We also have The Water Cycle Mini-Book (Simple) version if you are looking for a similar resource with less information.

🌧️ What Is the Water Cycle?

Your students may have learned about cycles, such as the life cycle of a butterfly or the life cycle of a plant. Now they may be ready to learn about a different type of cycle… the water cycle! The water cycle is the process by which water circulates between land and air. There are many different steps in the water cycle, some we can see and others we can not. As your students use this mini-book to learn about the water cycle, they will study the following phases:

• Evaporation
• Transpiration
• Condensation
• Precipitation
• Runoff
• Collection

Through this activity, students will learn about the continuous movement of water above and on the surface of Earth through the water cycle.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your science lessons. 

In addition to individual student work time, use this water cycle mini-book to enhance learning through guided science groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

For students needing extra support, work with students in a small group or 1-on-1 setting. Additionally, if students need additional support identifying different examples of the water cycle, consider using our Water Cycle Sort activity.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

If students need a bit of a challenge, encourage them to draw a diagram of the water cycle highlighting the different stages.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or editable Google Slides version of this resource. 

These pages are designed to be printed single-sided. Print enough books for the students in your class. Cut the pages in half, assemble them, and staple them along the left-hand side. 

This resource was created by Melissa McLaren, a teacher in Massachusetts and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:  

teaching resource

Water Cycle Sort – Sorting Activity

Use knowledge of the steps in the water cycle to categorize examples with this sorting activity.

teaching resource

Water Cycle Printable Game

Review stages of the water cycle with a printable dice game.