Name: ______#: ______Spheres of the Earth The Hydrosphere & Water Cycle New Words Estimated Time: 30 minutes The atmosphere contains all of Earth’s Age range: 3rd – 5th grade air. What you need: a partner (can be done in person or via video chat), The biosphere consists of all of Earth’s printer (optional) living organisms. Condensation is the process where water vapor turns into liquid water. Evaporation is the process of liquid water escaping the surface of the Earth and entering the atmosphere as water vapor. The geosphere is all of Earth’s surfaces and inner layers (rocks, soil, crust, etc.). Groundwater is water that is held underground in the cracks or pores of the earth. The hydrosphere consists of all of Earth’s water in solid, liquid, or gaseous form. Background Information: Particles are small pieces of matter, Stand outside and pour a small amount of water on the ground. which make up everything in the universe. Consider the following question: Precipitation is the process where water falls to Earth’s surfaces from the atmosphere (i.e. rain, snow, sleet, ice). What do you think will happen to that water? Record your ideas with words and pictures. Runoff is water which runs downhill over land surfaces (i.e. rivers, streams, ______creeks). ______Snowmelt is liquid water that results ______from the melting of snow. Sublimation is the process where water in a solid state (snow, ice) is transformed directly into water vapor. Transpiration is the process by which liquid water leaves plant surfaces (especially leaves) and enters the atmosphere as water vapor.

The water cycle describes the cyclical movement of water, and the processes which move it, throughout Earth. Water vapor is the gaseous state of water.

Name: ______#: ______

Many different things can happen! The water could evaporate into the air. It could become groundwater. A plant could absorb some of the groundwater through its roots, and eventually the water would evaporate off of its leaves through a process called transpiration. These processes are a part of something called the water cycle, which describes way water moves through our Earth.

All water on Earth, in all its forms, is called the hydrosphere. Water found in ice, like in a glacier, is in a solid state. Liquid water can be present in streams, lakes, oceans, and more. Water vapor, the gaseous form of water, is present in the air.

The hydrosphere is one of four systems on Earth, which are called Earth’s spheres. The others include the atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. The four spheres are deeply connected, and the water cycle is just one example of how the spheres interact.

Consider the following:

Name one way you think the hydrosphere might interact with the other three spheres.

Atmosphere: ______Biosphere: ______Geosphere: ______

Take a look at the water cycle below:

Name: ______#: ______

Where do you think most of Earth’s water is stored? Water moves throughout Earth and is constantly recycled. The photo above illustrates sources of water on Earth, as well as processes that move water through the cycle. Because the movement is cyclical, there is no real “start” or “end” to the water cycle.

We’ll begin our exploration of the water cycle in the oceans, which is where most of Earth’s water is located. The ocean is heated by the sun, which causes evaporation, where liquid water becomes water vapor and enters the air. Water also enters the air by a process called sublimation, where solid water in the form of ice and snow is transformed directly into water vapor. One additional process that allows water to enter the air as water vapor is transpiration, where water evaporates from plant surfaces, such as flowers or leaves.

After water vapor enters the air via the above processes, cooler temperatures cause condensation, where water vapor is transformed back into liquid water in the form of clouds. As clouds move around Earth, their particles collide and eventually fall back to Earth’s surface in the form of precipitation.

The water from precipitation falls in many areas. Snow falling can accumulate as glaciers and ice caps, which store frozen water. In warmer climates, snow will thaw and flow over land as snowmelt. Precipitation can also fall as rain directly onto land, where it flows over land as runoff. This enters rivers, valleys, lakes, and streams, some of which carry water back to the ocean. It can also be stored underground as groundwater. Some groundwater remains stored, and some eventually seeps back into bodies of water, including the ocean.

Water is constantly moving through these different processes and locations. As it moves through the cycle, you may have noticed how it interacts with some of Earth’s spheres. When water vapor rises in the air, it interacts with the atmosphere--with wind and air currents moving it around the Earth. Groundwater is a great example of how the hydrosphere and geosphere interact. Water is stored in the ground in soil and rock crevices. We also saw water interact with plants via transpiration, which is an example of how it connects to the biosphere.

We can see from the water cycle just how important the hydrosphere can be. Not only is water required for life, its interactions with the other three spheres shape the Earth as we know it!

Consider the following question:

What effect do you think you have, as an individual, on the hydrosphere? ______Hint: Think about some of the ways you interact with water.

Now it’s time to participate in a water miming activity! Follow the instructions on the next page to get started. Name: ______#: ______

Water Miming Activity

This activity is a fun method for learning and remembering the various processes and components of the water cycle. You’ll be acting out some of these. You can print and cut out the following cards, or simply choose one at random by closing your eyes and using a finger to point. Whichever word your finger lands closest to is the word you will act out.

Instructions: 1. Decide if you would like to do this activity with someone you are with in person, or if you would like to do it over a video chat.

2. Print and cut out the water miming cards, or decide with your partner what method you’ll use to randomly select the words.

3. Decide who will go first and have that partner select a word. If they do not remember what it means, they may reference the definition provided on the card. They have 20 seconds to silently act this out while the second partner tries to guess the word. If they are not able to guess the word within those 20 seconds, the acting partner may then add noises and sounds (without words).

4. Once the word has been guessed, the partners switch roles. Repeat this process until you have gone through the full list of words.

Another option for this activity is to have one partner act out the full list of words while the other guesses. After the list is completed, the partners then switch the roles of actor and guesser.

Name: ______#: ______

Water Miming Cards

Condensation The process in which water vapor (gas) turns into liquid water

Runoff The draining and running of water downhill over land surfaces (i.e. rivers, streams, creeks)

Evaporation The process of water escaping the surface of the Earth and entering the atmosphere

Precipitation The process where water falls to the ground from the atmosphere (i.e. rain, snow, sleet, ice).

Groundwater Water that is held underground in the cracks or pores in the earth.

Transpiration The process by which water leaves the surfaces of plants (especially from leaves) and enters the atmosphere.

Sublimation The process where water in a solid state (snow, ice) is transformed directly into water vapor.

Sources: https://pixabay.com/photos/lake-mcdonald-landscape-panorama-2050077/ https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/fundamentals-water-cycle?qt- science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects https://pixabay.com/photos/ocean-sea-water-horizon-storm-sky-2619837/