Make a Mini Water Cycle Model

The water cycle is an amazing process and we touched on it when discussing evaporation a couple of weeks ago.

Today we are going to have a go at creating our very own mini water cycle model.

What is the water cycle?

Water on Earth is recycled over and over again, it’s always moving. It is this recycling process that we call the water cycle.

Evaporation – water evaporates into the air

The sun heats up water on land, in rivers, lakes and seas and turning it into water vapour.

The water vapour rises into the air.

Condensation – water vapour condenses into clouds

As water vapour in the air cools down it turns back into tiny drops of water. These tiny drops of water form clouds.

Precipitation – water falls as rain

As the amount of water vapour in the clouds increases the clouds get heavier and heavier. Water falls back to the ground as rain or if it’s cold enough, sleet or snow.

4. Water returns to the sea

As rain water runs over the land back to rivers and the sea some is taken up by and used by plants, some returns back to the air through transpiration. Most of the rain water though collects in lakes or rivers and flows back to the sea for the water cycle to start again.

The arrow from the sea to the sun – evaporation

The arrow from the sun to the clouds – condensation

The arrow from the Clouds to the mountains – precipitation

Make a water cycle model

You’ll need

A plastic bowl (mixing bowl size)

Cling film

A mug

String

Water

How to make a water cycle model

It is best to do this outside in a sunny place.

1. Place the mug in the bottom of the bowl

2. Add water around the mug so that it come up to 2/3rd of the mug – if you can draw on the bowl mark where the water level is.

3. Cover the bowl tightly in clingfilm and fasten in place with the string.

4. Watch what happens!

How does the water cycle model work?

You should find that you can see condensation drops of water on the top of the cling film and that the water level have lowered proving that evaporation has taken place. The condensation droplets are the clouds. They will be dripping back into the bowl but you should find that some of the water is now in the cup (your mountains) demonstrating precipitation!

More Water Cycle Activities

Can you make a water cycle in a bag? Draw the sun and a cloud on a bag. add some water and stick to the inside of a sunny window. Watch as the water evaporates and condenses inside the bag!

We love this LEGO water cycle model from EDventures and this raining sponge from The Pinterested Parent is really cool too.