Today’s Walking Classroom podcast discusses precipitation and the water cycle. Precipitation is formed by the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere and includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail. The water cycle is divided into four main stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Water, in solid, liquid, or gaseous form travels through this cycle.
Character Value: Reliability
Click for Standards Alignment
Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
RST.6-8.4
Next Generation Science Standards
PS–Physical Science | LS–Life Science | ESS–Earth and Space Science | ETS–Engineering, Technology and the Application of Science Elementary School: 3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS2-2, 4-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-1Middle School: MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Water Cycle Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
Water Cycle Slide Deck
Has a pop-up book illustrating the water cycle.
Provides an overview of the water cycle with cartoons.
Test knowledge of the water cycle by unscrambling the words and phrases.
Follow a molecule of water through the water cycle with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Learn about water and the water cycle with these online activities from Project WET Foundation and EcoLab.
Create a mini water cycle and see how the water cycle works in this hands-on activity from The Water Project.