Name:____________________________________________ Date:______________________________________ Class:____________________________ 363 Assessment of the Water Cycle

M.S.

Directions: Read each activity in the list. Begin with the first activity and complete it. Continue down the list of activities until you complete the list, or until the activity becomes too difficult. You may use any notes from this unit and/or a Science textbook to respond. Remember to use any strategies that may help you, and remember to answer every part of the question. When you are finished with an activity, place a check mark in the box. Checklist: Draw an image that demonstrates what the water cycle looks.

Label the diagram to show when evaporation, condensation, and precipitation occur. Reference your flow chart on the water cycle and illustrate what the molecules do when condensation occurs and when evaporation occurs. In no less than 3 sentences, explain what the molecules do during condensation and evaporation. o Be sure to explain how heat affects the molecules. o Also, be sure to identify which state of matter water is in at the point of condensation and evaporation. In no less than 3 sentences, explain why precipitation occurs. o Be sure to identify how temperature and condensation affect precipitation.

Create a story about the life of a water droplet. o Use details and facts from your books in order to create a detailed series of events in the life of a water droplet. Imagine that a news article was released this morning talking about a new watery planet that has been discovered in the solar system. There is no life or land on this planet, only water. The water on this planet has the following qualities:

The water around the equator is frozen. The water at the north and south poles is liquid. The planet is completely covered with clouds.

 It is hard to tell if there is groundwater. o WRITE an essay of no less than 3 paragraphs explaining how the water on this new planet is the same or different than the water on Earth.

o Reference the article The Water Cycle, describe how the surface water on Earth is affected by the water cycle. EVALUATION GUIDELINES:
A type of precipitation (rain, sleet, hail, or snow). Precipitation should be shown to

originate in the sky.

Water evaporating off the surface of the earth (from surface water, land, or

vegetation).
Condensation occurring in the air or sky. This might be shown as clouds or by the

word condensation.

EVALUATION GUIDELINES for WATERY PLANET:

Instead of fresh water, salt water covers most of the surface of Earth. Earth has frozen water but it is typically found at the poles and as glaciers. Water

around the equator of Earth is liquid.

Earth also has many clouds, but not at all times. Students may mention that clouds

indicate that there is water in the air on Earth and on the new watery planet.
Students might also explain that groundwater is not visible from a picture or a

globe, but we know that groundwater exists on Earth.

EVALUATION GUIDELINES for LIFE OF A WATER DROPLET:

Do students describe how the raindrop falls to the earth as a form of precipitation? Do students describe how the raindrop eventually evaporates off the surface of the

earth and condenses in the air?

Do students descriptions reflect an understanding that their journey will never

come to an end because water is continually cycled through the water cycle?
Do students include a picture with their story?