What is the Water Cycle?

The water cycle is an exciting and continuous pattern, with no beginning or end. The water cycle is the movement of water on earth by evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. 

The warm sun causes liquid water to evaporate (to change from a liquid into a gas or vapor) and rise up into the sky.

The water vapors that are formed cool during evaporation. These cooled water vapors form clouds in the sky. This is called condensation. Condensation is when a gas turns into a liquid.

Clouds can be water droplets and/or ice particles. When the clouds get heavy enough, the water falls back to the ground in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail. This is precipitation.

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Water Cycle Video

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Let's Practice

On your journal or a sheet of paper, write down what you have learned about how water travels on earth.

​Then use the picture below to draw and label the steps of the water cycle.