The Amazing Water Cycle!

For kids

Have you ever wondered where rain comes from? Or where the water in your bathtub goes? It's all thanks to the water cycle! Let's learn about this super cool process together!

Step 1: Evaporation - Water Goes Up!

Imagine a warm, sunny day. The sun heats up water in puddles, lakes, rivers, and oceans. This heat turns the water into a gas called water vapor. It's like when you boil water on the stove and see steam! The water vapor rises up into the sky. This is called evaporation!

Step 2: Condensation - Clouds Form!

As the water vapor goes higher, it gets colder. When the water vapor cools down, it turns back into tiny water droplets or ice crystals. These tiny droplets and crystals join together and form clouds! Think of it like your breath on a cold day – you see a little cloud!

Step 3: Precipitation - Rain, Snow, and More!

When the clouds get full of water droplets or ice crystals, they get heavy. Then, the water falls back to Earth in different forms! This is called precipitation. Here are some types of precipitation:

• Rain: Water falling as liquid drops.
• Snow: Water falling as ice crystals.
• Sleet: Rain that freezes as it falls.
• Hail: Balls of ice that fall from thunderstorms.

Step 4: Collection - Water Returns!

The water that falls to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail is collected. It flows into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Some water soaks into the ground, becoming groundwater. Then, the cycle starts all over again! Amazing, right?

You're a water cycle expert now! Keep exploring and learning about our wonderful world. You're doing great!