1-2-3 Come Do Some Water Cycle Activities With Me

 Evaporation, condensation & precipitation is quite a mouth full of science vocabulary, for a child to wrap their head around.

With that in mind, I designed 3 super-simple, quick, easy & fun water cycle craftivities, which will be featured here on the blog, along with today's FREEBIE.

First up is a "flip-the-flap" cloud. Children cut out their two cloud pattens, then color the “cover” cloud, and snip on the dashed lines.

They fold the top tab up, then glue just that section to the top of their “explanation” cloud underneath. Easy-peasy!

I’ve included a template with the information filled in, as well as a blank pattern, if you want your students to write up their own descriptive definitions for the 3 stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation & precipitation.

When everyone is done, review as a whole group, then have students partner up and take turns sharing their completed project with each other.

The next fun way to practice the water cycle is with a cool crown.  My Y5s absolutely LOVE making and wearing them.

I've also included a simple chant, which will make learning and saying those 3 big science terms super-fun!

The packet includes:

* 5 different crown options for your students to choose from.

* Each style comes with 3 options.:
1).There are black & white graphics representing the water cycle, so that children can color them, 2). as well as a blank crown, should you want your students to draw their own pictures, 3). along with full color, so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share.

You can leave the crowns as is, or add the "word strips”, which further reinforce the vocabulary, as students trace & write the words.

The strips add a “dingling dangling”  effect, that your students will truly enjoy.

I’ve also included graphics to add to the end of the strips for more bounce, added pizzazz, and further reinforcement of the 3 parts of the water cycle.

When everyone has completed their crown, parade around the room chanting the water cycle. 

I’ve included an anchor chart, plus pocket chart cards to help explain the vocabulary, as well as directions & motions for the chant.

If your students are like mine, they will beg to “Please do it one more time”….

Finally, since a cycle is a circle, that continues to go 'round & 'round like a wheel, I decided to reinforce that concept by making a "Raindrop Water Cycle Wheel" craftivity.    

There are 3 raindrop "covers" to choose from, plus blank templates so students can draw & write their own graphics.

There are several “wheel” options, which come with and without words, should you want your students to label their own.

Blank patterns are also included, so that older students can illustrate their own water cycle “pie sections”.

There is a 3-part water cycle option: evaporation, condensation, & precipitation; as well as a 4-sectioned wheel that adds “accumulation” to the cycle.

Simply pick which one is appropriate for your students, then “print & go!”

Use the anchor chart posters to introduce and explain the water cycle, and the song: “The Water Cycle Goes ‘Round & ‘Round” for more fun reinforcement.

Today's featured FREEBIE is an "I Love You" writing prompt. 

I found this idea in various print forms on a variety of sites and Pinterest, so I'm not sure where the original idea came from. 

However, instead of making an 8x10 print to frame, I thought it would be perfect to design some cards, bookmarks and magnets, which children could make in school for various holidays: Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Grandparent's Day. I hope you find it useful. 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by. 

The rain has decided to leave us alone for awhile, so time to get out and enjoy the wonderful sunshine. 

It's still chilly, only 58 degrees here in Michigan, but hopefully the sun will warm things up. Wishing you a fun-filled and relaxing day.
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 "Nature gives to every time and season beauties of its own." - Charles Dickens

1-2-3 Come Make A Water Cycle Wheel With Me

I'm sorry this is getting posted late.  Because of an allergic reaction, I spent most of last night in the ER, and then was transferred to ICU 'til later this afternoon. 

Really makes your priorities in life clear, as well as appreciation of the much-taken-for-granted, simple act of breathing. 

Any hoo, I'm a firm believer in "better late than never" so here is a quick and easy water cycle lesson.

It is now even later, as I finished the article, and instead of hitting control save, I hit who knows what, and lost the entire thing!

Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. Arggg!

I did this bit of science in April as it coincided with the April shower weather we were having outside, and was a nice addition to our weather studies.

Here's how to make a water cycle wheel:

Run off the templates on white construction paper. Students will trim into a circle and cloud shape.

Little ones may need help cutting the window on their cloud.

Students color blue raindrops onto the wheel windows and then place the circle behind their cloud so that it is in the center.

Poke a hole in the middle and fasten the wheel to the cloud with a brass brad.

To give the cloud more pizzazz and a 3D effect, have students press whisps of pulled-cotton on to the top.

Just an FYI: You need to model this step and explain to students how the pulled cotton balls look so much more realistic, than a whole cotton ball plopped on their cloud, other wise you may get quite a few kiddos who skip the pulling step and simply glue the entire cotton ball on their cloud. 

I further explained, that they were only getting a few balls that would be enough for their entire cloud if pulled apart, but certainly not enough if they just glued on the whole cotton ball.

This extra bit of explanation was very successful.  I not only wanted them to listen and follow directions, but to practice this wonderful fine motor exercise.

Inform students that they should pull apart all of their cotton balls and make a nice pile of "fluff" and then press it on their glue-covered cloud.

When everyone is done with their cloud wheel, review the water cycle concept as a whole group.

I've also included a cut & glue water cycle worksheet to further reinforce cutting skills and the new science vocabulary.

Another fun way to hone in on the words, and a great way to "get the wiggles out" is to do this action-chant:

My Y5's would crouch down and say: collection, then they'd jump up and say; evaporation.

Making a big cloud with their arms, they would exclaim: condensation. Their bodies would bend slightly forward as their clouds got heavier and heavier. 

Finally, they would fall down to the ground and yell: precipitation. I'd go through this 3 or 4 times. The 3rd time we'd say the words and do the actions as fast as we could.

For the last time, we'd do it in a low voice and move very slowly.  This quieted things down.

My Y5's LOVED doing this and learned the new vocabulary by the end of the day. Throughout the entire month, we'd practice the water cycle action chant.

Click on the link to view/print the Water Cycle activities.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.

"Chidren have more need of models, than critics." -Unknown