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.
- This is shown by the wavy lines rising from the ocean toward the clouds.

2. Condensation – Water vapor cools and changes back into liquid droplets, forming clouds.
- This is shown by the cloud forming above the water source.

3. Precipitation – When clouds become heavy, water falls back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Shown by raindrops falling from the cloud.

4. Collection/Runoff – Water collects in rivers, lakes, oceans, or flows over land (runoff) and returns to bodies of water.
- Shown by the blue arrow flowing down the mountain and into the river.

Now, label the boxes accordingly:

- Top left box (rain falling): Precipitation
- Top right box (sun heating water): Evaporation
- Middle right box (water vapor rising): Condensation
- Bottom left box (water flowing into river): Collection / Runoff

> ✔ Correct labels:
> - Top left: Precipitation
> - Top right: Evaporation
> - Middle right: Condensation
> - Bottom left: Collection / Runoff

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Step 2: Answer the Questions

#### 1. The sun heats water and creates vapor.
👉 This process is called evaporation.

✔ Answer: Evaporation

#### 2. The water vapor goes up and forms clouds.
👉 This is condensation, where water vapor turns into tiny liquid droplets that form clouds.

✔ Answer: Condensation

#### 3. When the clouds become too heavy and cannot hold more water inside...
👉 Water falls from the clouds as precipitation.

✔ Answer: Precipitation occurs

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Step 3: Mention three types of precipitation

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky.

Three common types are:

1. Rain
2. Snow
3. Sleet
*(Other acceptable answers: Hail, freezing rain)*

✔ Answers:
1. Rain
2. Snow
3. Sleet

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

#### Labels:
- Top left: Precipitation
- Top right: Evaporation
- Middle right: Condensation
- Bottom left: Collection / Runoff

#### 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... → Precipitation occurs

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

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