The Water Cycle-Cut and Paste by The Geek Librarian | TPT - Free Printable

To solve this worksheet, we need to match the correct stage of the water cycle to each empty box based on the pictures and arrows shown. Let's look at the diagram step-by-step.

The word bank at the bottom gives us these terms:
* evaporation
* accumulation
* condensation
* precipitation
* surface runoff
* transpiration

Step 1: Identify "Precipitation"
Look at the top left of the diagram. There are clouds with rain and snow falling down onto the mountain. The arrows point downward from the clouds to the ground. This process is called precipitation.
* *Box location:* The large rectangular box in the top middle/left area, right under the raining clouds.

Step 2: Identify "Condensation"
Look at the top right of the diagram. There are fluffy clouds floating in the sky. An arrow points from the right side towards these clouds, indicating that water vapor is turning into clouds. This process is called condensation.
* *Box location:* The rectangular box on the top right, next to the clouds.

Step 3: Identify "Surface Runoff"
Look at the mountain on the left. There is an arrow pointing down the slope of the mountain, showing water flowing over the land into the ocean below. This flow of water over the ground is called surface runoff.
* *Box location:* The rectangular box on the right side of the mountain slope.

Step 4: Identify "Accumulation"
Look at the bottom center of the diagram where all the water collects (the ocean or sea). The wavy lines represent a large body of water. When water gathers in one place like an ocean, lake, or glacier, it is called accumulation.
* *Box location:* The rectangular box in the bottom middle, just above the word "condensation" in the word bank (but visually, it's the box sitting on top of the ocean waves). *Correction:* Looking closely at the layout, there is a box directly above the ocean waves in the center. This represents the collection of water.

Step 5: Identify "Evaporation"
Look at the bottom right. There are three upward-pointing arrows rising from the ocean surface. This shows water turning into vapor and rising into the air due to heat from the sun. This is called evaporation.
* *Box location:* The rectangular box on the bottom right, above the upward arrows.

Step 6: Identify "Transpiration"
Look at the bottom left. There are trees and plants. There are upward-pointing arrows coming from the leaves of the trees. Plants release water vapor into the air through their leaves. This is called transpiration.
* *Box location:* The rectangular box on the bottom left, above the trees.

Let's double-check the positions against the standard water cycle flow:
1. Evaporation/Transpiration: Water rises from oceans (right) and plants (left).
2. Condensation: Vapor forms clouds (top right).
3. Precipitation: Clouds release rain/snow (top left).
4. Surface Runoff: Water flows down mountains (center right).
5. Accumulation: Water collects in the ocean (bottom center).

Mapping to the specific boxes in the image:

* Top Left Box (under rain clouds): Precipitation
* Top Right Box (next to clouds): Condensation
* Middle Right Box (on mountain slope): Surface Runoff
* Bottom Left Box (above trees): Transpiration
* Bottom Center Box (above ocean waves): Accumulation
* Bottom Right Box (above upward arrows from ocean): Evaporation

Wait, let me re-examine the image layout carefully to ensure I assign the labels to the exact blank boxes provided.

There are 6 blank boxes.
1. Top Middle-Left: Under the raining clouds. -> Precipitation
2. Top Right: Next to the forming clouds. -> Condensation
3. Middle Left: To the left of the mountain peak? No, looking at the arrows...
* There is a box to the left of the mountain. Arrows point UP from the ocean/trees towards it? No, the arrows from the trees go up to a box on the left. The arrows from the ocean go up to a box on the right.
* Let's trace the arrows again.
* Left Side: Trees have arrows going UP to a box. This is Transpiration.
* Right Side: Ocean has arrows going UP to a box. This is Evaporation.
* Top Right: Clouds are forming. Arrow comes from the evaporation box area? Actually, usually, evaporation leads to condensation. The box next to the clouds on the right is likely Condensation.
* Top Left: Rain is falling. The box under the rain is Precipitation.
* Mountain Slope: Arrow goes down the mountain into the water. The box next to this arrow is Surface Runoff.
* Bottom Center: The water collecting in the ocean. The box sitting in the water/above the waves is Accumulation.

Let's refine the specific box locations based on standard worksheet layouts:

* Box above the trees (Left): Arrows rise from plants. Answer: Transpiration
* Box above the ocean waves (Right): Arrows rise from water. Answer: Evaporation
* Box next to the clouds (Top Right): Water vapor turns to clouds. Answer: Condensation
* Box under the raining clouds (Top Left): Rain falls. Answer: Precipitation
* Box on the mountain slope (Center): Water flows down. Answer: Surface Runoff
* Box in the ocean/water body (Bottom Center): Water collects. Answer: Accumulation

Let's verify the remaining box. There is a box to the left of the mountain peak. Is that for precipitation?
Looking at the image again:
- Top row: One box under the rain clouds. One box next to the clear clouds.
- Middle row: One box to the left of the mountain. One box to the right of the mountain (on the slope).
- Bottom row: One box above the trees. One box above the ocean arrows. And one box in the water?

Actually, let's look at the boxes relative to the word bank order or just logical placement.

1. Leftmost box (middle height, left of mountain): The arrows from the rain seem to target the mountain and the ground. But wait, there is a box *under* the rain clouds. That is definitely Precipitation.
2. Box to the left of the mountain: This box is positioned where the rain lands. However, usually, the box *under* the clouds is precipitation. Let's look at the arrows. The rain arrows go down. The box is to the left. It might be labeling the collection on land? No, "Accumulation" is usually the big body of water.
Let's re-read the diagram structure.
- Top Left Box: Under the rain. -> Precipitation
- Top Right Box: By the clouds. -> Condensation
- Right Middle Box: On the slope. -> Surface Runoff
- Bottom Right Box: Above ocean arrows. -> Evaporation
- Bottom Left Box: Above tree arrows. -> Transpiration
- Bottom Middle Box: In the water. -> Accumulation

What about the box to the left of the mountain?
Ah, I see 6 boxes total in the main diagram area?
1. Top left (under rain)
2. Top right (by clouds)
3. Middle left (left of mountain)
4. Middle right (right of mountain/slope)
5. Bottom left (above trees)
6. Bottom right (above ocean)

Wait, where is Accumulation?
Usually, Accumulation is the water itself. Is there a box *in* the water?
Looking at the bottom center, there is a box sitting on the waves. Yes.

So let's count the boxes again carefully.
1. Top Left: Under the rain clouds.
2. Top Right: Next to the white clouds.
3. Middle Left: To the left of the mountain.
4. Middle Right: To the right of the mountain (slope).
5. Bottom Left: Above the trees.
6. Bottom Right: Above the ocean arrows.

Where is the 7th term? The word bank has 6 terms.
Terms: evaporation, accumulation, condensation, precipitation, surface runoff, transpiration.

If there are only 6 boxes, then my previous count was slightly off. Let's look at the "Middle Left" box again.
The box to the left of the mountain... what does it represent?
Sometimes diagrams label "Collection" or "Accumulation" on land (groundwater), but usually, it's the ocean.

Let's look at the arrows again.
- Rain falls (Precipitation).
- Water flows down slope (Surface Runoff).
- Water enters ocean (Accumulation).
- Sun heats ocean -> Evaporation.
- Vapor rises -> Condensation.
- Plants release water -> Transpiration.

If I have to fit 6 labels into 6 boxes:

Box 1 (Top Left, under rain): This is clearly Precipitation.
Box 2 (Top Right, by clouds): This is clearly Condensation.
Box 3 (Bottom Left, above trees): This is clearly Transpiration.
Box 4 (Bottom Right, above ocean arrows): This is clearly Evaporation.
Box 5 (Middle Right, on slope): This is clearly Surface Runoff.

That leaves Box 6 (Middle Left, left of mountain) and the term Accumulation.
Does "Accumulation" fit there? Accumulation is the gathering of water. While the ocean is the main accumulation, water also accumulates on land before running off. Or, perhaps the box in the "Middle Left" is actually meant to be Accumulation representing groundwater or lakes?

Alternatively, is the box at the Bottom Center (in the waves) the one for Accumulation?
Let's look at the image crop hints.
The last crop shows the word bank.
The first crop shows the top left.
The second crop shows the top right.
The third crop shows the bottom left.
The fourth crop shows the bottom right.

Let's re-evaluate the box positions based on standard diagrams found online for "Water Cycle Worksheet".
Common layout:
- Clouds -> Condensation
- Rain -> Precipitation
- Flowing down hill -> Surface Runoff
- Ocean/Lake -> Accumulation
- Rising from Ocean -> Evaporation
- Rising from Trees -> Transpiration

In this specific image:
- There is a box in the water at the bottom center? Looking at the full image, yes, there is a rectangular outline sitting on the waves in the bottom middle.
- There is a box to the left of the mountain.
- There is a box to the right of the mountain.

If there are 7 boxes, but only 6 words... that would be a problem.
Let's count the rectangles again.
1. Top Left (under rain)
2. Top Right (by clouds)
3. Mid Left (left of mountain)
4. Mid Right (right of mountain)
5. Bot Left (above trees)
6. Bot Right (above ocean arrows)

I do NOT see a box in the water in the bottom center. I see the word "condensation" in the word bank below it, but no box *in* the diagram there.

So, we have 6 boxes and 6 words.

We have identified 5 confidently:
- Top Left (Rain): Precipitation
- Top Right (Clouds): Condensation
- Bot Left (Trees): Transpiration
- Bot Right (Ocean Rise): Evaporation
- Mid Right (Slope): Surface Runoff

This leaves one box: Mid Left (Left of Mountain).
And one word: Accumulation.

Does Accumulation fit "Left of Mountain"?
In many simplified diagrams, "Accumulation" can refer to water collecting on the ground (like in lakes or glaciers) before it runs off or soaks in. Since the rain falls on the left side of the mountain (or generally on the land), and that water accumulates there before becoming runoff, this is the only logical spot left for "Accumulation".

*Self-Correction/Refinement:*
Actually, looking at the arrows on the left side... The rain falls. The box is just sitting there.
Is it possible the box on the Top Left is Condensation and the box on the Top Right is something else? No, the rain is clearly precipitation. The cloud formation is condensation.

Is it possible the box on the Mid Left is Precipitation?
If the Top Left box is Condensation (clouds turning to rain?), no, the arrows fall FROM the clouds. The box is UNDER the rain. That is Precipitation.

Let's reconsider the "Accumulation" placement.
Accumulation is the storage of water.
If the box on the Mid-Left is Accumulation, it implies water gathering on the land.

Let's check if I missed a box.
Look at the bottom center again. Between "Bot Left" and "Bot Right".
There is text in the word bank: "evaporation", "accumulation", "condensation"...
Above the word bank, in the water area, there is NO box.

So, the mapping must be:
1. Top Left Box: Precipitation
2. Top Right Box: Condensation
3. Middle Left Box: Accumulation (Water collecting on land/glaciers)
4. Middle Right Box: Surface Runoff
5. Bottom Left Box: Transpiration
6. Bottom Right Box: Evaporation

Let's verify this logic.
- Transpiration: Trees releasing water vapor. (Correct)
- Evaporation: Ocean releasing water vapor. (Correct)
- Condensation: Vapor forming clouds. (Correct)
- Precipitation: Clouds releasing rain. (Correct)
- Surface Runoff: Water flowing down the mountain. (Correct)
- Accumulation: By elimination, this must be the box on the left. In the context of the water cycle, after precipitation, water accumulates on the surface (lakes, puddles, ice caps) before running off or evaporating. Placing it on the land side makes sense.

Final Answer:
Here are the correct labels for each box in the water cycle diagram:

* Top Left Box (under the raining clouds): Precipitation
* Top Right Box (next to the clouds): Condensation
* Middle Left Box (to the left of the mountain): Accumulation
* Middle Right Box (on the mountain slope): Surface Runoff
* Bottom Left Box (above the trees): Transpiration
* Bottom Right Box (above the ocean arrows): Evaporation