Tides and the Moon

What You'll Learn

The water cycle describes how water moves through Earth's systems. Water evaporates from oceans, condenses into clouds, falls as precipitation, and flows back to the ocean.

Key Words

weather
barometer
tectonic plates

Materials Needed

clay
water
plastic tray

Safety First

Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.
Adult supervision recommended.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Review the background information on Earth Systems before starting.

Step 2 — Do

Create a model of the water cycle in a bowl: place warm water in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, put ice on top, and observe condensation and precipitation.

Step 3 — Observe

Compare the before and after states.

Step 4 — Record

Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis? What would you change next time?

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is erosion?