Precipitation and the Water Cycle

The beginning of this week we finished our cloud books.  They turned out great.  I discovered that I only have one set of watercolor paints in my classroom, though.  So, I had one student go around and dab on some grey/black water color paint to everyone's stratus clouds.  Note to self:  look for watercolor paints on sale so everyone can have their own next time!!

We talked about 4 types of precipitation this week:  rain, snow, sleet, and hail.  I used the chart that "Fun In First Grade" posted on her blog.  We brainstormed some words as a class to fill in the blank to describe each type of weather.  Words we came up with were wet, cold, round, etc. Then, I had the children choose one word to fill in the blank and draw a picture of the type of precipitation.  Since we live in FL, sleet was fun to explain!! See picture below:

We made a classroom thunderstorm together, which I was so excited to share with the kids!  I remember doing it when I was little and I've done it with camp kids in the past.  Everyone always loves it.  It goes like this: 

It all begins on a windy day. (Have students rub hands together slowly.)
The wind begins to blow hard. (Rub hands together quickly.)
Suddenly, big rain drops begin to drop from the sky. (Snap fingers slowly, then quicken the pace.)
Can you hear the rain drops coming faster and harder? (Clap hands for downpour!)
Oh no! It’s pouring! And what’s that I hear? Thunder! (Stomp your feet once and yell boom!
Continue to clap for rain.)
After thunder, you know lightning will be coming next. (Flick classroom lights.)
(Repeat the thunder and lightning pattern a few times. When ready, make the storm pass.)
Just like any storm, I think this storm is going away. (Begin snapping fingers quickly.)
It seems like there are just a few drops left. (Snap fingers slowly.)
There’s the quiet wind again. (Rub palms together.)
And, look, the sun comes out. It’s a nice quiet day again. (Turn lights back on.)

After learning the types of precipitation, we talked about what happens to the puddles that form during the rain.  The kids gave me all kinds of thoughts of where the rain goes, but one child actually came up with the word EVAPORATION.  I have to say I was impressed to hear that come out of a first grader, but it was a great lead in to the water cycle!  We colored and labeled the water cycle and I taught them a song to help them remember the big, long water cycle words.

Water Cycle Song 

(sung to Oh My Darling tune)

Evaporation (bring hands from ground to above head)

Condensation (hands for a cloud above head)

Precipitation (bring hands down to look like rain falling)

on my mind (point to head)

Oh it's called the water cycle (make a circle in the air)

and it happens all the time (point to wrist)

And that is where we are at this point.  I am so excited, I have just got a field trip lined up to go along with the end of our weather unit.  The local University nearby has a meteorology dept and the head of the Undergrad program said he'd take us on a tour and do some experiments with the kids!! I'll have to give them some background knowledge on air pressure before we go so his experiments make sense to them, but I think it is going to be great.  He is going to do a helium weather balloon launch off the roof with them.  Now to get my chaperones and bus lined up!! On to rainbows and snow next week to finish up learning about weather!

Happy Teaching!! :-)