“Why does it rain?”
The water cycle can be a confusing concept and requires the introduction of some new vocabulary, but there are fun ways to get the idea across to curious youngsters who ask the questions “Where does the rain come from and why does it rain?"
Introduce the Water Cycle
The read aloud Drippy the Raindrop is a great way to introduce the water cycle to your learners. Like many good water cycle stories, this story follows Drippy the Raindrop’s journey through the water cycle.
A fun & simple way to explain EVAPORATION to your learners!
Give your child a small bucket filled with water and a large paintbrush or paint roller to paint on the sidewalk, driveway, flat stones, etc. They can write their name, draw pictures or just try to cover the whole space with water. (Holding & painting with brushes really helps strengthen hand muscles which in turn aids in development of coordination.)
After painting take a walk and then return and search for the letters or pictures. Ask children where the pictures went. It's fun to then try again and say this time I want to be sure my picture stays. Wait and watch the water disappear before your eyes. Remind your child next time it rains that their picture is raining down on them.
Water Cycle Game
— Physical movement helps children understand and remember concepts: use this fun game to help children understand the water cycle and evaporation —
How to play: The Water Cycle Game
Find a hill or slope to play the game. Children can cut out their own ‘Drippy Raindrop’ to use in the game.
Download this FREE ‘Raindrop PDF’ and the ‘Water Cycle Game PDF’ from below
Help encourage fine motor skills through cutting, gross motor skills through water cycle movements, AND help build the cognitive skills for truly understanding the water cycle.
(Simply subscribe for the PDF password)
Learners start at the top of the hill all together forming a cloud. A teacher yells out "rain!" and all the individual little rain droplets run down the hill and stop where they land. The teacher points out the warm sun in the sky and how it is heating up each of the little droplets. As they warm they begin to ascend the hill (learners can yell out "I'm evaporating!" which helps them remember the vocabulary). When one droplet bumps into another they stick together and form a bigger drop. Learners keep connecting with other droplets until a cloud forms at the top of the mountain again. The last little droplet that combines with the cloud is too much water for the cloud to hold and they all run down as rain again. Playing the game over and over again (which the learners will want to do) depicts the continuous cycle of water.
Change it up when it is cold and make snow or ice.
ENJOY!
For Comfortable Rain Gear and Engaging Rain Learning Tools & Toys, click here
