Water Cycle Sorting

Materials
 Water Cycle Terms

 1 Water Cycle Sorting Mat

 16 Water Cycle Example Cards

 1 Water Cycle Sorting Answer Key

Directions for 2 to 4 Players

1. Review and discuss the definitions and examples on the Water
Cycle Terms handou t. How are condensation, evaporation, and
precipitation alike and different?
2. Shuffle the 16 Water Cycle Example Cards and stack them
face down in the box on the Water Cycle Sorting Mat.
3. Place the Answer Key face down nex t to the mat.
4. One person begins by flipping over an example card and
reading it aloud. He or she identifies the card as precipitation,
evaporation, or condensation. If everyone agrees, the card is
placed face up in the box for that category.
5. If anyone disagrees, review the meanings of condensation,
evaporation, and precipitation to decide which one best fits
the example. Then place the card in the correct box.
6. The nex t person flips over the top water cycle example card
on the stack. Follow the directions in steps 4 and 5.
7. Continue taking turns sorting the cards until all 16 water cycle
examples are sorted into categories on the mat.
8. The person who places the last water cycle example card
turns over the Answer Key and everyone checks the answers.

©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com 1

 Water Cycle Terms

Precipitation
General name for any
form of water falling
through the air

Condensation
Water changing
from its gas form
(water vapor) to a liquid

Evaporation
Water changing
from a liquid to a
gas (water vapor)

©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com 2

 Water Cycle Sorting Mat

Precipitation

Stack
Water Cycle
Example Cards
Face Down
Here

Condensation Evaporation

©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com 3

Water Cycle Example Cards - Set #1
Directions: Cu t the example cards apart on the dashed lines.

1 2
Water droplets Steam rising from
forming on a glass a pot of boiling water
of cold lemonade

3 4

Rain falling from A puddle of water

stormy skies disappearing on
a hot sunny day

5 6
Coffee drying Fog on a car’s
in a mug windshield

7 8
Icy sleet pelting Clothes drying
down during a on a clothesline
winter storm

©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com 4

Water Cycle Example Cards - Set #2
Directions: Cu t the example cards apart on the dashed lines.

9 10

Wet mud becoming Moisture forming

dry, cracked dirt on cold sunglasses

11 12

Snowflakes in a Clouds forming

blizzard swirling when hot and cold
to the ground air masses meet

13 14
Dew droplets on Hail produced by
blades of grass a thunderstorm

15 16

Morning drizzle Hair drying

on a winter day af ter a swim

©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com 5

 Water Cycle Sorting Answer Key

Precipitation 3 , 7, 1 1 , 1 4 , 1 5
E va p o ra t i o n 4, 5, 8, 9, 16
Condensation 1, 2, 6, 10, 12, 13

Water Cycle Sorting Answer Key

Precipitation 3 , 7, 1 1 , 1 4 , 1 5
E va p o ra t i o n 4, 5, 8, 9, 16
Condensation 1, 2, 6, 10, 12, 13

Water Cycle Sorting Answer Key

Precipitation 3 , 7, 1 1 , 1 4 , 1 5
E va p o ra t i o n 4, 5, 8, 9, 16
Condensation 1, 2, 6, 10, 12, 13
©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com 6
 Name____________________________ Name____________________________

Date _____________________________ Date _____________________________

Water Cycle Terms Review Water Cycle Terms Review

Directions: Write the letter P, E, or C in front of Directions: Write the letter P, E, or C in front of
each example to identify it as Precipitation, each example to identify it as Precipitation,
Evaporation, or Condensation. Evaporation, or Condensation.

_____1. Steam rising from boiling water _____1. Steam rising from boiling water

_____2. Rain drops falling from clouds _____2. Rain drops falling from clouds

_____3. Fog forming on a window _____3. Fog forming on a window

_____4. Snowflakes drifting down _____4. Snowflakes drifting down

_____5. A puddle of water disappearing _____5. A puddle of water disappearing

_____6. Water drops on a cold glass _____6. Water drops on a cold glass

_____7. Hailstones dropping from the sky _____7. Hailstones dropping from the sky

_____8. Sweat drying from your skin _____8. Sweat drying from your skin

©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com

_____9. Morning fog over a lake _____9. Morning fog over a lake

_____10. A beach towel drying in the sun _____10. A beach towel drying in the sun

7
 Answer Key Answer Key

Water Cycle Terms Review Water Cycle Terms Review

Directions: Write the letter P, E, or C in front of Directions: Write the letter P, E, or C in front of
each example to identify it as Precipitation, each example to identify it as Precipitation,
Evaporation, or Condensation. Evaporation, or Condensation.

C
_____1. Steam rising from boiling water C
_____1. Steam rising from boiling water

P
_____2. Rain drops falling from clouds P
_____2. Rain drops falling from clouds

C
_____3. Fog forming on a window C
_____3. Fog forming on a window

P
_____4. Snowflakes drifting down P
_____4. Snowflakes drifting down

E
_____5. A puddle of water disappearing E
_____5. A puddle of water disappearing

C
_____6. Water drops on a cold glass C
_____6. Water drops on a cold glass

P
_____7. Hailstones dropping from the sky P
_____7. Hailstones dropping from the sky

E
_____8. Sweat drying from your skin E
_____8. Sweat drying from your skin

C
_____9. Morning fog over a lake C
_____9. Morning fog over a lake

©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com

E
_____10. A beach towel drying in the sun E
_____10. A beach towel drying in the sun

8
Take ‘n Teach Resources from Laura Candler
Water Cycle Sorting is part of my Take ’n Teach series, a line of no-frills black and white
resources that target specific skill areas. To find comprehensive resources that include full
teacher directions, check out some of my most popular products below. Click each cover
below to find the item on TeachersPayTeachers.

Copyright and Permission Info

Water Cycle Sorting is protected by copyright. Unless your school has purchased multiple licenses,
your single user license entitles you to use it in your classroom only. You may not distribute it in any
form without permission. Please value my hard work by respecting the copyright. ~ Laura Candler

Website: www.lauracandler.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/lauracandler
Facebook: www.facebook.com/teachingresources
TpT Store: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Laura-Candler
Corkboard Connections Blog: www.corkboardconnections.com
Candler’s Classroom Connections: www.lauracandler.com/signup.php

Artwork Credit
Artifex www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Artifex
Krista Wallden www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krista-Wallden
Hidesy’s Clipart www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Hidesys-Clipart
Digital Classroom Clipart www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Digital-Classroom-Clipart

©2015 Laura Candler's Teaching Resources ~ www.lauracandler.com ~ www.lauracandlerontpt.com 9