Internet Resources for Teaching the Water Cycle in the Science Classroom

The water cycle is included in curricula at different grade levels. The basic terminology and concepts can be taught as early as second grade. In higher grades, the concepts can be expanded upon for further understanding.

For all the students to get a grasp of the process of the water cycle, a teacher can use resources from the internet. There are videos, worksheets, colorful web pages and more to help engage those learners whose learning styles range from visual to hands-on.

For those teachers who have access to computer labs, some of the following sites can be used individually by the students. Others have documents that can be printed by the teacher and used after teaching the lesson in class.

STUDYJAMS is a great site for about grade three and higher. The vocabulary is presented in a video with pictorial examples to make it easy for the student to understand. There is also a quiz and a list of vocabulary words that can be accessed.

BOGGLESWORLDESL is intended for those for whom English is a second language, but it useful for all students. There are worksheets with the basic water cycle diagram, a word search, crossword, cloze activity and a diagram with explanation. These can be downloaded and saved as PDF, which makes it easy for the teacher to use on her classroom computer and/or printer.

KIDSZONE is a fun, kid-friendly web page that explains the water cycle clearly and provides helpful links. The format is colorful, easy to read and great for a fundamental understanding of the terminology and concepts used to explain the water cycle.

ELLERBRUCH.NMU.EDU is a web page recommended for third or fourth grade students to learn the basics of the water cycle. After the information is studied, there are practice pages and a quiz with an answer page provided. An interesting aspect of this page is the last link that includes directions on making a water cycle project.

Have fun engaging your students in a study of the water cycle with these student-friendly internet resources!