4 Steps water cycle worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the water cycle worksheet step by step.

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Step 1: Label the 4 Steps of the Water Cycle

Looking at the image, we can identify the four main stages of the water cycle:

1. Evaporation – The sun heats water from oceans, lakes, and rivers, turning it into water vapor that rises into the air.
2. Condensation – Water vapor cools and forms clouds in the sky.
3. Precipitation – Water falls from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
4. Collection/Runoff – Water collects in rivers, lakes, oceans, or flows over land (runoff), and some infiltrates the ground.

Now, let’s label the blanks on the diagram:

- Top left blank (above the cloud with rain): This is Precipitation
- Top right blank (near the sun and rising arrows): This is Evaporation
- Middle right blank (rising wavy lines from water surface): This is Evaporation (already labeled)
- Bottom left blank (arrow showing water flowing down the hill): This is Runoff (or Collection)

So, the labels are:
- Top left: Precipitation
- Top right: Evaporation
- Middle right: Evaporation
- Bottom left: Runoff

> Note: "Evaporation" appears twice (from the ocean and possibly plants), but it's one process. The top right and middle right both show evaporation.

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Answer the following questions:

#### 1. The sun heats water and creates vapor.
✔ Evaporation

#### 2. The water vapor goes up and form clouds.
✔ Condensation

#### 3. When the clouds become too heavy and cannot hold more water inside.
✔ Precipitation

> Explanation: When clouds get saturated, the water droplets combine and fall to Earth as precipitation.

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Mention three types of precipitation:

1. Rain
2. Snow
3. Sleet (or Hail, depending on preference)

> Common types include: Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail, Drizzle. Any three are acceptable.

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✔ Final Answer Summary:

#### Labels on Diagram:
- Top left (rain): Precipitation
- Top right (sun and upward arrow): Evaporation
- Middle right (upward wavy lines): Evaporation
- Bottom left (water flowing downhill): Runoff

#### Answers to Questions:
1. The sun heats water and creates vapor. → Evaporation
2. The water vapor goes up and forms clouds. → Condensation
3. When the clouds become too heavy and cannot hold more water inside. → Precipitation

#### Three types of precipitation:
1. Rain
2. Snow
3. Sleet

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This completes the worksheet! Let me know if you'd like a printable version or further explanation.