The Water Cycle in Motion
An animated journey through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Materials
4 materials1
Animation
2
Guided notes handout
3
Label & arrow cards
4
Quick-write prompt
Lesson plan
4 phases, 35 minGoal
Students can name the stages of the water cycle and explain how the sun's energy drives evaporation and condensation.
1
Hook video
Watch a short animation following a water droplet through the cycle.
6 min
class
Animation
2
Guided notes
Pause-and-discuss key stages while students fill in a notes sheet.
12 min
single
Guided notes handout
3
Model it: cycle diagram
Students arrange labels and arrows to rebuild the cycle in groups.
12 min
groups
Label & arrow cards
4
Quick check
Whiteboard answers: name the stage from a clue.
5 min
single
Quick-write prompt
Interactive materials open in a read-only preview before purchase.
Ratings & comments
Great structure. One question: is the extension task assessed, or purely optional?
The extension is optional in the plan, but I mark it for the students who choose it.
It works fine without the lab kit — I demoed the tricky step at the front and the rest is paper-based.
Careful, accurate content — I checked the sources and they hold up. Refreshing for a shared lesson.
Students who normally disengage were arguing about the data by minute ten. I will take that.
Quick note: I swapped the video for a live demo and it worked just as well if you don't have a projector.
A year down worked for me with the reading swapped for the summary version.