Introduction
The water cycle is important to everything on Earth! In this WebQuest, you will look over the stages of the water cycle and understand how water moves through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.
Guiding Question:
What happens to water as it moves through the water cycle, and why is it important for life on Earth?
Learning Objective:
By the end of this WebQuest, students will be able to explain the stages of the water cycle and describing how water moves through the environment by promoting understanding and application of scientific concepts.
Task
Students will work in groups to create a narrated PowerPoint presentation that explains each stage of the water cycle. The project should focus on:
- Evaporation
- Condensation
- Precipitation
- Collection: Runoff and Groundwater
The final presentation should include diagrams, explanations, and a narration about how water moves through these stages.
Process
Step 1: Research
Watch the YouTube video linked below and use the following websites to gather information for the project.
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/water-cycle/
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/science/nature/water-cycle/
Step 2: Choose roles
Each student should pick one stage from the water cycle and research and explain that. For example, the student who is assigned evaporation should discuss how water changes to vapor.
Step 3: Create and design your PowerPoint
Using pictures and charts, each stage of the cycle should be thoroughly demonstrated. Make sure every slide is clear and easy for everyone to understand.
Step 4: Write a script
After creating the PowerPoint, write a script that explains each slide.
Step 5: Narrate the PowerPoint
Record the explanations of each part of the cycle. Each student should narrate their assigned roles.
Step 6: Review for errors and turn in the assignment!
Together as a group make sure that there are no errors or spelling mistakes, and that it is clear and flows smoothly. And finally, submit the assignment to the teacher.
Evaluation
| Rubric | Excellent (25 points) | Good (20 points) | Satisfactory (15 points) | Needs Improvement (10 points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Detailed and scientifically accurate information is used | Mostly accurate, with some minor errors | Satisfactory, some gaps in information | Lacks clarity or contains significant errors |
| Design | Design is appealing and creative, use of images and graphs | Good design, some creativity shown | Satisfactory design, basic creativity | Lacks creativity, minimal effort |
| Group Collaboration | All members contributed equally | Most members contributed, but uneven work | Some group members are more active than others | Very little group effort and collaboration |
| Narration | Clear and confident narration | Primarily clear, occasional hesitations | Satisfactory but a little unclear | Poor narration that is difficult to understand |
Conclusion
Congratulations!
You’ve completed your journey of learning and exploring the water cycle. Now that you know how water moves from the ocean, to the sky and back to the ground, think about how this cycle affects our everyday lives. How does it influence our weather, plants, and drinking water?
Want to explore further? Take a second to learn more about how humans affect the water cycle.
Click the link below to learn about a practice called, rainwater harvesting, and how it is used to conserve water. After exploring the link, consider how rainwater harvesting might impact the water cycle in different places and climates around the world!