Virtual STEAM Ahead

Earth's Water Recycling

This week we are going to do an experiment at home that will show us what a great water recycler our planet is!

Earth has a limited amount of water so it uses it over and over and over!  This is called the water cycle.  Let’s see how it works!

 For this experiment, you will need:

• Ziplock baggie
• Sharpie marker
• Measuring cup
• Water
• Blue food coloring
• Tape

Draw the sun, clouds and water on your baggie (this is where art meets science!).  Add 2-3 drops of blue food coloring to ¼ cup water and pour the water into your baggie.  Seal the bag and securely tape it to a sunny window.

Over the next few days observe what is happening to the water.  As the water warms, it evaporates into vapor.  As it cools, it begins to re-form as water, or condenses like a cloud.  When the water becomes too heavy for the air to hold, it falls like rain.

What have we learned?

 Our planet is an amazing water recycler!  This constant cycle of evaporation, condensation and precipitation (rain and snow) means our ponds, lakes, rivers and oceans are constantly being replenished.  Precipitation that falls on land becomes ground water that sustains plants and animals and eventually runs into bodies of water.  Nothing is wasted!

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