DISCUSS:
Imagine you lived in the same town as Pat’s brother. What could the town do to solve the problem of running out of fresh water? Do you have any ideas?
THINK & DRAW:
What makes it rain? How does rain get up into clouds?
Draw a picture of your ideas. Label your picture with words describing what you think happens.
DISCUSS (1 of 2):
Have you ever noticed a situation where water droplets formed on something?
Go to the next slide to see examples we thought about.
Example (1 of 3): The bathroom mirror after a shower
Example (2 of 3): The outside of a cold glass
Example (3 of 3): Blades of grass first thing in the morning
DISCUSS (2 of 2):
Where do you think the water droplets came from? Why do you think they formed in these places?
Hint...
Evaporation (water turning from liquid to gas) had to do with temperature: the more you heated the liquid, the more it became water vapor. Could water turning from gas back to liquid also have to do with temperature? Think about the examples we just saw.
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity and exploration you just completed.
- Click this to open a modal
- Writing activity: Combine science and creative writing.
- Video: Review concepts in the context of the water cycle.
- Readings: Learn how water gets in clouds—and how scientists are trying to get it out!
- Online Resource: A free interactive diagram and poster of the water cycle.
- Discussion: Are you drinking the same water the dinosaurs drank?
Activity: My Life as a Drip
Can you imagine what your life would be like as a drop of water? With the help of this creative writing activity from Kinetic City , you certainly can!
Students roll a die to choose a first sentence — then roll again to choose an ending.
- Do you start underground and end up in an elementary school drinking fountain?
- Do you begin in a puddle and end up in an iceberg?
So many possibilities and never the same story twice.
Video
“The Great Aqua Adventure” (4:28) reviews the basics of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
This is one of many videos from Crash Course Kids, a YouTube channel focusing on 5th-grade science topics. Crash Course Kids offers friendly hosted videos on many different subjects. Subscribe to free biweekly shows, or check out their extensive library of videos, all aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
Readings
These readings are free with registration on Newsela. Readings can be adjusted for reading level. A writing prompt and a quiz questions is available for each reading.
How does water move through Earth's land, oceans, and atmosphere? Find out in “The water cycle.” (Grade 5)
Clouds are made of water, but sometimes that water doesn't fall as rain. Scientists have figured out how make clouds drop their water. Discover how in this reading.(Grade 5)
Online Resource: The Water Cycle
This interactive diagram from the U.S. Geological Survey lets you explore the parts of the water cycle online. Choose from three levels: Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced.
The same information is available as a poster that’s free to download and print. Choose from 24 different languages.
A simpler version of the poster is available as a water-cycle placemat. (A print-friendly link is at the bottom of the page.)
Whatever form you choose, these are great for reinforcing or reviewing concepts presented in this Mystery.
Discuss
Water is always evaporating, making clouds, then raining down to fill lakes and oceans. That means the earth’s water gets used over and over again. Think about what that means for the water you drink.
What does that mean for people today? Are we using the same water that dinosaurs used?
What does that mean for people in the future? Will they use the same water you’re using?
Are there things we should all do to save and protect water for the future?
