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How to Make a Creative Water Cycle Model

Students spend an average of eight hours in school each school day trying to learn a variety of subjects through traditional paper-and-pencil pedagogy. A concept such as the water cycle, however, can be taught in a more concrete way by using a simple, creative water cycle model to demonstrate evaporation, condensation, precipitation and run-off.

Plastic zip-lock bag
Dropper
Food coloring
Thermometer
Masking tape

Instructions

- 1
  Pour 1 cup of water in one plastic zip-lock bag.
- 2
  Add two drops of food coloring to the water in the plastic zip-lock bag. Use a dropper to add the food coloring. Close the zip-lock bag.
- 3
  Measure and record the temperature of the bag by holding a thermometer against its exterior for three minutes. This portion represents the precipitation and run-off phase of the water cycle.
- 4
  Apply masking tape to hang the bag in sunlight for at least two hours, and observe all changes that take place. Record the bag's temperature after the two hours. Determine whether or not the bag's water level decreased as a result of being in the sunlight. This part represents the water cycle's evaporation phase.
- 5
  Place the bag in a cool place, and record the temperature and water level after several hours. This part represents the water cycle's condensation phase.

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