The Water Cycle Interactive Simulation

The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below Earth's surface. Solar energy drives evaporation from oceans and lakes; water vapour rises, cools, and condenses into clouds; precipitation returns water to the surface; and collection in rivers, lakes, and groundwater completes the loop. Students can change sunlight and compare what happens. Use it for earth science inquiry with Grades 3–5 and Middle School on a projector or student device.

Standards: NGSS 5-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-4

• How increased sunlight speeds up the evaporation rate
• Why clouds form at altitude rather than at the surface
• How precipitation returns water from the atmosphere to land and sea
• Where water goes during the collection stage (rivers, lakes, groundwater)
• Why the water cycle is called a cycle (water is never created or destroyed)

1. 1Predict how changing sunlight will affect the visible outcome, then test the prediction.
2. 2Use evidence from the interactive visual to explain the result.

Questions teachers ask