Aquarius Education and Public Outreach, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
This lesson is an instructor demonstration that focuses specifically on two aspects of the water cycle: evaporation and condensation. This is a well described instructor led demonstration for introducing and exploring the water cycle.
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Data sheet to be completed by students was not attached.
This seems like an easy to use guide for performing the demonstration and assessing the student's knowledge afterwards.
This lesson is part of NASA's Aquarius curriculum, which is no longer being updated.
This resource is an activity/demonstration of the water cycle.
There is a review on precipitation, evaporation, condensation, transpiration, and infiltration that is provided before the demonstration.
The demonstration creates a closed hydrological system in an aquarium and offers discussion points for the students to solidify their knowledge of the water cycle.
There are several points of misconceptions/preconceptions that are listed and can be addressed during the demonstration, for example, "When water evaporates it just disappears and ceases to exist."
Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
The resource's main activity is a demonstration of the water cycle inside of an aquarium.
There is introductory material provided as well as a wrap-up/assessment with discussion points about what the students have learned.
KWL strategy (what do I know, what do I want to know, what I learned) establishes a base of understanding, questioning, and a clear statement of the learning for all students.
Assessment ideas are provided, including as part of the larger "Aquarius Concept Map â Water & its patterns on Earth's surface."
The activity can be done as a demonstration or as a group project, depending on the available materials.
USGS, UCAR, and Aquarius links are broken. Despite this, the main sources are still valid and with a google search a correct link can be found.
There is some concern about adding a little smoke to the aquarium to help them see the circulation-since not all schools allow matches-however a few matches or incense sticks lit by the teacher, then blown out and quickly dropped into the box will work.
Prep time could be significant for teachers.
