 1 st place winning student will receive $30 for classroom supplies.) 1st Place $50 (Educators who have a 1 st place winning student will receive $30 for classroom supplies.) 2 nd Place $10 2 nd Place $10

The following information must be listed on the back of poster : Students Address:________________________________ _______________________________________________ Teachers Name:___________________________ County: ______________ School: __________________________________ District: ___Pitt___________

Specifications: Posters should be designed along the following specifications. Posters should be designed along the following specifications. Posters must be no smaller than 9 X11 and no larger than 24X36 inches. Posters must be no smaller than 9 X11 and no larger than 24X36 inches. Standard poster paper 22 X 28 is recommended. Standard poster paper 22 X 28 is recommended. Pictures or other materials may be mounted on the poster, if mounted securely. Only materials that are flat or create a two dimensional effect may be used. Pictures or other materials may be mounted on the poster, if mounted securely. Only materials that are flat or create a two dimensional effect may be used. Any coloring materials available to students and suitable for poster work may be used. Any coloring materials available to students and suitable for poster work may be used. Posters must be the original work of the individual student. Original work is created by the student and shows a fresh, new idea. Hand drawn pictures are looked upon more favorably than computer drawings. Posters must be the original work of the individual student. Original work is created by the student and shows a fresh, new idea. Hand drawn pictures are looked upon more favorably than computer drawings. Poster should be flat and not rolled. Poster should be flat and not rolled.

Judging Criteria: Posters will be judged on the following points: Conservation Message50% Conservation Message50% Visual Effectiveness30% Visual Effectiveness30% Universal Appeal10% Universal Appeal10% Originality10% Originality10%Infractions: Points will be deducted for the following infractions: Points will be deducted for the following infractions: Copyright violation-5 Copyright violation-5 Exceeding the size limit-5 Exceeding the size limit-5Copyright: Copyright a protection by U.S. laws to the authors or creators of original work. A copyright protects the particular manner of expression of ideas, but not the ideas themselves. Copyright a protection by U.S. laws to the authors or creators of original work. A copyright protects the particular manner of expression of ideas, but not the ideas themselves.

How will contests be carried out? Contests will be conducted on the District, Area, and State levels. District winners will be eligible to enter Area contests, and Area winners will be eligible to enter the State contest. Each contest coordinator shall see that contestants and judges have a copy of the rules and shall urge them to study these rules, especially the sections on content, specifications, copyright and judging criteria. Contests will be conducted on the District, Area, and State levels. District winners will be eligible to enter Area contests, and Area winners will be eligible to enter the State contest. Each contest coordinator shall see that contestants and judges have a copy of the rules and shall urge them to study these rules, especially the sections on content, specifications, copyright and judging criteria.

Please call the following once posters are complete: Please call Carolyn Garris at ext. 101 and she will pick up posters from your school upon request. Her address is Visit us at Please call Carolyn Garris at ext. 101 and she will pick up posters from your school upon request. Her address is Visit us at Pitt County Soil & Water Conservation District Board Charles Davenport, Chairman Charles Farley, Vice Chairman Steve Sutton, Secretary/Treasurer Thurston James, Member C. Leroy Smith, Member