Handout
Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Botanical Garden: The Water Cycle

For Students 3rd - 5th
This simple overview provides definitions of key terms in the water cycle and a diagram showing the path water takes in this cycle.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a science flipchart that reviews the stages of the water cycle and also ways in which the water cycle affects weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
Handout
PBS

Nh Pbs: Nature Works: Water Cycle

For Students Pre-K - 1st
An explanation of the water cycle.
Primary
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Science Education Center: Make It Rain

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
How do you show students that the water cycle is more than just the traditional model of the ocean, clouds, and mountains and actually a part of their daily lives? This video will show multiple models of different part of the water cycle...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Ways of Watersheds

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learn about the four phases of the water cycle, the ways in which watersheds are crucial to healthy water, and the best ways to manage local watersheds with this interactive lesson.
Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Modeling Tree Transpiration

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, learners will observe and measure the water given off through transpiration by a plant in a small terrarium.
Handout
US Geological Survey

Usgs: How Much Water Is There on (And In) the Earth?

For Students 3rd - 8th
The USGS gives an overview of the amount of water on Earth and where it is located. It gives a few interesting facts about the Earth's supply of water. Click Home to access the site in Spanish.
Handout
University of Illinois

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: A Summary of the Hydrologic Cycle

For Students 3rd - 8th
Animation and text explain the water--or hydrologic--cycle, which is the process that water undergoes in nature.
Handout
Ohio State University

Ohio State University: Plant Transpiration & Translocation

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a good explanation of plant water balance issues and carbon fixing cycles. Transpiration processes are explained well with links to additional information.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Just Breathe Green: Measuring Transpiration Rates

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Through multi-trial experiments, students are able to see and measure something that is otherwise invisible to them- seeing plants transpire. This information will allow students to consider how a plant's unique characteristics (leaf...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Witnessing Evaporation

For Teachers 5th - 7th
The engineers at Splash Engineering (the students) have been commissioned by Thirsty County to conduct a study of evaporation and transpiration in their region. During one week, students observe and measure (by weight) the ongoing...
Handout
NOAA

Noaa: National Weather Service: Simplified Hydrologic Cycle

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Weather Service offers information on the processes that make up the water (hydrologic) cycle, including evaporation and transpiration, precipitation, run-off, infiltration, and percolation. Has a good illustration and...
Activity
National Health Museum

Access Excellence: Determining Transpiration From a Schoolyard Tree

For Students 9th - 10th
A good project to link math skills with ecology. Hands-on activies help students understand the role of trees in ecosystems.
Graphic
Curated OER

Nasa: Space Place: Cloudsat Water Diagram

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A diagram of the water cycle.
Handout
BiologyWise

Biology Wise: What Is Transpiration

For Students 9th - 10th
Transpiration is an important plant process that releases water into the air through the stomata in leaves. This resource describes the process, the role the stomata play, factors that have an impact on transpiration, and why it is so...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Biodomes

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore the biosphere's environments and ecosystems, learning along the way about the plants, animals, resources and natural cycles of our planet. Over the course of lessons 2-6, students use their growing understanding of...