Weather and climate resources: Key Stage Three

What are clouds and why does it rain?

Prior Learning

At Key Stage Two students learnt the basic water cycle, this is adding to and building upon this work.

Objectives

By the end of the lesson:

• All students will know that water moves within the hydrological cycle

• Most students will know that key vocabulary for the hydrological cycle

Starter

Get the students to complete the hydrological cycle word search to give them the key vocabulary for the lesson.

You will need:

• Hydrological cycle word search 

Main Activity

Demonstrate water cycle in a bowl

A quick visual refresh of what is going on. Simple demonstration requiring a kettle (to supply steaming water) a mixing bowl, cling film and some ice cubes.

Condensation should form on the cling film and drip (rain) back into the bowl. A slower version of this demo can be found in the primary kids section.

Go through hydrological cycle animation with students.

You will need:

• Clear glass bowl

• Kettle for steaming water

• Ice cubes

• Clingfilm

• Hydrological cycle animation

• Hydrological cycle worksheet 

• Hydrological cycle worksheet answers 

Plenary

Complete the hydrological cycle crossword to check their understanding of the cycle. Alternatively compile their own crossword using key words.

Hydrological cycle crossword 

All resources produced and provided by the Met Office