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Water on Earth is always moving. It is constantly being recycled. This is called the water cycle.

The water cycle is the journey water takes as it moves from the land to the sky and back again.

Have a look at the stages of the water cycle.

1. Water evaporates into the air

• The Sun heats up water in the sea, lakes, rivers and on land.
• The warm water turns into a gas which we call water vapour. This process is called evaporating.
• This isn't boiling because the water is cooler than its boiling point (which is 100 degrees Celsius).
• Evaporating is a slower process than boiling.

2. Water vapour condenses to form clouds

• As the water vapour rises, it gets colder and condenses.
• This makes tiny droplets of liquid water, which is what clouds are made from.
• The clouds are moved by the wind.

3. Water falls as precipitation

• As the droplets of water in the clouds get larger, they get heavier.
• Eventually they fall, usually as rain.
• If the air is very cold, the water freezes as it falls and we call this hail or snow.
• Rain, snow and hail are all examples of precipitation.

4. The water returns to the sea

• Water that falls on land travels through streams and rivers back to the sea.
• The cycle starts again.

Get a pen, some colours and some paper!

• Draw a picture to represent each stage of the water cycle.
• Place arrows between each stage in the correct order.