Water Cycle online activity - Free Printable

Problem Overview:

The task involves understanding the water cycle and labeling its phases. There are two parts to the problem:

1. Matching Definitions with Phases of the Water Cycle (Left Image):
- Match each description of a phase in the water cycle with its corresponding term.

2. Labeling the Water Cycle Diagram (Right Image):
- Use the provided word bank to label the diagram of the water cycle.

---

Solution:

#### Part 1: Matching Definitions with Phases of the Water Cycle

The definitions provided describe different stages of the water cycle. We need to match them with the correct terms from the water cycle.

1. Water runs downhill to form lakes and oceans.
- This describes the movement of water as it collects in bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans.
- Match: Collection

2. The heat of the Sun turns water into water vapors.
- This is the process where water changes from liquid to vapor due to heat from the Sun.
- Match: Evaporation

3. Water falls to the ground.
- This refers to the process where water returns to Earth's surface as rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation.
- Match: Precipitation

4. Water vapor gathers to form clouds.
- This is the process where water vapor cools and condenses into tiny droplets, forming clouds.
- Match: Condensation

So, the completed matching is:
1. Collection
2. Evaporation
3. Precipitation
4. Condensation

---

#### Part 2: Labeling the Water Cycle Diagram

The right image provides a diagram of the water cycle and asks us to label it using the word bank: precipitation, condensation, collection, evaporation.

Let’s analyze the diagram step by step:

1. Bottom Left Arrow (Pointing Upward):
- This arrow represents water moving from the ground or surface back into the atmosphere.
- This is evaporation, where water changes from liquid to vapor due to heat from the Sun.
- Label: Evaporation

2. Top Right Arrow (Pointing Downward):
- This arrow shows water falling from the sky to the ground.
- This is precipitation, where water returns to Earth as rain, snow, etc.
- Label: Precipitation

3. Middle Right Arrow (Pointing Upward):
- This arrow shows water vapor rising from the ground or surface.
- This is part of the evaporation process, but since it is already labeled, we focus on the next step.
- Label: Evaporation (already covered)

4. Clouds (Top Center):
- The clouds represent the gathering of water vapor into droplets.
- This is condensation, where water vapor cools and forms clouds.
- Label: Condensation

5. Ground/Water Body (Bottom Center):
- The area where water collects after precipitation.
- This is collection, where water gathers in bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans.
- Label: Collection

So, the completed labels for the diagram are:
- Bottom Left: Evaporation
- Top Right: Precipitation
- Top Center (Clouds): Condensation
- Bottom Center: Collection

---

Final Answer:

#### Part 1: Matching Definitions
1. Collection
2. Evaporation
3. Precipitation
4. Condensation

#### Part 2: Labeling the Diagram
- Bottom Left: Evaporation
- Top Right: Precipitation
- Top Center (Clouds): Condensation
- Bottom Center: Collection

Boxed Final Answer:
\[
\boxed{
\text{Collection, Evaporation, Precipitation, Condensation}
}
\]