What makes it Rain? 

Grade 3

Objectives:

Students will:

  • Comprehend what the water cycle is and briefly discuss the characteristics and importance of water
  • Complete a drawing of the water cycle using the National Marine Aquarium websites interactive water cycle
  • Write their own story about a rain drop in the water cycle using key vocabulary
  • Following the discussion on what a rain stick is the students will successfully create a rain stick

Concepts:

  • Water
  • Water cycle
  • Evaporation
  • Condensation
  • Precipitation
  • Surface runoff
  • Transpiration
  • Solid
  • Liquid
  • Gas

 

Generalizations:

  • Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, surface runoff, and transpiration are the six processes that make up the water cycle.
  • Water is able to transform from a solid, liquid and gas depending on the temperature is that is applied to the water.

 

Procedures:

Introductions:

  1. Ask the students how they think all the water stays on the earth
  2. Next, the teacher will get into a discussion by asking the students what they think the water cycle is and how it works.
  3. To introduce the water cycle, the teacher will read the book, What Makes It Rain?  The Story of a Raindrop.

 

Body:

  1. After reading the book, the teacher will help the students understand the water cycle, the process that drives it, and how they are related by using the website from National Marine Aquariums, Interactive Water Cycle, http://www.national-aquarium.co.uk/interactive/water.asp
  2. As the students are watching the parts of the water cycle, they must write down information they obtain from the video that describes each part using a worksheet. (Click here for water cycle worksheet).
  3. First ask the students what they think evaporation is and have a discussion.
  4. Next the teacher will click on the evaporation link in the water cycle and the students will be able to visually see how it works in the cycle.
  5. Next, as the students what they think condensation is and have a discussion.  The teacher will then click on the condensation link.
  6. Next, as the students what they think precipitation is and have a discussion.  The teacher will then click on the precipitation link.
  7. After precipitation we will discuss surface runoff and where it comes from.  The teacher will click on the runoff link.
  8. The last term being discussed is transpiration.  Ask the students what they think transpiration and where it comes from.  The teacher will click on the transpiration link.
  9. After we are finished the students will create a picture of the water cycle on their own. (See picture).  They will need to include all of the parts that were discussed.  The teacher can hand out a list of the terms so they are spelled correctly on their picture. (Click hear for Terms handout). 
  10. The students will receive a blank piece of paper to draw their water cycle picture.
  11. As a model the students will have the teacher’s picture of the water cycle to follow. (See teacher’s water cycle picture).
  12. Have the students draw the basic picture with mountains, a stream, river, or creek, a lake or an ocean, rain, sleet, snow, or hail, at least 3 clouds a tree and the sun.
  13. Have the students