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Lesson Plan: Understanding the water cycle
Grade Level: 6th Grade
Subject: Science
Duration: 45 minutes
Introduction
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to explore a fascinating topic: the water cycle. To start, I want to ask you a question: Where do you think rain comes from? Let’s hear some of your thoughts!”
Great answers! The water cycle is the process that explains how water moves around our planet. It’s a never-ending cycle that involves several important stages. Let’s dive in!”
“First, let’s talk about evaporation. Evaporation happens when the sun heats water in places like rivers, lakes, and oceans. This heat causes the water to turn into vapor, which is a gas. Let’s draw this on the board.”
“Next, we have condensation. After the water vapor rises, it cools and transforms back into liquid water, forming clouds. Can anyone tell me what happens when you see dew on the grass in the morning?”
“Exactly! That’s condensation in action. Now, when those clouds get heavy with water, we experience precipitation. Precipitation is when water falls from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Think about the last time you got caught in the rain—how did it feel?”
“Lastly, we have collection. This is when water gathers in bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans. Once collected, the cycle starts all over again!”
“Now, let’s do a little demonstration to see evaporation and condensation in action. I have a clear cup of water here. I’m going to cover it with plastic wrap.”
Fill the cup with water and cover it.
“Now, I’ll place it in a sunny spot—or under a lamp if we’re indoors—to mimic the sun. Watch closely!”
After a few minutes, show the condensation forming on the underside of the wrap.
“Look! You can see water droplets forming on the plastic wrap. This is just like how clouds form in the sky. When the water vapor cools, it condenses, creating those droplets.”
Hands-On Activity:
“Now it’s your turn! I’m giving you a handout with a diagram of the water cycle. I want you to label each stage—evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Feel free to add your own drawings or examples for each stage.”
“Remember to be creative! Think about how you can illustrate each part of the cycle.”
Conclusion :
“Let’s wrap up! Today, we learned about the water cycle and its key stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Can anyone explain one of these stages to the class?”
“Fantastic job, everyone! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me after class.”
