What is the water cycle? - Teacher's Notes

The 'water cycle' refers to the continuous movement of water within the Earth's atmosphere and on its surface. It is a fundamental concept that pupils are encouraged to explore and understand. To facilitate this, pupils are provided with a diagram and factual information from a reliable internet source. Their task is to interpret these resources and articulate, in their own words, the processes and stages that constitute the water cycle. This exercise aims to deepen their comprehension by enabling them to express the concept in a manner that makes sense to them personally.

As part of their learning journey, pupils are instructed to record their interpretations on a provided worksheet. They are then paired up to exchange and discuss various facts about water, which are supplied on two additional sheets. This collaborative approach not only reinforces their understanding but also aids in developing their communication skills. Following this, pupils are challenged to formulate questions based on the information they've learned. These questions are to be organised into three levels of complexity: deep questions for basic understanding, deeper questions for intermediate knowledge, and deepest questions for advanced inquiry. Pupils will then arrange these questions on another provided worksheet, encouraging them to engage critically with the topic of the water cycle and its broader implications in the context of state changes in solids, liquids, and gases.