What are clouds and why does it rain?
Key Stage 3, Geography, QCA Scheme of work
Unit 10.3 Weather patterns over Europe (Year 8)
Prior Learning
At Key Stage 2 students learnt the basic water cycle, this is adding to and building upon this work.
Objectives
By the end of the lesson:
- All students will know that water moves within the hydrological cycle
- Most students will know that key vocabulary for the hydrological cycle
Lesson plan
Starter
Get the students to complete the hydrological cycle word search to give them the key vocabulary for the lesson.
Lesson resources
Main Body
Option to demonstrate water cycle in a bowl
-
A quick visual refresh of what is going on. Simple demonstration requiring a kettle (to supply steaming water) a mixing bowl, cling film and some ice cubes.
Condensation should form on the cling film and drip (rain) back into the bowl. A slower version of this demo can be found in the primary kids section.
Go through hydrological cycle animation with students.
You will need:
Clear glass bowl
Kettle for steaming water
Ice cubes
Clingfilm Hydrological cycle animation
An animation of the hydrological cycle. Hydrological cycle worksheet
Size: 621kb
PDF document containing printable worksheet of diagram to label. Hydrological cycle worksheet answers
Size: 615kb
PDF document containing the answers for the above worksheet.
Clear glass bowl
Kettle for steaming water
Ice cubes
Clingfilm Hydrological cycle animation
An animation of the hydrological cycle. Hydrological cycle worksheet
Size: 621kb
PDF document containing printable worksheet of diagram to label. Hydrological cycle worksheet answers
Size: 615kb
PDF document containing the answers for the above worksheet.
Plenary
Complete the hydrological cycle crossword to check their understanding of the cycle. Alternatively compile their own crossword using key words.
