The Sun and The Water Cycle Grades 3-5
Star A ball of gas in space
Sun Star at the center of the Solar System that supplies heat and light to Earth Powers the water cycle!
Cycle A set of events that repeat itself over time.
Continuous Never Stopping
Ocean Large body of saltwater that covers 75% of Earth
Water Cycle Changes to water when it evaporates into the air, condenses into clouds, and then precipitates back down to Earth.
Evaporation Physical change in matter from liquid to a gas
Condensation Physical change in matter from gas to a liquid Moisture in the air cools and condenses and forms clouds
Precipitation Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail that falls from clouds in the sky
Transpiration Water evaporates from leaves of plants
Run-Off When precipitation falls water runs off mountains, hills, and down valleys
Groundwater Precipitation that falls back onto the land
Accumulation Precipitation that accumulates back into the ocean, rivers, lakes, and streams.
Most of the water that evaporates into the sky is saltwater. Why doesn’t it rain saltwater? Let’s set up an experiment to test our question.