Skip to content

Water Cycle Activities for Middle School Science

The resources below will provide students a comprehensive understanding of the water cycle. All of the following lessons are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

The Water Cycle 5E Lesson includes materials for every "E" phase, including the Water Cycle Station Lab for Exploration and an interactive PowerPoint with digital INB templates for Explanation.

The lesson also includes introduction materials for Engagement, student-choice project ideas for Elaboration, and assessments for Evaluation.

After completing the Water Cycle 5E Lesson, students will be able to identify the key processes in the water cycle including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, sublimation, transpiration, and evapotranspiration.

distance-learning Distance-Learning Ready

The Water Cycle Inquiry Lab is a hands-on activity that is differentiated for advanced, on-level, and modified middle school students.

Students will create a model to demonstrate how water moves through the water cycle.

The Water Cycle Inquiry Lab includes a brief reading passage, comprehension checks, hands-on activities, reflection questions, and a CER conclusion.

distance-learning Distance-Learning Ready

Water Cycle Classroom Experiences

Create a powerful student experience to help solidify students' understanding about the water cycle. The following experience is also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

STEM CHALLENGES

The Project, A Touch of Nature - Water Cycle in a Bottle STEM Challenge, uses the engineering design process to research what a terrarium is and how one can be self-sustaining. Students will create a terrarium in a 2-liter bottle.

Students will be using collaborative skills such as brainstorming with their peers and reflecting on their progress during the project.

At the end of the Project, A Touch of Nature - Water Cycle in a Bottle, STEM challenge, students are given an opportunity to share their projects outside of the classroom.


Year-Round Resources

These year-round activities will increase your students' understanding of many middle school science topics. All of these activities are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Visual Data & Graphing

You're not alone if your students struggle with understanding graphs, charts, and tables. It's a skill that takes an enormous amount of practice. This resource will help students build a strong foundation in analyzing data and creating their own data visualizations.

Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups

These middle school science bell ringers are an excellent way to engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom. This comprehensive FULL YEAR resource includes everything you need to start off each science class with an interesting warm-up activity.

Review Board Games

Each game board has been carefully designed to keep students engaged. There are 10 different action spaces on each board and dozens of question cards. All of the actions are related to science concepts and keep the students motivated throughout the game.

Each game is ready to play. Simply print out the board and the cards and let the students enjoy reviewing nine different units.


Essential Questions and Standards

Below are the essential questions and standards associated with the lessons and activities included in the water cycle unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Essential Questions
  • How does water continually cycle among land, oceans, and the atmosphere?
  • What forms does water take through this cycle?
  • How is water cycle affected by the Sun and gravity?
Standards
  • MS ESS2-1 - Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process
  • MS ESS2-4 - Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity
  • MS ESS3-1 - Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes

access every resource.

Kesler Science Membership

Imagine never having to search for another middle school science lesson again. The membership gives you access to ALL of the Kesler Science products in one place (Yes, including everything above).

Say goodbye to long hours of lesson prep.