The Sun and The Water Cycle

1. The Sun and The Water Cycle Grades 3-5

2. Star A ball of gas in space

3. Sun Powers the water cycle! Star at the center of the Solar System that supplies heat and light to Earth

4. Cycle A set of events that repeat itself over time.

5. Continuous Never Stopping

6. Ocean Large body of saltwater that covers 75% of Earth

7. Water Cycle Changes to water when it evaporates into the air, condenses into clouds, and then precipitates back down to Earth.

8. Evaporation Physical change in matter from liquid to a gas

9. Condensation Physical change in matter from gas to a liquid Moisture in the air cools and condenses and forms clouds

10. Precipitation Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail that falls from clouds in the sky

11. Transpiration Water evaporates from leaves of plants

12. Run-Off When precipitation falls water runs off mountains, hills, and down valleys

13. Groundwater Precipitation that falls back onto the land

14. Accumulation Precipitation that accumulates back into the ocean, rivers, lakes, and streams.

15. 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.