Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Water Cycle!

Yeah, yeah. I know it has been awhile since I last posted!! As I said in my last post, I was gone a few days before spring break, and last week was the first week back and I felt like I was just trying to get caught up! I fiiiinally feel somewhat caught up (even with it being conference week!!!)

We started our weather unit for science last week. The kids are sooo into it! We have been reading a LOT of nonfiction books about different kinds of weather, and many of my kiddos are checking out weather books in the library to share with the class! Love it!

We have been focusing a lot on the water cycle. Everyday we have been singing this little song with hand motions that goes to the tune of She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain... It goes like this:

"Water travels in a cycle yes it does,
 Water travels in a cycle yes it does.
(move hands around in circle)
 It goes up as evaporation.
(palms up, rise hands up to head)
 It forms clouds as condensation.
(form cloud-like shape over head)
 It falls down as precipitation, yes it does!
(wiggle fingers and make hands go down like it's raining)

I promise my kids will know the water cycle for the rest of their lives because of this song :)

I made this water cycle poster for our weather bulletin board:


We have done a lot of reading about the water cycle. We made little moveable water cycle diagrams. We also sequenced and illustrated the steps of it.  As with many science concepts, just reading about the water cycle was a little difficult for my kiddos to really visualize, so I found a great Bill Nye video about it, and I heard a lot of, "OHHH!!! I get it now!"

After spending a few days on it, I had my kids write about the water cycle and illustrate it using yarn, sequins, and cotton balls. They did a fabulous job :)






My kids' parents just loved these at conferences tonight! :)

We are going to start learning about different kinds of clouds in the next week or so! I am really excited :)


21 comments:

  1. Fabulous!!! I will be using all of these great ideas next year when I teach my firsties about weather AND I am teaching my 2nd graders this song tomorrow. They will LOVE it!!!! YOU ARE AWESOME.

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are such cute ideas! I can't wait to try this - awesome and thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really love this idea it is so cute!! Can I ask where you got the writing frame from??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh man, the writing paper was passed down to me from when I started teaching 7 years ago :)

      Delete
  4. Great idea...for a science, writing and art lesson!

    ReplyDelete
  5. THANK YOU for this idea & the pics! I teach a self contained 5th/6th grade special ed class and it has been hard for me to find age/grade appropriate materials. I love this and the song that goes with it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like the idea of writing and doing the craft. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete