Weather and the Water Cycle for Kids: How Rain Works (Kindergarten to Grade 2 Science)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are learning about weather, and the amazing journey that water takes from the ground to the sky and back again. It is called the water cycle.

Weather is what the air outside is like each day. It can be sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy or snowy. It can be hot or cold. Weather can change from day to day, and even hour to hour.

Scientists measure weather. A thermometer tells us how hot or cold it is. A rain gauge collects rain to show how much fell. A wind sock shows which way the wind is blowing.

So where does rain come from? It starts with the sun. The sun warms water in oceans, lakes and puddles. The water turns into an invisible gas and rises into the sky. This is called evaporation.

High in the sky, the air is cold. The water vapor cools down and turns back into tiny drops of water. Millions of tiny drops gather together and make a cloud. This is called condensation.

When the drops in a cloud grow big and heavy, they fall. This is called precipitation. It falls as rain, or as snow when it is very cold. The water collects in lakes and oceans, and the cycle starts again.

Now it's your turn. In the morning there is a puddle on the playground. By the afternoon it is gone. Where did the water go? Pause and try. The sun warmed it, and it evaporated into the air!

Great job! Remember, weather is what the air is like each day. Water evaporates, condenses into clouds, falls as rain or snow, and collects again. Practice weather and the water cycle in the Science Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!